Boston College hockey's 4-2 victory over Providence in the Hockey East Semifinals paired with Denver's 4-3 double overtime victory over Minnesota-Duluth gives the Eagles the number 1 overall seed in next weekend's NCAA Tournament. Michigan, Boston University and Minnesota can no longer catch BC, regardless of what happens tomorrow night in the Hockey East final.
The top four in the current PairWise Rankings are: Boston College, Michigan, Boston University and, surprisingly, Union.
Even with the worst case scenario where the following things happen:
-- Michigan defeats Western Michigan for the CCHA title
-- Boston University defeats Maine and Boston College for the Hockey East title
-- Union wins the ECAC Tournament title over the Cornell / Harvard winner
-- Minnesota wins the WCHA title defeating North Dakota and Denver
... BC still hangs onto the number 1 ranking in the PairWise, virtually assuring the Eagles of the tournament's top seed, a spot in the Northeast Regional in Worcester and a first round date with the Atlantic Hockey champ.
After tomorrow night's Hockey East Championship game against the Boston University / Maine winner, BC can turn its attention to the Atlantic Hockey Tournament Champion and NCAA automatic qualifier. The AHA's top-seeded Air Force Falcons have already punched their ticket to the Atlantic Hockey Tournament Championship game and will face the winner of RIT / Niagara with a NCAA auto-berth on the line.
Unless something truly bizarre happens between now and Sunday, Superfans can start planning their trip to Worcester next weekend.
Go Eagles!