As expected, the University of Maine hockey team was awarded a No. 1 seed and sent to the East Region in Albany, N.H., for the NCAA hockey tournament.

The Black Bears (30-7-3) will face fourth-seed Harvard (18-14-3), the ECAC champion, at 5 p.m. Friday at the Pepsi Arena.

The other regional semifinal in Albany features second-seed Ohio State (16-15) and third-seed Wisconsin (21-12-8). The winners play Saturday at 6 p.m. for the right to advance to the Frozen Four in Boston beginning April 8.

Also earning No. 1 seeds are North Dakota, Boston College and Minnesota.

Maine, 13-1-2 in its last 16 games, is coming off a dramatic triple-overtime 2-1 triumph over Massachusetts in the Hockey East championship game Saturday. The Bears have not faced Harvard this season, but defeated Wisconsin 6-2 on the opening weekend and dropped a 4-2 decision to the Buckeyes at a tournament in Florida during the Christmas break.

“We’ve been on a pretty good roll for awhile,” said Ben Murphy, who scored the game-winner Saturday. “Not just these (conference) tournament games but the whole year. Hockey East is so tough. It’s going to make it that much easier.”

Hockey East schools BC and New Hampshire received at-large bids to the NCAAs. UMass needed to beat Maine in the conference final to receive an invitation.

Tickets for the weekend games will be available Monday from the Back Bear ticket office beginning at 8:30 a.m. by calling 581-BEAR or 800-756-TEAM.

– Steve Sherlock

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