Hello from the Xcel Energy Center where the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the Western Michigan Broncos are about to face off in the first of two West Regional games today. The game starts at 12:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Fox Sports North in the Twin Cities and ESPN3.com elsewhere.
North Dakota features the same lineup which won them the Broadmoor Trophy while the Broncos enter the game on the heels of winning the CCHA conference championship.
Aaron Dell is in net for the nickname-less UND team and Frank Slubowski will be starting for Western Michigan.
University of North Dakota Line Combinations
Forwards
Brock Nelson (#29) - Corban Knight (#10) - Danny Kristo (#7)
Mark MacMillan (#16) - Carter Rowney (#27) - Michael Parks (#15)
Stehane Pattyn (#28) - Mario Lamoureux (#9) - Joe Gleason (#20)
Dan Senkbell (#8) - Connor Gaarder (#13) - (No Right Wing)
Defense
Derek Forbort (#4) - Ben Blood (#24)
Andrew MacWilliam (#2) - Nick Mattson (#5)
Dillon Simpson (#18) - Andrew Panzarella (#22)
Goalies (bold indicates starter)
Aaron Dell (#32)
Brad Eidsness (#31)
Tate Maris (#35)
University of Western Michigan Broncos Line Combinations
Forwards
Shane Berschbach (#24) - Chase Balisy (#16) = Dane Walters (#23)
Will Kessel (#29) - Mike Leone (#2) - Greg Squires (#26)
Trevor Elias (#21) - J.J. Crew (#10) - Ian Slater (#14)
Derek Roehl (#22) - Justin Kovacks (#17) - Kyle O'Kane (#19)
Defense
Danny DeKeyser (#22) - Luke Witowski (#28)
Garrett Haar (#4) - Matt Tennyson (#7)
Jordan Osterle (#15) - Dennis Brown (#11)
Goalies
Nick Pisellini (#33
Frank Slubowski (#1)
Kris Moore (#35)
Follow me on Twitter for live game updates @gopherstate and this storystream throughout the tournament for updates on the road to Tampa. You can also follow SB Nation Detroit for the Western Michigan perspective and SB Nation's NHL hub for a national college hockey perspective.