WCHA TOURNAMENT

Friday-Sunday: Best-of-three first-round series.

March 17-19: Final Five at Xcel Energy Center (six teams, five games). Champion gets automatic NCAA tournament bid.

FRIDAY'S FIRST-ROUND OPENERS

#12 Michigan Tech at #1 North Dakota, 7:37 p.m.

#11 Minnesota State Mankato at #2 Denver, 8:37 p.m.

#10 Bemidji State at #3 Nebraska-Omaha, 7:37 p.m.

#9 St. Cloud State at #4 Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 p.m.

#8 Alaska Anchorage at #5 Gophers, 7:07 p.m.

#7 Wisconsin at #6 Colorado College, 8:37 p.m.