Here is my opinion of the way things will end up once Michigan beats Notre Dame tomorrow for the CCHA title, and automatic bid from the CCHA.
East Regional
1) Quinnipiac vs 4) Canisius
2) BC vs 3) Union
1 v 16
5 v 12
Northeast Regional
2) New Hampshire vs 3) Niagara
1) UM-Lowell vs 4) Wisconsin
3 v 14
7 v 10
West Regional
1) Minnesota vs 4) Michigan (host)
2) N. Dakota vs 3) Minn St.
2 v 15
6 v 11
Midwest Regional
1) Miami vs 4) St. Cloud St
2) Notre Dame vs 3) Denver
4 v 13
8 v 9
This is based on the top seeds being kept closest to home, and two host schools having to play in their host regional (Michigan and New Hampshire).
I debated on keeping more bracket integrity with ND vs Denver in the East and BC Union in the Midwest, but the NCAA likes money and butts in the seats. This bracket will keep some version of bracket integrity (first round is pretty safe) while at the same time keeping teams close to home and thus getting butts in the seats.
If Michigan loses to ND tomorrow (which won't happen, I have confidence), then
East
1) Quinnipiac vs 16) Canisius
8) N. Dakota vs 9) Denver
Northeast
3) UMASS-Lowell vs 14) Wisconsin
7) New Hampsire (host) vs 10) Niagara
Midwest
4) Notre Dame vs 13) St. Cloud St
5) Miami vs 12) Union
West
2) Minnesota vs 15) Yale
6) BC vs 11) Minn St
This would require more switching to make money and avoid interconference games in round 1, and would likely result in less behinds in the seats.
East Regional
1) Quinnipiac vs 4) Canisius
2) BC vs 3) Union
1 v 16
5 v 12
Northeast Regional
2) New Hampshire vs 3) Niagara
1) UM-Lowell vs 4) Wisconsin
3 v 14
7 v 10
West Regional
1) Minnesota vs 4) Michigan (host)
2) N. Dakota vs 3) Minn St.
2 v 15
6 v 11
Midwest Regional
1) Miami vs 4) St. Cloud St
2) Notre Dame vs 3) Denver
4 v 13
8 v 9
This is based on the top seeds being kept closest to home, and two host schools having to play in their host regional (Michigan and New Hampshire).
I debated on keeping more bracket integrity with ND vs Denver in the East and BC Union in the Midwest, but the NCAA likes money and butts in the seats. This bracket will keep some version of bracket integrity (first round is pretty safe) while at the same time keeping teams close to home and thus getting butts in the seats.
If Michigan loses to ND tomorrow (which won't happen, I have confidence), then
East
1) Quinnipiac vs 16) Canisius
8) N. Dakota vs 9) Denver
Northeast
3) UMASS-Lowell vs 14) Wisconsin
7) New Hampsire (host) vs 10) Niagara
Midwest
4) Notre Dame vs 13) St. Cloud St
5) Miami vs 12) Union
West
2) Minnesota vs 15) Yale
6) BC vs 11) Minn St
This would require more switching to make money and avoid interconference games in round 1, and would likely result in less behinds in the seats.