A few weeks ago, Colorado’s three NCAA Division I hockey coaches gathered at the Pepsi Center to promote the April 10-12 Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center.
The University of Denver’s George Gwozdecky, Colorado College’s Scott Owens and Frank Serratore of Air Force talked about how great it would be if each of the Front Range teams advanced to the national semifinals.
On Sunday, that possibility grew.
The Pioneers, Tigers and Falcons — each regular-season or playoff conference champions — were put in different four-team regionals in the 16-team field.
“Colorado hockey fans have to feel pretty good about their hockey teams, huh?” Serratore said.
Denver (26-13-1) is going to the Midwest Regional in Madison, Wis., CC (28-11-1) will be the host at the West Regional in Colorado Springs, and Air Force (21-11-6) is off to the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass.
Never before had each Front Range team advanced to the nationals in the same year, but now they could wind up together at the Frozen Four.
“What a great opportunity for college hockey in the Rocky Mountain region, with all our fans following all three teams in the regionals, and hopefully beyond,” Gwozdecky said.
Advancing to Denver will be difficult for each Front Range squad, particularly the Pioneers, who captured their record-extending 15th WCHA Final Five crown Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn.
DU, seeded No. 2, opens against WCHA foe and No. 3 Wisconsin at the Kohl Center, home of the Badgers (15-16-7) — the tournament’s only sub-.500 team.
Gwozdecky isn’t complaining.
“We’re pumped to be going there,” he said.
North Dakota (26-10-4) of the WCHA is the No. 1 seed in Madison and will play in the first game against No. 4 Princeton (21-13). DU upset the Fighting Sioux 3-1 on Friday in St. Paul but is 2-3 against them this season.
The WCHA produced a record six NCAA Tournament participants, and three were sent to Madison.
“We know our first-round opponent well, we know the rink, the town,” Gwozdecky said. “Familiarity is a good thing, and we’ve had good success in that venue. . . . Plus, we’re kind of glad we don’t have to fly all the way back east. And obviously, we didn’t want to play in the Springs with Colorado College.”
CC, the WCHA regular-season champion, will have home-ice advantage, but opens Friday against defending NCAA champion Michigan State (24-11-5).
The No. 2-seeded Tigers and No. 3 Spartans begin at 8 p.m., after No. 1 New Hampshire plays No. 4 Notre Dame.
CC is 18-2 at the World Arena.
Air Force, the 16th overall seed, opens against No. 2 Miami of Ohio (32-7-1). The winner plays Minnesota or Boston College.
“I thought we’d play (No. 1 overall) Michigan,” Serratore said. “But Miami and Michigan are both good teams, so it really doesn’t matter. Miami is strong and deep. Whoever is the No. 1 seed, you’re going to have your hands full.”
Atlantic Hockey Association playoff champion Air Force takes an NCAA-high nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) into its second straight NCAA appearance.
“Our regional is interesting. You’ve got Boston College, who I think is a sleeper team, and Minnesota and Air Force, who are teams that are playing their best hockey of the season right now,” Serratore said.
NCAA Division I men’s hockey glance
WEST REGIONAL At World Arena, Colorado Springs
First round
Friday’s games
New Hampshire (25-9-3) vs. Notre Dame (24-15-4), 4:30 p.m.
Colorado College (28-11-1) vs. Michigan State (24-11-5), 8 p.m.
Championship
Saturday’s game
New Hamp.-Notre Dame winner vs. C.C.-Mich. St. winner, 8 p.m.
MIDWEST REGIONAL At the Kohl Center, Madison, Wis.
First round
Saturday’s games
North Dakota (26-10-4) vs. Princeton (21-13), 1 p.m.
Denver (26-13-1) vs. Wisconsin (15-16-7), 4:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday’s game
North Dakota-Princeton winner vs. Denver-Wisconsin winner, 5 p.m.
NORTHEAST REGIONAL At the DCU Center, Worcester, Mass.
First round
Saturday’s games
Air Force (21-11-6) vs. Miami (32-7-1), 2 p.m.
Boston College (21-11-8) vs. Minnesota (19-16-9), 5:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday’s game
Miami (Ohio)-Air Force winner vs. Boston College-Minnesota winner, 2:30 p.m.
EAST REGIONAL At the Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.
First round
Friday’s games
St. Cloud State (19-15-5) vs. Clarkson (21-12-4), 2 p.m.
Mich. (31-5-4) vs. Niagara (22-10-4), 5:30 p.m.
Championship
Saturday’s game
St. Cloud St.-Clarkson winner vs. Mich.-Niagara winner, 5 p.m.
THE FROZEN FOUR At the Pepsi Center, Denver
Semifinals
Thursday, April 10
East champion vs. West champion, 4 or 7 p.m.
Midwest champion vs. Northeast champion, 4 or 7 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, April 12
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
Three Avs games to choose from.
The Avalanche went 0-3 in last week’s Northwest Division road trip and is clinging to the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. The good news is, Colorado can go 3-0 in this week’s Northwest Division homestand and feel much better about the postseason.
The games at the Pepsi Center tonight (against Calgary), Wednesday (Vancouver) and Friday (Edmonton) will be carried by Altitude.
COLLEGE HOCKEY, ALL THE TIME
Each NCAA Tournament game to be televised.
ESPN, which lost interest in covering the NHL, is getting back in the game, this time on the college level.
ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 and will combine to cover every game of the upcoming NCAA hockey tournament, which begins Friday and ends April 12 with the Frozen Four championship game at the Pepsi Center.
TAKE IT TO THE GYM
DU visits Air Force.
Women’s gymnastics will fly high tonight at Air Force, where the University of Denver visits the Falcons for a dual meet.
FOUR GAMES IN SEVEN NIGHTS
Nuggets’ busy week.
Denver’s NBAers end a road trip tonight at Memphis before returning home to face Dallas on Thursday. The Nuggets then can take a major step forward in the battle for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference with a Saturday home game against Golden State.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
