The NCAA National Championship Tournament was announced today (selection Sunday hockey style).
3 Vees from last year’s Fred Page Cup Champions will be active in the tournament of the top 16 teams in the States.
Zac Dalpe and Cory Schneider will see tournament play in their rookie seasons as the Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #4 (of 4) in the Northeast Bracket. Schneider has to overcome a mid-season injury and fight his way back into the line-up (2 points in 16 games) while Dalpe was 5th in team scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists in 36 games. Former Vernon Viper Hunter Bishop has 29 points in 41 games for the Buckeyes.
Last year’s captain Brett Hextall and former Vees teammate of 2006/2007 Evan Trupp have got the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota a #2 seed and also happen to play in the Northeast bracket.
Brad Thiessen has been backstopped the Northeastern Huskies to a tournament bid, and looks like a strong candidate for the Hobey Baker. Thiessen was named the Hockey East Player of the Year and has his own site lobbying for more hardware. The Huskies are a 2nd seed in the Midwest Bracket.
Other Notables:
Pentictonite and former Panther Brian Lebler’s Michigan squad will be at the big dance too, the Wolverines have the top spot in the East Bracket.
Euro Justin Krueger - a former Vees D-man - is in with Cornell. The Big Red are #3 in the Midwest Bracket.
