1978 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament

The 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, the 31st such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 18 and 25, 1978, and concluded with Boston University defeating Boston College 5-3. The first round games were held at the home team venue while all succeeding games were played at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
==Qualifying teams==
The NCAA gave four teams automatic bids into the tournament. The two ECAC teams that reached the ECAC tournament final received bids as did the two WCHA co-champions. The NCAA also had the ability to add up to 4 additional teams as it saw fit and chose to include the CCHA tournament champion as well as Boston University who had lost only two games prior to the tournament (the second being in the ECAC semifinal). This was the only time in the four years this format was used that an additional eastern team was added to the tournament. Because Colorado College entered the tournament with a losing record Bowling Green was given the honor of hosting the western first round game instead.
East 	East 	East 	East 	East 	East 	East 	West 	West 	West 	West 	West 	West 	West
Seed 	School 	Conference 	Record 	Berth type 	Appearance 	Last bid 	Seed 	School 	Conference 	Record 	Berth type 	Appearance 	Last bid
1 	Boston College 	ECAC Hockey 	23–9–0 	Tournament champion	11th 	1973 	1 	Wisconsin 	WCHA 	28–10–3 	Tournament co-champion	5th 	1977
2 	Providence 	ECAC Hockey 	17–14–2 	Tournament finalist	2nd 	1964 	2 	Colorado College	WCHA 	18–21–1 	Tournament co-champion	8th 	1957
East At-Large	East At-Large 	East At-Large	East At-Large	East At-Large 	East At-Large	East At-Large	West At-Large	West At-Large 	West At-Large	West At-Large	West At-Large 	West At-Large	West At-Large
Seed 	School 	Conference 	Record 	Berth type 	Appearance 	Last bid 	Seed 	School 	Conference 	Record 	Berth type 	Appearance 	Last bid
A2 	Boston University	ECAC Hockey 	27–2–0 	At-Large 	13th 	1977 	A1 	Bowling Green 	CCHA 	29–7–0 	Tournament champion 	2nd 	1977
==Format==
The four automatic qualifiers were seeded according to pre-tournament finish. The ECAC champion was seeded as the top eastern team while the WCHA co-champion that finished highest in the regular season was given the top western seed. The second eastern seed was slotted to play the top western seed and vice versa. Because an at-large bid was offered to a western school they were placed in a first round game with the second western seed to determine the final semifinalist. The first round game was played at the home venue of the second seed while all succeeding games were played at the Providence Civic Center. All matches were Single-game eliminations with the semifinal winners advancing to the national championship game and the losers playing in a consolation game.
==Tournament Bracket==
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
===First Round===
====(A1) Bowling Green vs. (W2) Colorado College====
====(E2) Providence vs. (A2) Boston University====
===Semifinal===
====(W1) Wisconsin vs. (A2) Boston University====
====(E1) Boston College vs. (A1) Bowling Green====
===Third Place Game===
====(W1) Wisconsin vs. (A1) Bowling Green====
===National Championship===
====(E1) Boston College vs. (A2) Boston University====
==All-Tournament Team==
*G: Paul Skidmore (Boston College)
*D: Dick Lamby (Boston University)
*D: Jack O'Callahan* (Boston University)
*F: Mark Fidler (Boston University)
*F: Joe Mullen (Boston College)
*F: Dave Silk (Boston University)
* Most Outstanding Player(s)
==See also==
*1978 Frozen Four
==References==
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Category:1978 in hockey
Category:NCAA Division I Tournaments
Category:NCAA Tournaments