2015 NCAA Hockey Tournament: West Region Preview & Predictions

Ah yes. The West Regional. I can summarize this regional thusly. UND is full of goons. No one else in the region is as goon-filled as UND. GOONS GOONS GOONS GOONS GOONS.

Also, everyone cheer for Michigan Tech. Seriously. This is Tech's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1981. THIS IS EXCITING! And it's not like they backed into the tourney like a week at-large or Atlantic Hockey auto-bid. They are a good team who had a #1 ranking earlier in the season.

Team Previews

#1 North Dakota

Where from: Grand Forks, North Dakota

Record: 27-9-3 overall (16-6-2 NCHC)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Home ice advantage and Zane McIntyre is a stud in net.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: Quinnipiac isn't your normal weak 4 seed.  They have beaten tough teams before.

#2 Michigan Tech

Where from: Houghton, Michigan

Record: 29-9-2 overall (21-5-2 WCHA)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Mel Pearson

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Its been a LONG time since this happeend and Tech is due to live up to the lofty goals set for the program in the 1970s.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: Cinderella's slipper has to break eventually...oh and SCSU is hot right now.

#3 St. Cloud State

Where from: St. Cloud, Minnesota

Record: 19-18-1 overall (11-12-1 NCHC)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Bob Motzko

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: They just beat North Dakota...why not do it again? They're playing well and are a very hot team which makes a lot of things possible.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: Just getting the participation banner is good enough. They don't need to hang anything but that.

#4 Quinnipiac

Where from: Hamden, Connecticut

Record: 23-11-4 (16-3-3 ECAC)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Rand Pecknold

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: They have been there before and know how to play tough opponents. Plus with WCHA or Big Ten refs, all bets are off.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: North Dakota is good and the script says they need to lose to Minnesota in the Frozen Four again.

Predictions

First Round

Michigan Tech vs. St. Cloud State (Friday, 4:30 pm ET, ESPN3): Michigan Tech because FEEL GOOD STORY, 2-1.

North Dakota vs. Quinnipiac (Friday, 8 pm ET, ESPNU): UND is too good, 4-1.

Quarterfinals

North Dakota vs. Michigan Tech: North Dakota State fans inflitrate the Scheels Center en masse through unknown means, kick out all the UND fans, and tilt the crowd hard to Michigan Tech. CINDERELLA LIVES, 2-1.

Who Heads To Boston?

CINDERELLA LIVES, 2-1 Tech victory.