NO. 1 SEED NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDCATS

Location: Durham, N.H.
Record: 25-9-3 (19-5-3 Hockey East, first)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: 28th (most recent, 2007)
Head Coach: Dick Umile
Key Players: Matt Fornataro, F, Sr. (37 GP, 18-28—46); Mike Radja, F, Sr. (35 GP, 19-24—43); James vanRiemsdyk, F, Fr. (30 GP, 11-20—31); Kevin Regan, Sr., G (24-8-2, 2.06, .936)
What You Need To Know: The Wildcats ran away with the Hockey East regular-season title, continued to play well down the stretch and smoked UMass in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Boston College in a surprising semifinal collapse.
How They’ll Advance: Senior goalie Kevin Regan was the Hockey East Player of the Year, boasting a 2.12 goals-against average and .933 save percentage for the league's best defense. UNH's offense, which ranked second in Hockey East, is led by Matt Fornataro (18-28—46) and Mike Radja (19-24—43). They'll never have trouble scoring, but they'll advance by playing solid defense in front of Regan.
What Might Trip Them Up: The Wildcats were staked with a 4-1, second-period lead against Boston College in the Hockey East semifinals before suffering a complete meltdown. They took way too many dumb penalties and didn't give Regan an ounce of help, as all five goals were on deflections or batted into the net out of midair. Regan won't stumble on his own, but his defense can't make him do it by himself.

NO. 2 SEED COLORADO COLLEGE TIGERS

Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Record: 28-11-1 (21-6-1 WCHA, first)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: Two (1950, 1957)
NCAA Appearance: 19th (most recent, 2006)
Head Coach: Scott Owens
Key Players: Richard Bachmann, G, Fr. (25-8-1, 1.82, .933); Chad Rau, F, Jr. (39 GP, 28-14—42); Jack Hillen, D, Sr. (40 GP, 6-31—37); Andreas Vlassopolous, F, So. (40 GP, 8-22—30)
What You Need to Know: Since the NCAA tournament went to its current four-region, 16-team format in 2003, the West Regional host school has also been part of the four-team field on three occasions. In all three instances – Minnesota in 2003 and 2005, and North Dakota in 2006 – the host team has advanced to the Frozen Four.
How They'll Advance: There's a reason the Tigers are 18-2-0 at home this season, and it's due to their speed at forward and mobility on defense. Look for Colorado College to try to exploit that advantage on the World Arena big sheet against Michigan State, whose style is better suited to the NHL-sized rink. The Tigers' top two lines are a balanced, relatively unheralded group led by junior Chad Rau. Sophomore Andreas Vlassopoulos has blossomed as a playmaker in the middle. CC's defensive corps is not unlike the forwards; senior Jack Hillen had a career year offensively, and the rest of the group is steady, if unspectacular. The Tigers don't make many mistakes, but when they do, freshman goaltender Richard Bachman, the WCHA player of the year and rookie of the year, has been there to cover them up.
What Might Trip Them Up: A primary concern for the Tigers isn't so much what happens on the ice, but what goes on between their ears. For a team that has been among the nation's best for a good chunk of the season, Colorado College has shown an alarming proclivity to let leads slip away. The Tigers held the lead at some point in six of their 11 losses, and three times CC lost games it led by two goals. Squandering leads is unacceptable in the regular season; in the postseason, it's a recipe for an early exit.

NO. 3 SEED MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Record: 24-11-5 (19-6-3 CCHA, third)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: Three (1966, 1986, 2007)
NCAA Appearance: 26th (most recent, 2007)
Head Coach: Rick Comley
Key Players: Tim Kennedy, F, Jr. (40 GP, 19-21—40); Bryan Lerg, F, Sr. (40 GP, 20-18—38); Justin Abdelkader, F, Jr. (40 GP, 18-19—37); Jeff Lerg, G, Jr. (23-11-5, 2.23, .925)
What You Need to Know: The defending national champions drew a tough bracket featuring second-seeded Colorado College playing in its home rink, but the underdog role suited Michigan State nicely last year, when they won the program's third national championship as a third seed in their regional. Jeff Lerg is one of the best goalies in the nation and there's enough firepower up front.
How They'll Advance: Jeff Lerg has rightfully earned a reputation as a big-game goalie and his cousin Bryan Lerg shows a knack for scoring big goals. The talent on the first line of Tim Kennedy, Justin Abdelkader, and Chris Mueller is as good as any line in this tournament.
What Might Trip Them Up: Their road to the Frozen Four is as difficult as any team in the nation faces, starting with CC at home and a potential second-round game against New Hampshire, which also plays its home games on the bigger ice sheet. The World Arena playing surface measures 200 feet x 100 feet. The Spartans are 2-2-0 on larger ice surfaces this year, losing twice at Northern Michigan and winning twice at Alaska.