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http://www.portland.com/sports/college/hockey/020318mainehockey.shtml
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Monday, March 18, 2002
Harvard, and Maine's happy
By JERRY LAUZON, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
ORONO -- There is no bye for the University of Maine hockey team in this year's NCAA tournament. That's not a problem.
The Black Bears met Sunday night in the Dexter Lounge at Alfond Arena for the announcement of this year's tournament pairings and weren't disappointed.
NCAA EAST REGIONAL At Worcester, Mass.|
Saturday
Maine (23-10-7) vs. Harvard (15-14-4), noon
Cornell (24-7-2) vs. Quinnipiac (20-12-5), 3:30 p.m.
Sunday
Boston University (25-9-3) vs. Maine-Harvard winner, noon
New Hampshire (29-6-3) vs. Cornell-Quinnipiac winner, 3:30 p.m.
To top of story
Maine (23-10-7) received a No. 3 seed in the East Regional and will play No. 6 Harvard (15-14-4) at noon Saturday at Worcester, Mass.
The first-round winner will play Boston University at noon Sunday.
"When you get to this time of the season it doesn't matter who you play," said Maine forward Niko Dimitrakos. "You've got to play everyone and beat everyone to get to the national championship game.
"In the four years I've been here, we seem to know how to win no matter what the circumstances are."
The Black Bears are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, with the loss coming to New Hampshire (29-6-3) in the Hockey East championship game Saturday night at Boston.
That victory gave the Wildcats an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament and assured them of a No. 1 seed and a bye in the first round of the East Regional. Boston University (25-9-3) also received a bye.
No. 4 Cornell (24-7-2) and No. 5 Quinnipiac (20-12-5) will play at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with the winner meeting New Hampshire on Sunday. Quinnipiac won the MAAC tournament and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
"We expected to be in Worcester," said Maine Coach Tim Whitehead. "As far as who we play, every team is going to be a good hockey team.
"We've earned a spot in Worcester and now we have to earn a spot in St. Paul (site of the Frozen Four)."
Maine will need two wins in the East Regional to advance to the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn., on April 4 and 6. This will be the Black Bears' fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance and 12th overall.
"Harvard is a very good hockey team," said Whitehead. "They just ran the table in the ECAC tournament and beat Cornell, which has a heck of a hockey team."
The Black Bears haven't played Harvard since 1994 and have a 2-4 all-time record against the Crimson.
"It's going to be very challenging for us," said Whitehead, who will be making his first trip to the NCAAs as a head coach. "I know we're ready for that."
In the West Regional at Ann Arbor, Mich., No. 1 seed Denver (32-7-1) and No. 2 Minnesota (29-8-4) received first-round byes.
No. 3 Michigan State (27-8-5) will play No. 6 Colorado College (26-12-3) and No. 4 Michigan (26-10-5) faces No. 5 St. Cloud State (29-10-2) in the first round.
Denver won the WCHA tournament and Michigan won the CCHA tournament.
Five teams received automatic bids by winning a conference championship. The other seven teams were selected at-large.
Harvard had to win the ECAC championship to get in, and the Crimson did it in style with three straight overtime victories. Harvard defeated Cornell 4-3 in double overtime and is on a four-game winning streak.
"I like who we've drawn in the first round," said Maine goalie Mike Morrison. "Unless you get a bye in the first round it doesn't really matter. This is a good draw for us."
Harvard struggled midway through the season and had a record of 10-12-4 after a 5-1 loss to RPI on Feb. 22. The Crimson have been outscored 95-94 this season.
The decision to keep all the teams in the region was made after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"From a fan's standpoint this is going to be a great tournament," said Whitehead. "All the teams are from the East and we all know a little bit about each other."
Staff Writer Jerry Lauzon can be contacted at 791-6415 or at:
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