Michigan First Big Ten Loser

AP - In the first battle between the WCHA and the Big Ten in the NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament championship game, the WCHA's UM-Duluth Bulldogs beat the Big Ten's entrant from Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Wolverines. The Big Ten's early futility raises questions about the football league's ability to compete in hockey. Adding further to the question of whether the Big Ten can compete with the WCHA and other established hockey conferences is the fact that four (North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, and UM-Duluth) of the WCHA's teams made the NCAA tournament, but only one (Michigan) of the Big Ten teams made the NCAA tournament. The NCAA has yet to guarantee the Big Ten an automatic bid to the tournament, but all teams hope that ruling is made to avoid them further embarrassment.

Nathan

p,s, Sara, great pictures. Thanks.