Day Two - Things That Come in Threes

With six games being played, Day Two of the NCAAMIHT is always one of the most exciting days of the tournament...one full of drama, intrigue, and inspiration.  And this year was no different.  Minnesota, Boston College, and Union all proved their seeds were earned by rolling over their competition.  On the other hand, Massachusetts-Lowell had to survive a wild finish to get past Minnesota State-Mankato, St. Cloud State pushed past Notre Dame in overtime despite being outshot 3-1 in regulation, and fourth-seeded North Dakota needed double overtime to punch it's ticket to the Frozen Four.  While college basketball has seen some great finishes in their round of sixteen this year, we who follow college hockey know that this type of thing is an annual occurrence.

And fortunately for us of the Wockey bent, the drama carries over into our pool.  Despite my better judgment, I have been running this pool for seven years.  Not once have we had a bracket that nailed all eight first-round picks.  This year we had seven.  And what's more is that of those seven three also predicted the first two regional finals winners correctly.  This means that going into the last day of the first weekend of Wockey three brackets are still perfect.  Congratulations to Sean Steichen, Eric Fritz, and Chris Walker.  Let's give them a hand!

Three is also the magic number when it comes down to the race for the uncherished title of Wockey Puckhead.  Three points will be the final tally of said Puckhead as each of the 300+ submitted brackets got at least one pick correct.  And three are currently tied with three points for guessing only one of the first eight games correctly.  In much the same way that we honor the three perfect brackets, let us mock those who still vie for the thorned crown of Wockey Puckhead....Jonathan Allen, Jeff Stark and....Chris Walker.  Yes, the same Chris Walker who also has a perfect bracket through ten games.  Never before has the same person been named Woickey Champion and Wockey Puckhead in the same year.  Could this be the year it finally happens?

Much is yet to be decided, but it will begin tomorrow when the two final Frozen Four entrants are determined.  The 4:00CT game features a Hockey East showdown between Mass-Lowell and Boston College while old WCHA foes St. Cloud State and Minnesota battle at 6:00CT from St. Paul.  Enjoy the end of the regional semis and the first weekend of Wockey.  And good luck!

Your Diddling, Piddling, Middling Wockey Commish,

Alex

P.S.  This.