Air Force will take a NCAA- best nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) into its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Falcons, who failed to qualify for the national tournament in their first 38 years, have now accomplished the feat back-to-back. By beating Mercyhurst 5-4 in double-overtime Sunday in the Atlantic Hockey Association tournament championship game in Rochester, N.Y., Air Force captured its second straight AHA tournament championship and an automatic NCAA bid to the 16-team national field.
The Falcons (21-11-6) ultimately will be joined in the NCAA Tournament by Colorado Springs rival Colorado College and the University of Denver, marking the first time the state’s three Division I teams will play in the national tournament in the same year.
“What an experience,” coach Frank Serratore said after Josh Frider scored 56 seconds into the second OT in a game Air Force led 2-0, then later trailed 3-2. “I’m so proud of our guys. We lost Eric Ehn, our top offensive guy, in January against Colorado College, and now we might get a chance to pay the Tigers back in the Springs. What a great ride.”
Air Force (21-11-6) likely will be the No. 4 seed in the March 28-29 West Regional at the Colorado Springs World Arena. CC, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champion, is guaranteed to play at the West Regional and is headed toward the No. 1 seed.
WCHA Final Five. No. 3 seed Denver will play No. 2 North Dakota in Friday’s WCHA Final Five semifinals at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. And No. 1 Colorado College will play on Friday against the winner of the quarterfinal game Thursday between No. 7 Minnesota and No. 5 St. Cloud State.
DU and CC will get NCAA Tournament bids, regardless how they perform at the Final Five.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
WCHA
First round (best of three)
Sunday’s games
North Dakota 2, Michigan Tech 1; North Dakota wins series 2-1
Minnesota 3, Minnesota State 2, 2OT; Minnesota wins series 2-1
THE FINAL FIVE
At Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Minnesota vs. St. Cloud State, 6 p.m.
Friday’s semifinals
Denver vs. North Dakota, 1 p.m.
Colorado Coll. vs. Minn.-St. Cloud winner, 6 p.m.
AHA
THE FINAL FIVE
At Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.
Saturday’s semifinals
Air Force 5, Rochester Tech 0
Mercyhurst 4, Army 2
Sunday’s championship
Air Force 5, Mercyhurst 4, 2OT
CCHA
Second round
N. Michigan 3, Michigan St. 2, OT; N. Michigan wins series 2-1
Notre Dame 2, Ferris St. 1; N.D. wins series 2-1
CHA
Championship
Niagara 3, Bemidji St. 2
ECAC
Second round
Colgate 3, Clarkson 2, 2OT; Colgate wins series 2-1
Harvard 3, Quinnipiac 1; Harvard wins series 2-1
Princeton 4, Yale 0; Princeton wins series 2-1
Hockey East
First round
Boston U. 4, Mass.-Lowell 2; Boston U. wins series 2-1
Vermont 4, Northeastern 1; Vermont wins series 2-1
