2012 NCAA Division I hockey tournament bracket revealed

The NCAA has released the official field of 16 for this year’s NCAA hockey tournament. Here’s how the bracket looks with the winner of each regional advancing to the Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla.

2012 NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament

(All times EDT)

Northeast Regional (Worcester, Mass.)

1. Boston College vs. 16. Air Force, 4 p.m., Saturday

7. Minnesota-Duluth vs. 10. Maine, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Regional final: Sunday, 8 p.m.

West Regional (St. Paul, Minn.)

4. North Dakota vs. 14. Western Michigan, 1:30 p.m., Saturday

8. Minnesota vs. 9. Boston University, 5 p.m., Saturday

Regional final: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Midwest Regional (Green Bay, Wis.)

2. Michigan vs. 13. Cornell, 9 p.m., Friday

6. Ferris State vs. 11. Denver, 5:30 p.m., Friday

Regional final: Saturday, 9 p.m.

East Regional (Bridgeport, Conn.)

3. Union vs. 15. Michigan State, 3 p.m., Friday

5. Miami vs. 12. UMass-Lowell, 6:30 p.m., Friday

Regional final: 6:30 p.m., Saturday

Below is my final bracket posted a little before 1 a.m. this morning. I made the simple switch of No. 15 Michigan State and No. 16 Air Force as to not punish No. 2 Michigan and reward No. 3 Union and No. 4 North Dakota. Instead the committee decided to protect No. 1 Boston College — as predicted by USCHO’s Jason Moy.

With Air Force staying in Worcester, and Michigan unable to play CCHA rivals Michigan State and No. 14 Western Michigan, No. 13 Cornell was Michigan’s only other possible opponent. Being the higher seed, Union then got Michigan State while the CCHA champion Broncos must get through North Dakota and most likely Minnesota in St. Paul to reach the Frozen Four.

Matt’s final bracket:

Northeast Regional (Worcester, Mass.) — 1. Boston College vs. 15. Michigan State; 7. Minnesota-Duluth vs. 10. Maine.

West Regional (St. Paul, Minn.) — 4. North Dakota vs. 13. Cornell; 8. Minnesota vs. 9. Boston University

Midwest Regional (Green Bay, Wis.) — 2. Michigan vs. 16. Air Force; 6. Ferris State vs. 11. Denver.

East Regional (Bridgeport, Conn.) — 3. Union vs. 14. Western Michigan; 5. Miami vs. 12. UMass-Lowell.