The Hope College ice hockey team is headed to the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament for the 14th time next month.

Coach Chris VanTimmeren's Flying Dutchmen clinched a spot in the 2015 national finals by finishing as one of the top two seeds in the North Region. Hope finished second in the region behind Oakland University.

Photo of senior Drew O'Brien by Monica Dwyer

Hope is 22-3-3 on the season after winning the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference's West Division.

The Flying Dutchmen are playing the MCHC's Vezina Cup Final Four on February 27-28 at Georgetown Ice Arena in Georgetown Township.

Hope is seeking back-to-back appearances in the national championship game and its fifth overall. The Flying Dutchmen were national runner-up for the fourth time after a 1-0 loss to Adrian's Gold team last year.

The 2015 ACHA National Championships are March 10-14 in Pelham, Alabama.

Hope and Oakland join Alabama, Arkansas, Bryn Athyn (Pennsylvania), California (Pennsylvania), Colorado State and Florida Gulf Coast as automatic qualifiers.

Eight other bids to the national tournament will be earned this weekend at four regional sites across the country.

Click here for the 2015 ACHA National Championships home page.