Yesterday was Selection Sunday and the bracket for the NCAA tournament was announced.  Hockey East ended up with four teams in the tourney; Boston College, Boston University, Maine, and Lowell.  Merrimack joined Northern Michigan as being just on the wrong side of the Pairwise.  BC, which won yet another Hockey East championship over the weekend, is the #1 overall seed in the tournament.  For Lowell it’s their first NCAA berth since 1996 while Maine returns to the tourney for the first time since they eliminated UMass in 2007.

With all that said, here’s my bracket:

Yep, picking the Wolverines to take their first championship since 1998.  I want to pick BC all the way but for some reason I just see a bit of vulnerability in them.  I’m not totally sold on Parker Milner after the up and down season he had.

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The official Fargo Force blog has this piece on current Minuteman Oleg Yevenko.

Nothing really new here but the Bangor Daily News talks about potential changes to the playoff format and expansion in Hockey East.

T.J. Syner had an assist in his first pro game.

Former Minuteman Mike Kostka contributed to a historic night as he assisted on the game winning goal for the Norfolk Admirals as they won their 18th consecutive game, an AHL record.

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Just want to remind UMass hockey fans of a couple opportunities.  First it we’re getting closer to next week’s Reverse Raffle.  Make sure to sign up and claim your lucky number before anyone else does.  I cannot recommend this event enough.  It’s a chance to socialize with UMass fans, alumni, coaches, broadcasters, and even bloggers.  It’s a night of food, an open bar of beer and wine, prizes, and the chance to win $5,000.  All for just $115 for you and a guest.  Well worth it.  I look forward to it every year.

Also, the Minutemen Club has announced that they have a handful of gameworn Frozen Fenway jerseys available for sale.  NCAA regulations require that the nameplates are removed (obviously left on it would sully amateur athletics as we know it, right Fab Melo?) but the jersey still has the Hockey East and Frozen Fenway patches.  The sale price is $450, which for a jersey worn in a once in a lifetime type event is pretty good.  Since the University Store dropped the ball again passed on the opportunity to make money sell replicas, this could be your only chance to get one of these jerseys.  For more info email the Minutemen Club at minutemenclub@admin.umass.edu.  Speaking of the Minutemen Club, they’ve just announced their revised benefits and membership structure which can be found on their new website.  So far so good on the direction the athletic department is taking for the fundraising effort, something that will be incredibly important as football moves to the FBS.  What does that have to do with hockey?  Well as they say a rising tide lifts all boats.