2015 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament: TV Times, Odds, And Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects
By Larry Snyder
The NCAA Men’s Division I Ice Hockey Tournament gets underway tonight and Saturday with 16 teams facing off for an eventual slot in the Frozen Four, scheduled for Thursday, April 9 and Saturday, April 11 at TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
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The tournament is set with the winners of the Midwest and East regionals meeting on one side of the Frozen Four. On the other side of the bracket, the victors of the West and Northeast regionals will get together in the other semifinal.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have three prospects participating in this year’s tournament. Let’s take a look at this trio for this weekend’s opening contests.
Jake Guentzel is a center for the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound sophomore forward was taken by the Penguins in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 33 games and was the leader in points with 35 on 12 goals and 23 assists. He had 95 shots this season.
Teddy Blueger is a center for the Minnesota State – Makato Mavericks in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The 6-foot, 185-pound junior forward was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He contributed 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 36-games played this season. He put up 101 shots.
Dane Birks is a defenseman for the Michigan Tech Huskies in the WCHA. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound freshman was the sixth pick of the Pens during the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. There were no statistics available on Dane this season as he has yet to be in the lineup because of the program’s deep and experienced blue line crew. The writers at hockeysfuture.com believe he is a long-term project with the abilities to develop into a solid two-way defenseman.
The NCAA released the games times and television schedule Sunday, March 22 for the start of the tournament. All times are Eastern Daylight Time. Live streaming of all of the games can be seen on WatchESPN.com.
West Regionals Friday, March 27 at Scheel’s Arena in Fargo, ND:
2) Michigan Tech Huskies Vs. 3) St. Cloud State Huskies at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN3. Odds: Michigan Tech -1.5 according to the Oddsmaker Online Sportsbook with the Over/Under at 5.5.
1) University of North Dakota Vs. 4) Quinnipiac Bobcats at 8 p.m. on ESPNU. Odds: UND -1.5 according to the Oddsmaker Online Sportsbook with the Over/Under at 4.5.
Northeast Regionals Friday, March 27 at Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, NH:
1) Boston University Terriers Vs. 4) Yale Bulldogs at 2 p.m. on ESPNU. Odds: Boston Univ. -1.5 according to the Oddsmaker Online Sportsbook with the Over/Under at 4.5.
2) Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Vs. 3) Minnesota Golden Gophers at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Odds: Minnesota -1.5 according to the Oddsmaker Online Sportsbook with the Over/Under at 5.5.
Midwest Regionals Saturday, March 28 at Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, IN:
1) Minnesota State – Mankato Mavericks Vs. (4) RIT Tigers at 4 p.m. on ESPNU. According to BetOnLine.com Sportsbook, odds makers currently have the money line on the two teams listed as RIT +975 / Minnesota State – Mankato -1500 with the Over/Under at 5.5.
2) Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks Vs. 3) Harvard Crimson at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3. According to BetOnLine.com Sportsbook, odds makers currently have the money line on the two teams listed as Harvard -105 / Nebraska-Omaha -115 with the Over/Under at 5.5.
East Regionals at Dunkin Donuts Center Saturday, March 28 in Providence, RI:
2) Denver Pioneers Vs. 3) Boston College Eagles at 3 p.m. on ESPN2. According to BetOnLine.com Sportsbook, odds makers currently have the money line on the two teams listed as Boston College +110 / Denver -130 with the Over/Under at 5.5.
1) Miami (OH) RedHawks Vs. 4) Providence Friars at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU. According to BetOnLine.com Sportsbook, odds makers currently have the money line on the two teams listed as Providence +145 / Miami -165 with the Over/Under at 4.5.
Who do you think will make it to the Frozen Four? Let me know in the comments section below. The quest for the National Championship is about to begin.
From The Clipboard: Closer to home, one of Robert Morris University men’s hockey players is receiving an opportunity to play professional hockey . Senior left wing and Hobey Baker Award Top 10 finalist Cody Wydo signed on with the Wheeling Nailers. They are the Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate in the ECHL.