:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45958684/GettyImages-481354665.0.jpg)
The Gophers finally know their fate. Minnesota was just announced as the #3 seed in the Northeast Region and will face the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Hockey Tournament. After the Midwest and East Regions were announced it certainly looked like the Gophers might be headed to Fargo to play in UND's region, but the tournament committee felt Manchester was a better fit.
The Gophers and Bulldogs have faced off four times already this season (interesting note, every game in this season's series will be played in a different arena) The first game was a 4-3 Minnesota victory at the Ice Breaker Tournament in South Bend,. The second was a 3-0 loss at Mariucci. The third (the latter part of the regular season home/home) was a 2-1 loss in Duluth. And the fourth game was a frustrating 2-1 loss in the North Star Cup that looked like it might keep the Gophers out of the NCAA Tournament. Things have changed a great deal since then and Minnesota is coming into the NCAA tournament playing some of their best hockey of the season.
Here is the full NCAA Hockey Tournament schedule, including what ESPN source will be carrying each game. We'll have a more in-depth breakdown of each region later this week.
Midwest Region - South Bend, IN
#1 Minnesota State Mankato vs. #4 RIT Tigers - Saturday March 28th, 3 pm CT - ESPNU
#2 Omaha Mavericks vs. #3 Harvard Crimson - Saturday, March 28th, 6:30 CT - ESPN3
East Region - Providence, RI
#1 Miami Redhawks vs. #4 Providence Friars - Saturday, March 28th, 5:30 pm CT - ESPNU
#2 Denver Pioneers vs. #3 Boston College Eagles - Saturday March 28th, 2 pm CT - ESPN2
Northeast Region - Manchester, NH
#1 Boston University Terriers vs. #4 Yale Bulldogs - Friday, March 27th, 2 pm CT - ESPNU
#2 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs vs. #3 Minnesota Golden Gophers - Friday, March 27th, 4:30 CT - ESPNU
West Region - Fargo, ND
#1 North Dakota vs. #4 Quinnipiac Bobcats - Friday, March 27th, 7 pm CT - ESPNU
#2 Michigan Tech Huskies vs. #3 St. Cloud State Huskies - Friday, March 27th, 3:30 pm CT - ESPN3