RECORD: 28-9-2

SEED: 1

Fresh off a 1-0 victory over Colorado college in the WCHA tournament finals, the Pioneers enter the Northeast Regional with another piece of hardware to supplement memories of last year’s national championship celebration.

Denver has not faced Bemidji State this season, but the Pioneers hold a 5-1-1 record over the opponents the two squads have shared, while the Beavers have gone an abysmal 0-3-1 against those same teams.

Strengths: Denver is averaging an even four goals per contest on the year.

This is due, in large part, to a balanced roster that boasts 14 players with 10 points or more, a whopping six with more than 30 points, and two with more than 40.

Weaknesses: It’s hard to call the goaltenders of a team with 28 wins a weakness—but then again, the Pioneers do play in the WCHA.

As they begin to encounter teams with stronger defenses, the rotation between two young goalies—one of whom, Glenn Fisher, boasts an .890 save percentage—might face a stronger attack than that to which it has become accustomed.

Key To Victory: It is safe to say that Bemidji State’s in-conference competition—the other five schools in College Hockey America—come nowhere near the caliber of Denver. Should the Pioneers score early or mount a quick, aggressive offensive attack, there’s a strong chance that the Beavers will suffer the same fate they have all year long at the hands of Midwestern powerhouses: high-scoring losses.

BEMIDJI STATE: A WING AND A PRAYER

RECORD: 23-12-1

SEED: 4

Bemidji State defeated Alabama-Huntsville on March 13 to qualify for the NCAA tournament, courtesy of the CHA’s automatic bid.

But let’s face it, Beavers’ fans. You’ve captured a conference crown and advanced to college hockey’s big dance for the first time in your brief Division I history, where you’ll face the defending national champions. This is more likely than not where your Cinderella run comes to an end.