After defeating Williams, 2-1, earlier today to win the NESCAC championship, Bowdoin (22-3-2) found out their NCAA tourney seeding tonight. The Polar Bears, who earned an automatic qualifying bid as NESCAC champ, will host first time MASCAC champion UMass-Dartmouth (12-7-7) on Wednesday, March 6th in the first round.
The Croassairs (a type of pirate) are no stranger to the NESCAC, as they beat Wesleyan, 5-4, in a November OT game. UMD then lost to Connecticut College, 3-2, in a Northfield Bank Tournament game in early January. The winner of the Crossair/Polar Bear game will travel to Utica, NY to face the Utica Pioneers on Saturday, March 9th in the Quarterfinals.
The Pioneers (20-5-1), ranked ninth in the most recent USCHO poll and 2nd in the East Regional Rankings, earned an at large or "Pool C" bid into the tournament and first round bye, after losing in the ECAC West tournament to Manhatttanvile, 2-1, in OT on February 23rd. Even if they had won the ECAC-W crown, Utica would have needed an at-large bid as the six team ECAC-W does not have an Automatic Qualifying bid. It was widely speculated that the small but strong division would get two of the three Pool C spots, but Norwich's loss in the ECAC-E finals to Babson took away one of the available non-AQ spots.
In his post game presser, Bowdoin coach Terry Meagher said the prep for the tourney doesn't start until tomorrow, as the Polar Bears don't get the film on their opponent until tomorrow morning.
Bowdoin release on first round matchup
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