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 teams that reached their tournament championship . 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
ECAC tournament final
1977 ECAC Hockey Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
1977 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament