Adrian cracks NCAA D-III tourney field

The 2010 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament pairings were released on Sunday evening and the Adrian Bulldogs (24-3-0), winners of the MCHA, will travel to St. Norbert College (21-3-3) to face-off against the winners of the NCHA Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. EST.

This will be the first NCAA appearance for the Bulldogs in its third season of existence. St. Norbert is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, as they were national runner-up in 2004 and 2006, while winning the 2008 Division III national title. They have also finished third twice. The Green Knights will be making their 11th trip to the national tournament with an all-time record of 12-9-1.

Adrian finally is where they felt they have belonged for the past two seasons. The Bulldogs were not included in the tournament as an at-large team despite the best winning percentage over the past two years in Division III. This year was the first season that the MCHA had an automatic qualifier for the winner of the Harris Cup. The Bulldogs won their third straight Harris Cup with a dramatic 3-2 win on Saturday afternoon against Marian University.

St. Norbert captured the Peters Cup championship on Saturday night with a convincing 7-1 victory at home against Wisconsin-River Falls. The Green Knights are the top-seed in the West Region for the eighth time in the last nine years. St. Norbert is also 12-1-1 at their home rink, the Cornerstone Community Center.

"We are very excited to be playing on Wednesday against one of the best programs in the country," said Adrian head coach Ron Fogarty. "Our guys are ready for the challenge and this is the opportunity we have wanted."