List of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey seasons
Quarterfinals expansion
For the 30th season of the tournament, which had become the de facto possession of the WCHA and ECAC, the NCAA instituted a new rule by which they were able to add up to four additional teams to the tournament if they saw fit.

List of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey seasons

Section Title: Quarterfinals expansion
Table Section Text: For the 30th season of the tournament, which had become the de facto possession of the WCHA and ECAC, the NCAA instituted a new rule by which they were able to add up to four additional teams to the tournament if they saw fit.

No.	Season	Tournament	No. of teams in tournament	Start	Finish	NCAA Champion (number)	Champion Conference	Champion Record	Championship Site

30	1976–77	1977	5	March 26	Wisconsin (2)	WCHA	(37–7–1)	Detroit, Michigan

31	1977–78	1978	6	March 25	Boston University (3)	ECAC	(30–2–0)	Providence, Rhode Island

32	1978–79	1979	5	March 24	Minnesota (3)	WCHA	(32–11–1)	Detroit, Michigan

33	1979–80	1980	5	March 29	North Dakota (3)	WCHA	(31–8–1)	Providence, Rhode Island

34	1980–81	1981	8	March 28	Wisconsin (3)	WCHA	(27–14–1)	Duluth, Minnesota

35	1981–82	1982	8	March 27	North Dakota (4)	WCHA	(35–12–0)	Providence, Rhode Island

36	1982–83	1983	8	March 26	Wisconsin (4)	WCHA	(33–10–4)	Grand Forks, North Dakota

37	1983–84	1984	8	March 24	Bowling Green (1)	CCHA	(34–8–2)	Lake Placid, New York

38	1984–85	1985	8	March 30	Rensselaer (2)	ECAC	(35–2–1)	Detroit, Michigan

39	1985–86	1986	8	March 29	Michigan State (2)	CCHA	(34–9–2)	Providence, Rhode Island

40	1986–87	1987	8	March 28	North Dakota (5)	WCHA	(40–8–0)	Detroit, Michigan

Sentence(s)

1977–78 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season was the 31st season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held.

final_sentence: 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season was the 31st season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held.