clock menu more-arrow no yes

Filed under:

NCAA Women's Hockey Tournament Bracket Announced

Eight teams remain in the hunt for the 2014 women's hockey championship.

By Nathan Wells
/ new
Minnesota after winning the 2012 Frozen Four
Minnesota after winning the 2012 Frozen Four
Hannah Foslien

The eight teams in women's college hockey that have a chance for the national championship are now known.

Minnesota, Cornell, Clarkson, Wisconsin, Boston University, Harvard, Boston College and Mercyhurst were selected Sunday for the 2014 NCAA Women's Hockey Tournament. Three - Minnesota (WCHA), Cornell (ECAC) and Boston University (Hockey East) - earned berths by winning conference tournaments. Everyone else is an at-large bid.

The top four teams are seeded and will host single-elimination quarterfinal games on campus March 15 with the winners advancing to the Frozen Four March 21 & 23 in Hamden, Connecticut (hosted by Quinnipiac).

This year's quarterfinals include  a rematch of the 2013 championship game between the two-time defending champion Golden Gophers and three-time Hockey East tournament champion Terriers (a 6-3 win for Minnesota). It's one of only two East-West match-ups. This year's field is heavily slanted with Eastern schools as only Minnesota and Wisconsin are outside the Northeast.

Despite the low number of Western teams, no one besides Minnesota-Duluth (2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010) Minnesota (2004, 2005, 2012, 2013) and Wisconsin (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011) has won the championship since the NCAA began sponsoring a women's hockey championship in 2000-2001.

The entire bracket is below.

2014 NCAA Women's College Hockey Tournament

Quarterfinals (Cornell/Mercyhurst winner will face the Clarkson/BC winner in the semis, etc.)

#1 Minnesota vs. Boston University (4 p.m. CT Saturday, March 15)

#4 Wisconsin vs. Harvard (7 p.m. CT Saturday March 15)

#2 Cornell vs. Mercyhurst (Time TBD Saturday March 15)

#3 Clarkson vs. Boston College (Time TBD Saturday March 15)

--

Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter --