In NCAA hockey tournament, Michigan, MSU, WMU all earn No. 1 seeds
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The state that's shaped like a mitten might want to consider rebranding to one of those giant foam fingers, at least for the next few weeks during the NCAA hockey tournament.
Three teams from the state have earned No. 1 seeds in the hockey tournament, with Michigan receiving the No. 1 overall seed. Defending national champion Western Michigan and Michigan State also received No. 1 seeds, when the 16-team bracket was officially revealed Sunday afternoon.
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Michigan (29-7-1) is the top seed in the Albany, N.Y., Region, and opens up against Bentley (23-11-5) at MVP Arena at 5:30 p.m. Friday. on ESPNU. The regional final is next Sunday.
The Wolverines are coming off a Big Ten tournament championship, beating rival Ohio State, 7-3, at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night.
"I think we're just getting started," Michigan's Luca Fantilli, a senior defenseman, said Saturday night.
North Dakota, Western Michigan's NCHC rival, is the other No. 1 seed in the NCAA Hockey Tournament. Michigan is first, followed by North Dakota, then Michigan State (25-8-2), then Western Michigan (26-10-1).
Michigan State is the top seed in the Worcester, Mass., Region, and starts against Connecticut (20-12-5) at DCU Center at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2. The regional final is Saturday.
Western Michigan, which won its first hockey national championship a year ago, will begins its title defense as the top seed in the Loveland, Colo., Region, opening against Minnesota State (22-10-7) at Blue Arena at 2:30 p.m. Friday on ESPNU. The regional final next Sunday.
Michigan State is looking for its first national championship in hockey since 2007, and Michigan since 1998.
Michigan State won the Big Ten regular-season title, and Michigan the tournament title. And the Wolverines certainly believe they have the momentum.
"Oh, yeah, for sure," Michigan senior forward T.J. Hughes, like Fantilli a captain, said after winning the Big Ten championship before a capacity crowd of 5,800 at Yost on Saturday night. (Among those in attendance was Michigan's new football coach, Kyle Whittingham).
"I think it just gives us confidence that we can win these big games on this big stage."
The Frozen Four is set for April 9 and 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: In NCAA hockey tournament, Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan earn No. 1 seeds