Boston College Hockey Top Seed In Worcester For NCAA Tournament, Will Play Denver In First Round

The NCAA tournament bracket was just announced on ESPNU, and the Eagles' path to the 2014 Frozen Four is set.

St. Paul, MN
No. 1 Minnesota*
No. 4 Robert Morris
No. 2 Notre Dame
No. 3 St. Cloud State

Worcester, MA
No. 1 Boston College
No. 4 Denver
No. 2 UMass-Lowell
No. 3 Minnesota State

Bridgeport, CT
No. 1 Union
No. 4 Vermont
No. 2 Quinnipiac
No. 3 Providence

Cincinnati, OH
No. 1 Wisconsin
No. 4 North Dakota
No. 2 Ferris State
No. 3 Colgate

*Top overall seed

A couple observations:

--BC gets a pretty decent draw. Denver is measurably below the rest of the tournament field (except for Robert Morris, who is just terrible). Lowell definitely tough, though. Minnesota State would have a tough time taking them down, but it's not a given.

--Union definitely has the easiest draw. The hottest team in the country gets Vermont, Quinnipiac, and Providence? Vermont is meh, we already know Union is better than QU, and Providence is in a bit of a free fall.

--A quick glance doesn't show any true Region of Death. Worcester probably looks toughest, but that's mostly because Denver and Minnesota State won a couple single elimination games to win their tournaments.

--BC avoids both Minnesota and Notre Dame until the finals, but is lined up to play Union in the semis, who is certainly the hottest team in the country.

What do you think? Good draw for BC? Region of Death? Regions pretty balanced? Think we'll see the Eagles in Philly? We'll have full coverage this week of BC's matchup with the Pios and take a look at the rest of the NCAA tournament setup.