2012 Atlantic Hockey Tournament

The 2012 Atlantic Hockey Tournament was held from March 2 through March 17, 2012. The winner of the tournament received the conference's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Format
All twelve teams qualify for the tournament. The first round has seeds 5 though 12 playing in a best of three first round at the arena of the higher seeded team. Seed 5 host seed 12, 6 host 11, 7 host 10, and 8 host 9. The teams were re-seeded after the first round. The quarterfinal round has seed 1 host seed 8, seed 2 host 7, 3 host 6, 4 host 5. This round was also best of three at the arena of the higher seed. Teams were re-seed for the semifinal round. The Atlantic Hockey Championships (semifinal and final rounds) were held at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York.

First Round
Games Played March 2nd through 4, 2012

#5 Holy Cross vs #12 Army

 * Holy Cross defeated Army 2 games to none (3-2, 5-2)

#6 Bentley vs #11 Sacred Heart

 * Bentley defeated Sacred Heart 2 games to 1 (5-3, 2-4, 5-0)

#7 Robert Morris vs #10 American International

 * Robert Morris defeated American International 2 games to 1 (5-3, 5-7,4-3 (OT))

#8 Connecticut vs #9 Canisius

 * Connecticut defeated Canisius 2 games to none (4-3 (ot), 4-0)

Quarterfinals
games played March 9-11, 2012

#1 Air Force vs #8 Connecticut

 * Air Force defeated Connecticut 2 games to 1 (4-3, 1-3, 4-3)

#2 Niagara vs #7 Robert Morris

 * Niagara defeated Robert Morris 2 games to none (3-0, 2-1)

#3 RIT vs #6 Bentley

 * RIT defeated Bentley 2 games to 1 (1-4, 5-4 (2OT, 3-0)

#4 Mercyhurst vs #5 Holy Cross

 * Mercyhurst defeated Holy Cross 2 games to 1 (2-1, 1-3, 3-1)

Semifinals
games played March 16

#1 Air Force vs #4 Mercyhurst

 * Air Force defeated Mercyhurst 5 to 2

#2 Niagara vs #3 RIT

 * RIT defeated Niagara 2 to 1 in overtime

Final
game played March 17, 2012

#1 Air Force vs #3 RIT
Air Force received the conference's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
 * Air Force defeated RIT 4 to 0