The University of Maine men’s hockey team needed a precise sequence of events to make the NCAA tournament.

It’s not happening.

In part because of a loss by Northeastern on Friday, the Black Bears’ postseason hopes unofficially were dashed Friday night.

Maine needed a sequence of results to work out in its favor to move up in the power rankings and gain a berth in the field of 16 teams in the NCAA tournament.

The field will be announced Sunday morning, but Maine most likely will not be in it.

The Black Bears needed defending NCAA and Hockey East tourney champion Boston College to lose to Northeastern on Friday, but the Eagles took a 5-4 victory. Merrimack defeated New Hampshire 4-1 and will face Boston College tonight for the Hockey East title.

Entering today’s championship games, Maine is tied for 18th in the PairWise Rankings, the system that mimics the selection committee’s method for determining and seeding the 16-team NCAA tournament.

 


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