As the journey to the men’s Frozen Four gets underway, the excitement is palpable as the conference tournaments commence, offering six automatic berths to the tournament. The highly anticipated bracket for the 16-team NCAA field will be revealed on March 24 (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU and ESPN+), with the regionals scheduled to take place from March 28 through March 31. The Frozen Four itself is set to be held on April 11 and 13 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The 16-team field will comprise the six conference tournament winners – Atlantic, Big Ten, CCHA, ECAC, Hockey East, and NCHC – along with 10 at-large teams. At-large teams are selected based on the PairWise rankings, adding an additional layer of competitiveness and excitement to the tournament.
Below is a detailed outline of the schedules and results from each of the conference tournaments for the passionate hockey enthusiasts:
Atlantic
RIT secured its second consecutive Atlantic regular-season title and sixth overall. After first-round games featuring the six lowest seeds, the top four seeds are ready to host best-of-three quarterfinal series. The victorious teams from the quarterfinals will then advance to the best-of-three semifinals, with the winners earning a spot in the single-game final.
Big Ten
Michigan State, boasting an impressive 22-9-3 record, earned a bye to the quarterfinals after capturing its first Big Ten regular-season title. While seeds 2-7 compete in best-of-three quarterfinal series, all eyes are set on the single-game semifinals and final, scheduled to take place at campus sites.
CCHA
Bemidji State concluded the regular season with eight consecutive victories, securing its first regular-season title since 2017. The upcoming best-of-three quarterfinals will be hosted by the top four seeds, followed by single-game semifinals and final, all to be held at campus sites.
ECAC
Defending national champion Quinnipiac continues to showcase its dominance, clinching its fourth consecutive regular-season title. In the first round, seeds 5-12 will participate in single games before the top four teams receive first-round byes. After a reseed, the quarterfinals will feature best-of-three series, culminating in an exciting conclusion.
Hockey East
With one weekend left in the regular season, top-ranked Boston College has secured its 18th Hockey East regular-season title and first since 2021. The Hockey East tournament is single elimination throughout, adding an extra layer of intensity to the matchups.
NCHC
North Dakota secured its sixth regular-season title in the NCHC’s 11-year history and its fourth in the last five years. The top four seeds will host best-of-three quarterfinal series, promising action-packed encounters on the ice.
For devoted hockey fans, every game of the NCAA men’s hockey tournament, including the Frozen Four and championship game, will be available on ESPN+. A subscription provides access to all the heart-stopping action as the teams battle it out for supremacy.
With the stage set for an exhilarating tournament, sports enthusiasts have much to look forward to as they await the crowning of the next men’s Frozen Four champion.