March Madness is a term that has been copyrighted, branded, and flogged mercilessly by the NCAA for its hoop demigods, but hockey has its own version: one that starts earlier, finishes later, and has more four-year seniors desperately playing for the right to continue wearing their team colors. 

Six of the WCHA tournament participants need to win the Jeff Sauer Championship Trophy to continue their season in the national tournament, creating “win-or-go-home” scenarios in all four best-of-three quarterfinal series. Here’s our breakdown, with three of the matchups looking to move the drama-meter toward the red zone.

(1) Minnesota State vs (8) Alaska Anchorage

This is the only “lock” of the four series, as the national No. 3 Mavericks should toy with the Seawolves for six periods in Mankato. The only danger for the purple-clad fans at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center is getting the “Ole! Ole!” goal celebration song stuck permanently in their heads.

This extraordinarily deep Mavericks squad has been bolstered by the return of leading scorer and co-captain Marc Michaelis, named the WCHA’s top forward in his first series back two weeks ago after missing seven games with an ankle injury. Michaelis is one of seven seniors who have dedicated themselves to making a permanent mark in this year’s postseason. If a “sure thing” exists in sports, it would be the 29-win Mavericks defeating the four-win Wolves. 

Prediction: Minnesota State in two games

Drama Meter: 0

(2) Bemidji vs (7) Lake Superior State 

Back on Feb. 15, Laker coach Damon Whitten spoke about trying to move up in the standings to avoid either Minnesota State or Bemidji. If you listen to Beavers coach Tom Serratore, it’s the Lakers that might be the club worth avoiding: “They’re getting very good goaltending in 2020, they’re scoring goals,” he said. “You better be ready to play hockey.”

This series matches up two elite goalies: Mareks Mitens of Lake State and Zach Driscoll of Bemidji. The hottest scorer on the ice is the Lakers’ Ashton Calder, who might help the Lakers steal a game. Lake State has added two baubles to their trophy case this year, the MacInnes Cup for winning the Winter Carnival Series at Michigan Tech, and the Cappo Cup for defeating Northern Michigan. Despite 21 losses on their record, LSSU has a puncher’s chance of nicking up the nation’s No. 10 team.

Prediction: Bemidji in three games

Drama Meter: 6

(3) Northern Michigan vs (6) Michigan Tech

Go ahead and apply the cliché: Throw out the records. In fact, throw out the home-ice advantage. This series is known in Vegas parlance as a “pick ‘em,” one that will probably be determined by the bounce of a puck that is as slippery as a bar of soap. 

The series essentially began last week, a dramatic split of games that turned this best-of-three into a best-of-five that sits at 1-1, both teams winning on enemy ice. The two venues are exactly 100 miles apart, a commute quite familiar to the rabid Tech fans looking to invade the Berry Event Center in Marquette this weekend.

Northern Michigan’s senior sniper Darien Craighead set the tone with his final act Saturday in Houghton, using his stick as a spear and planting it defiantly in the Michigan Tech logo at center ice, moments after putting a dagger into the back of Tech’s net. 

There will be no shortage of hockey passion — rugged U.P. style — in a series that should see plenty of goals and penalty minutes. Thanks to its goaltending advantage, the visitors should prevail in a grueling series that goes the distance.

Prediction: Michigan Tech in three games

Drama Meter: 8.5

(4) Alaska vs (5) Bowling Green

From the heart of Dixie to the shadow of the Arctic Circle, Bowling Green has become the mileage champs of the frequent flyer set. Last month they had two golden opportunities to force the Nanooks to come to their building in the playoffs, and twice they failed to put away the Alaskans in regulation. 

A tie in the final standings went to men from Klondike country in a tiebreak, so the Falcons packed their bags for yet another flight, and a case of unfinished business. The problem from Bowling Green’s perspective is that every extra minute played up north, every overtime a potential a third-game rubber match, will deplete the energy of a veteran squad needing to go the distance on the road to reach the NCAAs.

For hockey lovers, games played in the Alaska time zone will provide late-night doubleheader action. These tilts will be worth the loss of sleep. Look for Nanooks junior sniper (and former Viper) Steven Jandric to carry the day, and end the stellar college careers of BGSU seniors Alec Rauhauser and Freddy LeTourneau.

Prediction: Alaska in three games

Drama Meter: 7

Check out the 2020 WCHA Watch Guide for full schedules and links to matches HERE

Tim Rappleye is the author of Jack Parker's Wiseguys: The National Champion BU Terriers, the Blizzard of '78, and the Road to the Miracle on Ice. He can be reached on Twitter @TeeRaps.