With the conference titles decided, the NCAA hockey world turns their eyes to the regional tournaments this weekend. The Canucks are well represented with Brock Boeser, Adam Gaudette and Thatcher Demko all qualifying for this weekend’s action.

So the time is right to preview the dogfight they’re all walking into. 

Just to ensure that everyone is aware of how the NCAA regionals work, and how the teams qualify, here is the information from the NCAA:

So from a Canucks perspective, Boeser and Demko are participating as their teams were part of the ‘best 10 remaining teams’ while Gaudette and Northeastern qualify because of their Hockey East Championship win this past weekend.

The four teams that win each bracket will make it to the NCAA Frozen Four, which runs from April 7-9 in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The full NCAA Div 1 bracket can be found here.

The 2015 first round pick enters the NCAA Mid-West regionals on fire. Currently on a nine game point streak and with points in 25 of his last 28 games. So although he is on fire personal, he and his University North Dakota teammates will look to put the disappoint of losing in the NCHC semi-finals behind them. 

On Friday, they lost 4-2 to Minnesota-Duluth in a winner take all semi-final, only to watch the UMD Bulldogs lose to St Cloud State. The path was there for UND to easily take the NCHC title, but unfortunately couldn’t make it happen. North Dakota had faced UMD four times this season and went 4-0.

After being ranked in first or second for the majority of the season, the loss to UMD pushed North Dakota down to 3rd in the NCAA rankings. 

In the draw, they got matched up against Hockey East champion Northeastern University Huskies. North Dakota and Northeastern did not face each other this season. North Dakota will be in tough, as Northeastern has been the best team in the nation since January.

As always, the Fighting Hawks will rely heavily on their first line of Boeser, Chicago first round pick Nick Schmaltz and UFA Drake Caggiula.

If you said in December that Northeastern University was going to be in the NCAA regionals, you would’ve been laughed at. But the Huskies have been the best team in the NCAA for the second half. Going 19-1-2 in their final 22 games to capture the Hockey East title. This has vaulted them to the 13th ranked team in the country.

They defeated Thatcher Demko and Boston College 5-4 in the Hockey East Semi-Finals, before defeating UMass Lowell 3-2 in the Finals.

Northeastern plays a hard working gritty game, and Gaudette represents that perfectly. He has been a huge part of the Huskies hot streak as he has 9 goals and 16 assists during this current 22 game hot streak. He is generally manning the second line centre spot with first power play unit time. He had one goal in the Hockey East Semi-Finals and then scored again in the finals.

The 2015 5th round pick turned around his season fantastically and now looks like a legitimate prospect that could project into a serviceable depth forward for the Canucks in the future. Time will tell, but still great to see.

The Huskies will face North Dakota in the first round of the Mid-West Regionals. It will be a fascinating game to watch as North Dakota boasts serious high-end skill while Northeastern will look to grind out a win. I won’t be surprised to see Gaudette’s line matched up Boeser’s in a shutdown role. 

The winner of this game will go on to face the winner of Notre Dame and Michigan. Boeser did not face either of those teams this season. Northeastern played Notre Dame in the Hockey East Quarterfinals, winning game 1 by a 3-1 score, and then 6-4 in the deciding game 2. Gaudette had one assist in those two games.

You can see North Dakota and Northeastern clash this Friday at 11AM PT on TSN2.

Whoever advances, Boeser or Gaudette, you will be able to see the Mid-West final on Saturday at 3PM PT on TSN2.

It’s amazing how intertwined the Canucks prospects in the NCAA have been this season. Boston College lost to Northeastern in the Hockey East Semi-Finals this past weekend, ultimately ending Demko’s bid for a Hockey East Championship this season. It was the second year in a row that Boston College has lost prematurely, as they were knocked out by the University of Vermont in the Quarterfinals last season. They were able to slay that dragon this season, by defeating Vermont in three games, but came up short against the Huskies on Friday. Demko did play well in the deciding game but did end up giving up 5 goals on 32 shots.

Boston College failed to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four last season after losing to Denver in the Regionals.

Boston College is facing Harvard in the first round this season. This will be their second match-up this season, as they faced each other in the Beanpot tournament Semi-Finals. Demko made 21 saves in a 3-2 win, as Boston College captured their 20th Beanpot title.

The winner will go onto face the winner of Providence and Minnesota-Duluth. Boston College did not face Minnesota-Duluth this season, but did face Providence three times. The Eagles were 1-1-1 against their Hockey East rivals. Demko only appeared in one of those games, as he was recovering from a concussion for the other two. He gave up two goals on 29 shots.

You will be able Thatcher Demko and the Boston College eagles take on Harvard on Friday at 5PM PT on TSN GO (online).

If Boston College does advance, you will be able to see the Northeast finals on Saturday at 6PM PT on TSN GO

Should be an exciting weekend of hockey and I highly recommend that you try to catch as of the much action as you can. The full broadcast schedule on TSN can be found here.

From a Canucks fan perspective, it’s great to see the team being represented by three players who play huge roles for their respective teams.