PC Friars Earn Top Seed in Northeast, to Play Minnesota-Duluth Friday in Worcester
PC News release…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – It was announced today (March 20) on the NCAA Men’s Hockey Selection Show that the Providence College men’s hockey team has earned a spot in the field of 16 as the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Regional (Worcester, Mass.) at the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Earning the program’s first ever No. 1 seed, the Friars (27-6-4) will battle the fourth-seeded Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (18-15-5) at the DCU Center on Friday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
No. 2 seeded Boston College and No. 3 seeded Harvard will play in game two in Worcester, with the winner meeting either the Friars or Bulldogs in the Regional Final on Saturday at 9 p.m. (ESPNU).
The Friars earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, the first time in program history that the team has earned three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Providence earned its first ever National Championship last season, winning four consecutive games as a No. 4 seed that was capped by a thrilling 4-3 win over Boston University in the title game at TD Garden.
Making their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance, the Friars have posted a 14-16 record all-time in tournament games and will try to advance to their third straight regional final with a win on Friday.
It will be the 25th meeting all-time between the two schools, with the Bulldogs holding a 15-7-2 mark overall. Minnesota Duluth went 1-0-1 in a two-game series at Schneider Arena from Oct. 21-22, 2011. Friday will also mark the second meeting in the NCAA Tournament between the teams, with Providence sweeping a best-of-three series at Schneider Arena in the first round of the 1983 tournament.
Reigning Hockey East Coach of the Year Nate Leaman boasts a 5-1 record in the NCAA Tournament while with the Friars, which is the best record by any Friar hockey coach in NCAA Tournament play.
The NCAA Regionals take place from March 25-27 followed by the Frozen Four at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., from April 7-9.
