Minnesota State
The Mavericks are one of the two best teams in college hockey along with St. Cloud State. They went 32-7-2 and their reward is traveling all the way to Providence to play… Providence. In any other region, I would probably have Minnesota State advancing through to the Frozen Four. The issue is that Providence is also pretty damn good. In what is essentially a home game for the Friars, I’m envisioning an early exit for the Mavericks.
Providence
The Friars check in as an at-large bid. Sometimes, the at-large bids are better than the conference champs. In college hockey, there’s only ten at-large bids. You’ve gotta be real good to earn an at-large bid and Providence is very good.
Cornell
Cornell lost in OT in the ECAC championship game. Otherwise, they’re a very strong team that has battled through a ton of adversity to get here. Injuries and close losses could derail any team’s tournament aspirations. Cornell, on the other hand, finds themselves in the same place they did last year; two wins away from the Frozen Four. They have a team that is very capable of making that happen.
Northeastern
The Beanpot Champs have won 11 of their last 13 games. They swept the Hockey East Playoffs and they’re out for more blood. They’ve got one of the best goalies in college hockey in Cayden Primeau and there’s talent up and down the roster.
Outlook
Minnesota State is the best team in this region, but I have a way of always talking myself into Providence making a deep run. I’ve actually got the Friars as my Frozen Four champs. However, if Minnesota State can overcome their bad (stupid) draw of a placing then I can see them winning the whole thing.
Northeastern is gonna beat Cornell. As good as the Huskies are, I think the winner of the Providence-Minnesota State game is the champion of this region.
To view our Midwest Regional breakdown, click here.