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The NCAA men’s hockey tournament is here, with a 16-team field battling via the regionals for a berth within the Frozen 4, to be held April 7 and 9 at TD Backyard in Boston.
The 4 high seeds are Michigan (No. 1 within the Allentown, Pennsylvania area), Minnesota State (Albany, New York), Denver (Loveland, Colorado) and Western Michigan (Worcester, Massachusetts).
Regional play begins March 24 and 25, with regional finals scheduled for March 26 and 27. All video games might be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPNews and might be accessible for streaming on the ESPN app.
To get you prepared for all of the motion, we have got the total schedule of video games, a roundtable with faculty hockey analysts Dave Starman and Sean Ritchlin sharing their perception on the largest storylines, matchups and gamers, and a take a look at all 16 groups within the area.
Bounce to: Roundtable | Teams at a glance
Schedule
All occasions Japanese; all video games additionally accessible on ESPN app
Albany (N.Y.) regional
March 24
No. 1 Minnesota State vs. No. Four Harvard, midday, ESPNU
No. 2 North Dakota vs. No. Three Notre Dame, 6 p.m., ESPNU
March 26
Regional last, Four p.m. or 6:30 p.m., ESPNU
Loveland (Colo.) regional
March 24
No. 2 Minnesota Duluth vs. No. Three Michigan Tech, Three p.m., ESPNU
No. 1 Denver vs. No. Four UMass Lowell, 9 p.m., ESPNU
March 26
Regional last, Four p.m. or 6:30 p.m., ESPNU
Allentown (Penn.) regional
March 25
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. Four American Worldwide, Three p.m., ESPNU
No. 2 Quinnipiac vs. No. Three St. Cloud State, eight p.m., ESPNews
March 27
Regional last, Four p.m. or 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Worcester (Mass.) regional
March 25
No. 1 Western Michigan vs. No. Four Northeastern, midday, ESPNU
No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. Three UMass, 6 p.m., ESPNU
March 27
Regional last, Four p.m. or 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Frozen 4 at TD Backyard, Boston
April 7
Nationwide semifinals, 5 p.m. and eight:30 p.m., ESPN2
April 9
Nationwide championship recreation, eight p.m., ESPN2
Roundtable
What are the largest storylines getting into the match?
Dave Starman: The NCHC has 5 groups within the area, all are within the high 9 within the PairWise rankings. That league has been a beast this 12 months and within the second half of the season, no groups have performed a more durable energy of schedule than these groups. That being mentioned, Minnesota is loaded, Michigan is loaded, and the query is who has the higher crew. I feel it’s Minnesota; the most-skilled groups normally by no means win this factor. UMass is popping out of a weaker Hockey East than normal. I feel they are going to rise to the problem, however they’re little skinny in some key areas. And the quantity of high quality defensemen on this match is spectacular.
Sean Ritchlin: The West has been dominating all 12 months. With the NCHC getting 5 groups, the Huge Ten getting three and the CCHA two, it seems like a 12 months when the Frozen 4 winner comes from the West. Might this be the 12 months the Huge Ten breaks via and wins a title? Michigan and Minnesota are enjoyable to look at, however these groups are youthful and most of the gamers might be enjoying within the NCAA tourney for the primary time.
What gamers are you most trying ahead to watching?
Starman: If North Dakota’s Jake Sanderson will get wholesome, he is one to look at for certain. Owen Energy of Michigan is unreal, however Sanderson is simply nearly as good and his recreation climbed this season.
The Michigan quartet of Kent Johnson, Energy, Matty Beniers and Mackie Samoskevich is at all times enjoyable to look at. So is Ben Meyers of Minnesota. For goaltenders, Quinnipiac freshman Yaniv Perets has been spectacular and Dryden McKay of Minnesota State is a good story.
Ritchlin: Luke Hughes has actually developed right into a dominant power for Michigan as a freshman. Having Energy go to the Olympics gave him a chance to be the No. 1 man and he by no means regarded again. He has elite deception and the power to create offense from anyplace on the ice. The Gophers have nearly as good a defensive six as anybody within the nation: Jackson LaCombe and Brock Faber headline the crew.
Minnesota Duluth’s Noah Cates is a good senior chief and Denver’s Bobby Brink has piled up a ton of assists. Western Michigan’s Ethen Frank can pile pucks within the web and the Broncos will want him to get his confidence early.
Bobby Trivigno of UMass performs the sport the correct method and gives that mixture of management and talent groups must win a tourney. If the Minutemen are going to go back-to-back, he needs to be one of the best participant within the tourney.
At Minnesota State, Julian Napravnik and Nathan Smith have been within the tourney a number of occasions and convey management and confidence. This can be a crew constructed to win a title, with an older, extra skilled crew and probably one of the best goalie within the nation in Dryden McKay.
What first-round recreation and/or second-round matchup is probably the most intriguing?
Starman: An attention-grabbing matchup to me is St. Cloud’s offense in opposition to Quinnipiac’s protection. Quinnipiac performs protection rather well. They defend exhausting, they get in place, they take away the center very properly, they pack it in once they must. Now do not get fooled by St. Cloud’s file, they play within the NCHC, the place principally you are enjoying a top-15 crew each week. They will fly, they go three traces deep, they have 4 defensemen who can go. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Quinnipiac can decelerate what has develop into an excellent possession, high-flying, free-wheeling offense that performs with no concern in St. Cloud.
Ritchlin: UMass, the defending champs, in opposition to Minnesota is a good take a look at for each groups. The Gophers are very deep and play a stable 200-foot recreation. UMass has continued to enhance all season and seems wholesome and able to make a run for a 3rd straight Frozen 4. For a second-round recreation, the excitement could be enormous for a Minnesota Duluth-Denver recreation in Loveland. If that occurs, it must be a basic.
What groups do you suppose have a shot at profitable all of it?
Starman: My mentor, John Davidson, at all times mentioned do not make predictions, they simply piss coaches off that it’s important to work with. I’ll say that I feel there are seven groups that would win it and that Denver is totally loaded and, to me, is one of the best crew heading into this. They’ve that mixture of sufficient good gamers and depth, and are enjoying with a mode that can provide opponents matches. There is not any ego in that group.
Ritchlin: This match is extensive open with so many unknowns. There are in all probability 10 groups which have a shot to win it, however I am going to slender it a bit to the 4 No. 1 seeds — Michigan, Minnesota State, Western Michigan and Denver — plus Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota.
Groups at a look
Michigan (29-9-1)
How did they get right here: Huge Ten champ
Seed: No. 1 in Allentown
With a roster that features 4 of the highest 5 picks within the 2021 NHL draft, the Wolverines lead the nation in star energy. In consequence, they’ve had gamers miss time to play within the Olympics and the World Juniors however nonetheless completed second within the Huge Ten behind Minnesota, then avenged 4 regular-season losses to Notre Dame by beating the Irish within the match semifinals and topping the Gophers within the title recreation.
That is Michigan’s 39th NCAA look, tied with Minnesota for probably the most of all time. The Wolverines have been to the Frozen 4 25 occasions and received 9 nationwide championships, the final coming in 1998.
Quinnipiac (31-6-3)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. 2 in Allentown
Quinnipiac’s capability to maintain opposing groups off the scoreboard is nearly exhausting to know, however the Bobcats are also nice at placing the puck on web. (They outshot Harvard 49-17 within the loss to Harvard within the ECAC last.) The Bobcats have allowed simply 42 targets in 40 video games, with freshman Yaniv Perets posting a 0.97 GAA and 11 shutouts in 28 video games.
That is Quinnipiac’s eighth NCAA look and seventh within the final 9 tournaments. The Bobcats have made the Frozen 4 twice; they had been nationwide runners-up in 2013 and 2016.
St. Cloud State (18-14-4)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. Three in Allentown
St. Cloud has simply 4 regulation wins in its final 16 video games, together with a sweep by the hands of Minnesota Duluth within the NCHC quarterfinals. Even so, the defending nationwide runner-up can’t be taken evenly given the competitors stage within the NCHC and the crew’s expertise in massive video games. Plus, the Huskies have one of the best energy play within the nation (.315 success charge).
That is St. Cloud State’s 15th NCAA look since 2000. The Huskies have made the Frozen 4 twice (2013, 2021).
AIC (22-12-3)
How did they get right here: Atlantic champ
Seed: No. Four in Allentown
AIC is again within the NCAA area after steamrolling Air Power 7-Zero within the Atlantic championship recreation. The Yellow Jackets began the season 3-9, however have been on a tear since then and are averaging 5.Four targets of their final 5 video games.
That is AIC’s third straight NCAA look. Though the Yellow Jackets have been the No. 16 general seed every time, they pulled off an enormous upset by beating St. Cloud State 2-1 in 2019.
Minnesota State (35-5-0)
How did they get right here: CCHA champ
Seed: No. 1 in Albany
The Mavericks capped a dominant season by beating Bemidji State to win the CCHA match Saturday evening. They lead the nation in purpose differential by a mile, averaging practically three targets a recreation greater than their opponents, as they’re No. 1 in targets scored (165) and second in targets allowed (51).
Minnesota State has made 4 straight NCAA tournaments and 7 of the final 9. The Mavericks made the Frozen 4 for the primary time final 12 months, shedding to St. Cloud State within the semifinals.
North Dakota (24-13-1)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. 2 in Albany
North Dakota had received 9 of 10 earlier than shedding to Western Michigan within the NCHC semifinals and swept weekend sequence from each Western Michigan and Minnesota Duluth in February. The massive concern with North Dakota is well being, significantly for Jake Sanderson, who is among the greatest defensemen within the nation however whose standing is unclear. Even so, the Combating Hawks had been 11-Three with out Sanderson this season.
That is North Dakota’s 34th NCAA look; the Combating Hawks have missed out solely thrice since 1997. North Dakota has been within the Frozen 4 22 occasions and received eight nationwide championships, most not too long ago in 2016.
Notre Dame (27-11-0)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. Three in Albany
The Irish misplaced to Michigan within the Huge Ten semis, however had received 13 of 16 within the second half of the common season, together with eight of their final 9, a stretch that included a win over Minnesota and a weekend sweep of Michigan. Notre Dame is a balanced crew, rating 11th in targets scored per recreation and sixth in targets in opposition to common.
That is Notre Dame’s sixth consecutive NCAA look and 13th general. The Irish have made the Frozen 4 4 occasions (2008, 2011, 2017, 2018).
Harvard (21-10-3)
How did they get right here: ECAC champ
Seed: No. Four in Albany
Harvard is on fairly a run. The Crimson scored three targets with an additional attacker within the final 3:42 of regulation in a 4-Three time beyond regulation win in opposition to RPI within the ECAC quarterfinals, then beat Quinnipiac in OT within the title recreation regardless of being outshot 49-17. It is all a part of a 13-3-1 spurt and an inconceivable NCAA look. Harvard should be taken severely, although, as it’s simply outdoors the highest 10 nationally in each scoring offense and protection.
That is Harvard’s 26th NCAA look, and its fifth in six alternatives. (The Ivy League did not play hockey in 2021.) The Crimson have been to the Frozen 4 13 occasions and received one nationwide championship (1989).
Western Michigan (25-11-1)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. 1 in Worcester
After a February skid, the high-scoring Broncos had been rolling with 21 targets over 5 straight wins earlier than getting blanked by Minnesota Duluth within the NCHC title recreation. For the season, Western Michigan is fourth within the nation with 3.7 targets per recreation, with Ethen Frank (26) main the way in which.
That is Western Michigan’s seventh NCAA look and its first since 2017. The Broncos are looking for their first NCAA match win.
Minnesota (24-12-0)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. 2 in Worcester
The Gophers rode an undefeated February to the Huge Ten regular-season title earlier than falling to Michigan 4-Three within the championship recreation. Minnesota ranks within the high 10 nationally in each targets per recreation (3.6) and targets allowed per recreation (2.3).
That is Minnesota’s 39th NCAA match look, tied with Michigan for probably the most of all time. The Gophers have been to the Frozen 4 21 occasions and received 5 nationwide championships, the final coming in 2003.
UMass (22-12-2)
How did they get right here: Hockey East champ
Seed: No. Three in Worcester
The defending nationwide champs efficiently defended their Hockey East crown by beating UConn 2-1 in time beyond regulation within the title recreation. Convention participant of the 12 months Bobby Trivigno, fourth nationally with 48 factors, had three targets and two assists in three match video games. The Minutemen have transformed 9 of their final 18 power-play possibilities.
That is the fourth NCAA look for UMass and its third in a row. The Minutemen have been to the final two Frozen Fours, profitable the title final 12 months and ending as nationwide runner-up in 2019. (The 2020 match was canceled because of the pandemic.)
Northeastern (25-12-1)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. Four in Worcester
Northeastern got here on sturdy late within the season to say the Hockey East regular-season crown earlier than shedding to UConn within the match semifinals. Goalie Devon Levi, whose 1.52 GAA is third within the nation, makes the Huskies harmful.
That is Northeastern’s eighth NCAA look and its third in 4 tournaments. The Huskies wish to transfer previous the primary spherical for the primary time since 1982, once they made their lone Frozen 4 look, shedding within the semifinals.
Denver (27-9-1)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. 1 in Loveland
The perfect crew in one of the best league, Denver received the regular-season title within the NCHC, which has 5 of the highest 10 groups within the PairWise rankings, earlier than shedding to Minnesota Duluth within the convention semifinals. The Pioneers have scored 5 or extra targets 20 occasions this season and are No. 1 in targets per recreation (4.38). Junior Bobby Brink is the nation’s main scorer (14 targets, 41 assists).
That is Denver’s 31st NCAA look; the Pioneers had a streak of 12 straight appearances snapped final 12 months. They’ve been to the Frozen 4 16 occasions, profitable eight nationwide championships, most not too long ago in 2017.
Minnesota Duluth (21-15-4)
How did they get right here: NCHC champ
Seed: No. 2 in Loveland
It seems like any person might have woken a sleeping canine. After going 6-9-Three within the second half of the common season, the Bulldogs blitzed via the NCHC match as Ryan Fanti turned in back-to-back shutouts over high seed Denver and No. Three Western Michigan this previous weekend on the Xcel Middle.
Minnesota Duluth, which has made it to the final three Frozen Fours, is making its seventh consecutive NCAA look and 15th general. The Bulldogs have received three nationwide championships, together with back-to-back titles in 2018 and ’19.
Michigan Tech (21-12-3)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. Three in Loveland
Michigan Tech was rolling within the second half of the season, profitable 11 of 12 earlier than dropping a pair of one-goal video games to top-ranked Minnesota State. After beating Ferris State within the CCHA quarterfinals, the Huskies had been upset by Bemidji State 5-2 within the semis. Tech is fourth within the nation in scoring protection, permitting 2.Zero targets per recreation.
That is Michigan Tech’s fourth NCAA look since 2015 and 14th general, with 10 coming from 1956-1981.
UMass Lowell (21-10-3)
How did they get right here: At-large berth
Seed: No. Four in Loveland
A bodily, defensive-minded crew (2.09 targets allowed per recreation, fifth within the nation), the River Hawks scored seven targets within the Hockey East quarterfinals in opposition to Merrimack earlier than shedding to UMass within the semis.
That is UMass Lowell’s ninth NCAA look and its first since 2017. The River Hawks have misplaced within the first spherical solely as soon as (1988), however have made the Frozen 4 solely as soon as, shedding within the semifinals in 2013.
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