Boston College has clinched the top position in the NCAA Division I men’s national hockey tournament. The team, distinguished as the only 30-win team in the country and boasting 14 NHL draft picks, will enter the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed in its regional. In this regional, the defending national champion, Quinnipiac, will compete against Boston College.
During the selection show broadcast on ESPN, the team’s coach, Greg Brown, expressed his confidence in the 11-member freshman class. Brown, who previously served as an assistant to the all-time winningest coach in Division I hockey, Jerry York, highlighted the eagerness and enthusiasm displayed by the young players as they integrated into the team.
Boston College’s freshman class, which includes first-round picks Ryan Leonard and Will Smith, played a pivotal role in the team’s successes, leading them to their first Hockey East regular-season title since 2020 and their first conference tournament title since 2012.
In the upcoming Providence Regional, Boston College will face off against Michigan Tech in their opening game while Wisconsin will take on defending national champion Quinnipiac in another match. The regional final is scheduled to take place on Sunday.
Furthermore, the No. 2 seed, Boston University, led by freshman star center Macklin Celebrini, is aiming for their sixth national title. They will open against RIT in the Sioux Falls Regional. Last year’s national runner-up, Minnesota, will also be competing in this regional.
Denver, the No. 3 seed, will be up against the 2021 national champion, Massachusetts, in the Springfield Regional, seeking their 10th national title. The regional final is set for Saturday.
Lastly, the No. 4 seed, Michigan State, making their first tournament appearance since 2012, will go head-to-head against Western Michigan in the Maryland Heights Region. The regional final will take place on Sunday.
Following these regionals, the victorious teams will advance to the Frozen Four at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The eventual national semifinal games will determine the teams competing for the national championship on Saturday, April 13 at 6 p.m. ET.
The tournament promises to be an exhilarating display of top-tier collegiate hockey talent, with each team aiming to etch their names in the annals of hockey history. The stage is set for an electrifying series of games, and fans are eagerly awaiting the crowning of the next national champion in college hockey.