Who’s in the Frozen Four? Updated NCAA Men’s Hockey Bracket and Schedule
The Road to the Frozen Four
The journey to the Frozen Four has reached its first major milestone, with several teams securing their spots in the prestigious NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament. While some high-profile names like Penn State and their star player Gavin McKenna, a projected top pick in the upcoming NHL draft, were eliminated in the first round by Minnesota-Duluth, the tournament remains a showcase of elite talent.
One of the most surprising outcomes came from the Worcester Regional, where Wisconsin stunned No. 3 national seed Michigan State. The Badgers defeated the Spartans 4-3 in overtime to claim the regional title and advance to the Frozen Four. They will now face No. 2 North Dakota, which dominated Quinnipiac 5-0 in a commanding performance.
In the Loveland Regional, Denver made headlines by defeating defending champions No. 4 Western Michigan in a grudge match that highlighted the intensity of last year’s tournament. Despite a strong effort from Western Michigan, which tried to make a comeback from a 4-1 deficit, Denver secured a 6-2 victory. Meanwhile, Michigan, another No. 1 seed, advanced to the Frozen Four after defeating Minnesota-Duluth 4-3, despite a late surge from the Bulldogs.
Updated Frozen Four Schedule and Matchups
Here is a breakdown of the upcoming matchups and schedule for the Frozen Four:
Thursday, April 9
National Semifinal Game 1:
No. 1 Michigan (Albany) vs. Denver (Loveland) | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN2 (Fubo)
National Semifinal Game 2:
No. 2 North Dakota (Sioux Falls) vs. Wisconsin (Worcester) | 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Saturday, April 11
National Championship:
Frozen Four semifinal winners | 5:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
Frozen Four schedule, game times, location
NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Bracket Breakdown
Below is a chronological list of the games played so far in the tournament:
Regional Semifinals
Worcester:
No. 3 Michigan State 2, UConn 1
Wisconsin 5, Dartmouth 1
Sioux Falls:
Quinnipiac 5, Providence 2
No. 2 North Dakota 3, Merrimack 0
Loveland:
No. 4 Western Michigan 3, Minnesota State 1
Albany: No. 1 Michigan 5, Bentley 1
Loveland: Denver 5, Cornell 0
Albany: Minnesota-Duluth 3, Penn State 1
Regional Finals
Saturday, March 28
Worcester final: Wisconsin 4, No. 3 Michigan State 3 (OT)
Sioux Falls final: No. 2 North Dakota 5, Quinnipiac 0
Sunday, March 29
Loveland final: Denver 6, No. 4 Western Michigan 2
Albany final: No. 1 Michigan 4, Minnesota-Duluth 3
Frozen Four
Thursday, April 9
National Semifinal Game 1: No. 1 Michigan (Albany Regional winner) vs. Denver (Loveland Regional winner) | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN2 (Fubo)
National Semifinal Game 2: No. 2 North Dakota (Sioux Falls winner) vs. Wisconsin (Worcester Regional winner) | 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2 (Fubo)
NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament National Championship
Saturday, April 11
National Championship: Frozen Four semifinal winners | 5:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
As the tournament continues, fans can look forward to high-stakes games and thrilling moments that could determine the next NCAA Men’s Hockey champion.