DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The Miami men's ice hockey team was selected as one of the top seeds in the 2008 NCAA hockey tournament on Sunday, and the RedHawks are hoping their third straight time in the tournament is a charm.

Miami, the top seed of the Northeast Regional and second overall seed in the 16-team single-elimination tournament, opens play against Air Force Academy (21-11-6). The first-round game is set for 4 p.m., Saturday, March 29, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

Air Force definitely earned its trip to this year's tourney. They entered the Atlantic Hockey Association post-season tournament as a third seed and needed double overtime before edging fifth-seeded Mercyhurst, 5-4, in the title match to earn the AHA's automatic berth for the second straight year.

According to the Pairwise Comparison ratings, a system used by the six-man NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Committee to help determine the 10 at-large teams in the tournament, Air Force is the lowest ranked tournament team. But Miami won't be expecting a cakewalk in the opener.

"Being selected the No. 2 overall seed definitely has its benefits," Miami senior forward Ryan Jones said of his team's pairing. "But Air Force is a great team that played really well to win the Atlantic Hockey title. We will have to play well and stay focused to win against them."

The other Northeast regional pits second-seeded Boston College against No. 3 Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. BC, the national runner-up the past two years, has also been in Miami's bracket both of those years.

The Golden Eagles, champions of the Hockey East for a record eighth time, defeated Miami 5-0 in the NCAA tournament two seasons ago in Worcester. BC topped Miami 4-0 in the second round of the Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H. last season.

Ninth-year RedHawks coach Rico Blasi expects the team's experiences in the NCAA tournament the past few years to help them this time around.

"A lot of our kids know how to play hard in these one-game situations now," Blasi said. "Most of our players have been involved in the tournament at least two times now, so that should help.

"We're excited to be going back to the tournament again, but I've seen Air Force play. We'll have to work hard and be at our best."

Miami (32-7-1) is making its sixth appearance in the NCAA championships and the team's fourth in the past five seasons.

Their other appearances came in 1993, '97, 2004, '06 and '07.