In the past, the DCU Center in Worcester has seen some great NCAA hockey action. This year’s Northeast regional should be no different.

The Northeast regional bracket features the Miami Redhawks, who could be the best all around team in the tournament, the Boston College Eagles, a team who loves to spread the ice, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, an historic team that is looking to get back to the promised land and the Air Force Falcons, who last year almost defeated the Gophers in the NCAA tournament.

No one is safe in this bracket, not even the top team, the Miami Redhawks, who play Air Force in the first round (4:00 p.m. Saturday). The second game features BC and Minnesota (7:30); Two teams who proved their mettle last weekend in their conference tournaments.

Who will prevail in this difficult region? Let’s break down the first round match-ups and predict who will win this regional.

#1 Miami vs. #4 Air Force

As previously stated, Miami could be the best all around team in the tournament. Head coach Enrico Blasi and his squad had a scoring margin of 2.28 (averaged 4.08 goals for and gave up an average of 1.80 goals) tops in the nation. The Redhawks outscored their opponents by 91 goals and can beat you with any style of play.

The penalty killing for the Redhawks was also tops in the nation at 89.6 percent. Justin Mercier and Carter Camper were two main reasons why they were so good, as they can score in any shorthanded situation.

Ryan Jones, a Hobey Baker finalist, scored 30 goals and is the team’s most lethal threat. Jeff Zatkoff had a stellar season in goal coming out with 26 victories while recording three shutouts and had a goals-against-average of 1.67.

Miami could be the best overall team in the tournament; however, the specter of a potential match-up with Boston College could haunt them, since they have lost to BC the last two years in the NCAA tournament.

Air Force lost Eric Ehn, a Hobey finalist last year, with a broken leg in January, but the team was able to do well without him, capturing the Atlantic Hockey tournament title. Brent Olsen, Jeff Hajner and Greg Flynn each recorded 30-plus points for the Falcons in the place of Ehn.

The Falcons defense was also solid. Andrew Volkening had the highest winning percentage among goalies in Atlantic Hockey at .649 and his GAA of 2.08 was second in the conference.

Air Force had a good run, but it will end in Worcester. Miami will come out victorious.

Prediction: Miami 5 – Air Force 2

#2 Boston College vs. #3 Minnesota

Jerry York is one win shy of 800 for his career after the Eagles captured the Hockey East Championship this past weekend.

BC is led by the leading scorer in the nation, Nathan Gerbe, who himself is a Hobey finalist. Gerbe had 57 points, including nine in the Hockey East tournament, the most out of any player, en route to the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

If you think that Gerbe is the only one that can provide excitement when the Eagles hit the ice, think again. Joe Whitney had a stellar freshman campaign leading all Hockey East rookies with 47 points. Perhaps there is a little Brian Gionta in him not just in size, but his speed, agility and quickness. Ben Smith is another 40-plus point guy, while Dan Bertram and Benn Ferriero each had 30-plus points.

In goal, John Muse started every minute of every game for the Eagles as a freshman. Muse had a great Hockey East tournament and was named to the all-tournament team, in part due to his stellar performance in goal, in part due to the defense surrounding him. Senior captain Mike Brennan is the leader of the team and has been to two Frozen Fours. Brennan will look to add a third to his resume.

Minnesota struggled in the first half, and the departure of Kyle Okposo midway through the year was supposed to damage the Gophers.

However, key contributions from Blake Wheeler and Ben Gordon, helped the Gophers overcome their obstacles. Alex Kangas has solidified the number one spot between the pipes while players like Derek Peltier and David Fischer have helped out his cause on defense.

This might not be the best club Don Lucia has had, but the Gophers fought through adversity from the off-season to mid-year with players departing. The fact that they have made it this far is due to solid coaching.

Overall though, Boston College looks like the better team. I like BC in this game and look for the Eagles to upset Miami in the regional final.

Prediction: BC 4 – Minnesota 2

Regional Final Prediction: BC 3 – Miami 2 (OT)