ST. PAUL, Minn. — Colorado College strengthened its position to make the NCAA Tournament by beating Alaska-Anchorage 4-2 on Thursday night, and another win tonight will solidify it.
The Tigers (22-17-3) got two goals from defenseman Joe Marciano and one each from William Rapuzzi and Tim Hall to eliminate the Seawolves in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center.
CC will face top-seeded North Dakota (28-8-3), which has gone 10-0-1 since losing to the Tigers 4-2 on Jan. 28 in Colorado Springs, in tonight’s second semifinal. No. 2 DU and No. 6 Bemidji State face off in the first game.
The Beavers used Shea Walters’ power-play goal to upset No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth 3-2 in overtime in the first quarterfinal.
Footnotes.
Minnesota and Wisconsin failed to advance to the Final Five, marking the first time both Big Ten Conference schools were eliminated in the first round in the same year. . . .
Forwards Matt Frattin of North Dakota and Jack Connolly of Minnesota-Duluth and Wisconsin defenseman Justin Schultz are the WCHA’s representatives as Hobey Baker Award top-10 finalists. . . .
Michigan Tech coach Jamie Russell resigned after the Huskies finished 4-30-4 and won just two league games. DU associate head coach Steve Miller could be a candidate for that job.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
College hockey playoffs
No. 2-seeded Denver (23-10-5) vs. No. 6 Bemidji State (15-17-5)
What: WCHA Final Five semifinal
When: Today, 1 p.m. MDT
Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
TV/Radio: FSN/87.7 FM
Notes: DU is 2-0 against Bemidji State, a first-year member of the WCHA. … Bemidji State finished 10th in the 12-team WCHA but is 3-0 in the league playoffs after Thursday’s 3-2 overtime upset over No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth in the quarterfinals.
No. 4 Colorado College (22-17-3) vs. No. 1 North Dakota (28-8-3)
What: WCHA Final Five semifinal
When: Tonight, 6 p.m. MDT
Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
TV/Radio: FSN/103.9 FM
Notes: CC is 1-1 against North Dakota. … Tigers are 13-14 in the WCHA finals and have never won the Broadmoor Trophy. . . . CC is at the Final Five for the first time since 2008. The Tigers last reached the championship in 2005, losing 1-0 to DU.
No. 2 Air Force (18-11-6) vs. No. 3 Holy Cross (17-15-5)
What: Atlantic Hockey Association Final Four semifinal
When: Today, 5:15 p.m. MDT
Where: Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.
TV/Radio: None/1300 AM
Notes: The winner of this game will play No. 4 Connecticut (15-17-4) or No. 1 RIT (18-10-8) in Saturday’s league championship game, which offers an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
