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NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Overview
The field for the men’s NCAA hockey tournament is officially set, with 16 teams vying for a chance to compete in the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota. Regional play is scheduled to begin on Thursday and will conclude on March 31, with the national semifinals set for April 11 and the championship game on April 12 at the Xcel Energy Center.
Boston College, the Hockey East champion and the top-seeded team for most of the season, has secured the No. 1 overall seed. Joining them are other top seeds Boston University, Denver, and Michigan State. The tournament champions in Atlantic Hockey, the Big Ten, CCHA, ECAC, Hockey East, and NCHC have automatically qualified, with the remaining 10 at-large spots determined by the PairWise rankings.
Every game of the tournament will be broadcasted on the ESPN family of networks and available for streaming on ESPN+.
Tournament Schedule
Springfield (Massachusetts) Regional
Semifinals, Thursday
- No. 1 Denver vs. No. 4 UMass, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
- No. 2 Maine vs. No. 3 Cornell, 5:30 p.m. (ESPNews)
Final, Saturday
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Regional
Semifinals, Thursday
- No. 1 Boston University vs. No. 4 RIT, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
- No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Omaha, 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Final, Saturday
Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Providence (Rhode Island) Regional
Semifinals, Friday
- No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 4 Michigan Tech, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
- No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac, 5:30 p.m. (ESPNews)
Final, March 31
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Maryland Heights (Missouri) Regional
Semifinals, Friday
- No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Western Michigan, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
- No. 2 North Dakota vs. No. 3 Michigan, 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Final, March 31
Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Frozen Four
National semifinals, April 11 – 5 and 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
National championship game, April 13 – 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Storylines to Watch
Underdog Teams
ESPN college hockey analysts Andrew Raycroft and Sean Ritchlin identify Omaha as a strong contender outside of the top four seeds. Omaha’s recent form and notable victories have positioned them as a dark horse in the tournament.
Sean Ritchlin highlights the significance of defensive prowess in the NCAA tourney, emphasizing teams like Cornell, Quinnipiac, and Wisconsin who excel in limiting high-powered offensive opponents.
Championship Predictions
Andrew Raycroft confidently backs Boston College for the championship, citing the team’s well-rounded attributes and strong performance throughout the season. His counterpart, Sean Ritchlin, echoes this sentiment, recognizing BC’s depth and offensive capabilities as key factors for success.
Hobey Baker Race
Andrew Raycroft selects Gauthier of BC as his top choice for the Hobey Baker award, noting Gauthier’s goal-scoring prowess and consistent performance. Meanwhile, Sean Ritchlin deliberates between top contenders like Celebrini of BU and Smith of BC, emphasizing the significance of each player’s contributions to their respective teams’ success.
Frozen Four Predictions
Predictions by Andrew Raycroft – Boston College, Boston University, Denver, and North Dakota
Predictions by Sean Ritchlin – Boston College, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Denver
Both analysts emphasize the critical role of team defense and goaltending in the high-stakes tournament, underlining the potential impact of experienced players and strategic gameplay on the road to the Frozen Four.
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