ECH 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament Preview
By alex berger, march 27th:We’ve once again made it back to the best weekend of the college hockey year! Over the next four days, 16 teams will play to see who makes it to the 2025 Frozen Four in St. Louis.
There are a couple of awesome storylines heading into this year’s tournament. Boston College is the first team since St. Cloud State to be the #1 overall seed in back-to-back years, Connecticut and Bentley are making their NCAA Tournament debuts, and Denver is looking for back-to-back titles, which would be three championships in the last four years.
In this preview you’ll find all the stats and players you’ll need to know before the puck drops on Thursday afternoon. Plus, a reason why each of the 16 teams could win it all.
Manchester, NH Regional: MaRCH 28,30
#1 - Boston College Eagles
Record: 26-7-2 Overall, 18-4-2 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 1st in Hockey East Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.46/game (T-7th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 1.74/game (2nd)
Shots For, Against/Game: 31.57 for, 27.31 against (14th, T-17th)
Power Play: 18.4% (T-39th)
Penalty Kill: 90.4% (2nd)
Top Scorer: Ryan Leonard, Sophomore, Forward; 29 G - 18 A - 47 P
Top Goalie: Jacob Fowler, Sophomore; 24-6-2, 1.64 GAA, .940 SV%, and 7 SO
Three Players to Know:
- James Hagens, Freshman, Forward; 10 G - 25 A - 35 P
Hagens, the potential #1 overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft, has the fourth most points among NCAA freshmen.
- Gabe Perreault, Sophomore, Forward; 15 G - 32 A - 47 P
Perreault could have left for the NHL like his linemate Will Smith, but decided to come back for another season. He’s posted a team-high 73 assists in his two years at BC.
- Eamon Powell, Graduate Senior, Defenseman; 4 G - 16 A - 20 P, 40 BLKs
Eagles’ captain Eamon Powell leads the team in blocked shots (40) and was named Hockey East defensive defenseman of the year. Powell and sophomore Drew Forescue make up one of the best shut-down pairs in the NCAA (combined +51 plus/minus).
Why They Can Win It All: A Year Older, A Year Better?
Boston College was a highlight-reel Matt Davis save away from potentially winning the national championship in St. Paul last season, and returned in 2024-25 with a surprising amount of talent back in Chestnut Hill.
On offense, linemates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault returned for their sophomore seasons despite both having the option to sign NHL contracts. This year’s top line with James Hagens has combined for 54 goals and 75 assists (combined 3.68 points/game). Junior forward Andre Gasseau is back this season too, and has posted a career high in both goals (15) and points (30) in 2024-25.
The back end is where Boston College really shines, however, with five of their top six defenseman returning from a season ago (including their top two pairs). Then between the pipes is Jacob Fowler, who’s grown into one of the top goaltenders in college hockey in his sophomore season. Fowler is top three in wins (24, T-3rd in NCAA), goals against average (1.64, 2nd), save percentage (.940, 3rd), and shutouts (7, 2nd).
Overall, the Eagles return to the NCAA tournament more well-balanced and with the experience that comes from a deep playoff run. It’s no surprise they’re the favorite to win the title this season.
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#8 - Providence Friars
Record: 21-10-5 Overall, 11-8-5 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 5th in Hockey East Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.83/game (T-33rd in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.53/game (T-16th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 32.25 for, 28.22 against (T-12th, 23rd)
Power Play: 16.0% (T-53rd)
Penalty Kill: 79.5% (33rd)
Top Scorer: Hudson Malinoski, Sophomore, Forward; 11 G - 12 A - 23 P
Top Goalie: Philip Svedeback, Junior; 14-7-4, 2.36 GAA, .915 SV%, and 0 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Chase Yoder, Graduate Senior, Forward; 5 G - 5 A - 10 P
A two-year co-captain for the Friars, Yoder leads the team in faceoff wins (351). He’s posted a career high in shots (89) and plus/minus rating (+7) this year, but has had a down year in points. He has just five despite posting an expected goals metric of 9.5 this season, according to CHN.
- Taiga Harding, Senior, Defenseman; 2 G - 12 A - 14 P
At 6’7”, 238 lbs., Harding is one of the biggest defenders in the entire NCAA Tournament this year. The Chicago Blackhawks 3rd-round pick has 30 blocks in 2024, second-most on the team.
- Logan Will, Graduate Senior, Forward; 8 G - 15 A - 23 P
The Colorado College transfer leads Providence in assists (15) and is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (3), but hasn’t scored since January 24th. He seems due to get back on the scoresheet this weekend.
Why They Can Win It All: Record in Close Games
No team in the tournament field has won more close games than Providence has this season. The Friars have gone 11-3 in one-goal contests in 2024-’25, including a 5-0 mark against non conference opponents. (Providence was a coin flip away in each of their three losses as well. Two were in overtime, and in the third they gave up a goal with 10 seconds left in the game).
The Friars also have a knack for finding a way to win, especially in the third period. When tied after 40 minutes Providence is 5-3-2 (.500 win%). When trailing after 40 they are 3-6-1 (.300 %).
A big reason for their success is a combination of puck possession (54.6 Corsi For %, T-11th in NCAA) and faceoffs (54.7 win%, 2nd). You can trust Providence to win the puck on a big faceoff, or hold onto the puck when they need possession.
The Friars are also undefeated in neutral-site games this year, with two wins at the Adirondack Winter Invitational (against Clarkson and St. Lawrence) and a win against Northeastern at the Ledyard Bank Classic.
Last year over half of the games in the NCAA Tournament (8/15) were decided by one goal. Denver strung together three-straight one-goal games (including two in overtime) to make it to the national championship game, and won a two-goal game to win the title. If that doesn’t explain how critical close-game experience is this time of year, not much will.
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#9 - Denver Pioneers
Record: 29-11-1 Overall, 15-8-1 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 3rd in NCHC Regular Season, 2nd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 4.00/game (2nd in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.17/game (T-9th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 33.37 for, 26.44 (T-7th, 11th)
Power Play: 29.4% (3rd)
Penalty Kill: 82.1% (19th)
Top Scorer: Jack Devine, Senior, Forward; 13 G - 43 A - 56 P
Top Goalie: Matt Davis, Senior; 27-9-1, 2.12 GAA, .920 SV%, and 1 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Zeev Buium, Sophomore, Defenseman; 11 G - 32 A - 43 P
Buium is one of two Hobey Baker Award finalists on Denver this season, along with two-time finalist Jack Devine. He leads all NCAA defensemen with 32 assists and 43 total points.
- Sam Harris, Sophomore, Forward; 22 G - 12 A - 34 P
Eight Pioneers have double-digit goals this season, but none have more than Harris (22). He’s tied for the NCAA lead in power play goals with 10.
- Erik Pohlkamp, Sophomore, Defenseman; 10 G - 23 A - 33 P
If there was an award for most impactful transfer, Pohlkap would be in the running this year. He’s posted a +26 plus/minus to go along with double-digit goals and assists (33 total points).
Why They Can Win It All: Defending Champions
There is no weakness to Denver’s roster this season, They have a top-five offense (2nd in goals/game, 3rd in power play %), a top-ten defense (T-9th in goals against/game and 11th in shots allowed/game), and have the fifth-best puck possession numbers in the NCAA (56.2% Corsi, Shots Taken vs. Opponent).
In case you forgot, the Pioneers are also the defending national champions and have won three of the last seven titles (there was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19). The last two titles have come under head coach David Carle, one of the best coaches in all of college hockey. Carle is 10-2 all time in the NCAA games, and has made the Frozen Four in three of his four tournament appearances.
The Pioneers strength is arguably at the blue line this season, led by NHL draft picks Zeev Buium and Eric Pohlkamp. However, they’ll have to work to replace sophomore defenseman Boston Buckberger, a 30-point scorer and team-leader in plus/minus rating (+30) who suffered a season-ending injury in the NCHC Championship game against Western Michigan.
Denver is also deep offensively, with national championship contributors Jack Devine, Aiden Thompson, Carter King, Sam Harris, and Rieger Lorenz all returning for the title defense. Devine has saved his best season for last. The senior has scored an NCAA-leading 56 points this year, tying a career high in three less games played.
Denver lost just one non-conference regular season game this season, a 2-1 loss on the road against Maine, but a few odd conference losses has them down in the Pairwise and primed as a dangerous three-seed in this tournament. At this point, it’s hard to pick against them this time of year.
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#16 - Bentley Falcons
Record: 23-14-2 Overall, 16-9-1 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 3rd in Atlantic Hockey Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.92/game (T-25th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.05/game (T-5th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 31.49 for, 24.95 against (15th, 6th)
Power Play: 20.2% (T-30th)
Penalty Kill: 81.0% (25th)
Top Scorer: Ethan Leyh, Graduate Senior, Forward; 16 G - 25 A - 41 P
Top Goalie: Connor Hasley, Junior; 21-12-2, 1.95 GAA, .923 SV%, and 11 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Nick Bochen, Graduate Senior, Defenseman; 9 G - 20 A - 29 P
Since transferring to Bentley, Bochen has posted three-straight seasons with 20 or more points. He’s scored 29, the second most on the team, to go along with 38 blocked shots this year.
- Sam Duerr, Senior, Defenseman; 8 G - 7 A - 15 P
Duerr may not find the back of the net often, but he makes it count when he does. Half of his eight goals this season are game-winners, including one against Holy Cross in the Atlantic Hockey Championship game.
- Nik Armstrong-Kingkade, Graduate Senior, Forward; 12 G - 15 A - 27 P
In three seasons at UMass-Lowell Armstrong-Kingkade posted seven points (in 55 games). In two seasons at Bentley he’s posted 39 (in 61g). The German has five multi-point games this season, including two where he’s scored four.
Why They Can Win It All: Why Not?
Granted, this is my excuse every season for the #16 seed in the tournament. But it’s a good reminder that any of these 16 teams has a chance to win it all. Minnesota-Duluth snuck in as the last automatic qualifier by .0001 of a Pairwise point in 2018 and won four straight for the title. Yale won as the #15 seed in 2013. Holy Cross upset Minnesota. St. Cloud lost as the #1 overall seed in back-to-back years.
What I’m trying to say is, there’s chaos. And what better team to create chaos than Bentley, making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after over two decades at the Division I level, and fresh off a dramatic come-from-behind win on the road over Holy Cross in their conference championship game.
Plus the Falcons have some sneaky good players, led by graduate senior forward Ethan Leyh. The captain leads his team with 41 points on the year, including six in his last two games. Bentley has 11 players with five or more goals this season, has a 54.2% win percentage in the faceoff dot, and has six players with 30+ blocked shots. Oh, and their starting goaltender Connor Hasley is one of the hottest in the country right now with six shutouts in his last 11 games. No team is an easy out this time of year.
Toledo, OH Regional: mARCH 28, 30
#2 - Michigan State Spartans
Record: 26-6-4 Overall, 15-5-4 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 1st in Big Ten Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.50/game (T-7th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.03/game (4th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 38.19 for, 27.81 against (1st, 22nd)
Power Play: 24.5% (T-11th)
Penalty Kill: 82.6% (18th)
Top Scorer: Isaac Howard, Junior, Forward; 26 G - 25 A - 51 P
Top Goalie: Trey Augustine, Sophomore; 19-6-4, 2.01 GAA, .927 SV%, and 3 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Joey Larson, Junior, Forward; 10 G - 13 A - 23 P
Larson ranks second on the Spartans in shots this season (109) but has posted a shot percentage of just 9.2% and hasn’t scored in over a month. He seems due for another goal or two in the tournament.
- Tiernan Shoudy, Junior, Forward; 8 G - 9 A - 17 P
Shoudy, one of Michigan State’s assistant captains, has posted great numbers as the Spartans’ third-line center. He has a 55% faceoff win percentage (253 total wins) to go along with 17 points on the season.
- Nicklas Andrews, Graduate Senior, Defenseman; 2 G - 16 A - 18 P
Michigan State has 13 players in the double-digits in terms of positive plus/minus rating this season, but Andrews leads them all. He’s posted a +28 this year, just his second positive mark in his career.
Why They Can Win It All: Puck Possession
Michigan State controls and shoots the puck better than any other team in college hockey this season. They rank first in both Corsi and Fenwick For % — which tracks the amount of Shots and Unblocked Shots taken versus an opponent, respectively. Corsi is a way to combine two important stats and can be used to gauge future success. This year, the top five teams (and eight of the top nine) in Corsi For % all made the national tournament.
The Spartans have put up 2.5 shots/game more than Western Michigan, the second-best team in the country when it comes to puck possession. The biggest difference between the two teams is their shot percentage: Michigan State with 9.2% (3.5 goals/game, T-7th in NCAA ) and Western Michigan with 11.4% (4.1 goals/game, 1st).
However, shot percentage is not as important when you put up 10+ more shots/game than your opponent, especially when you have a talented and deep forward core (led by Hobey Baker Award Finalist Isaac Howard and Karsen Dorwart).
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#7 - Boston University Terriers
Record: 21-13-2 Overall, 14-8-2 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 3rd in Hockey East Regular Season, T-3rd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.72/game (T-4th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.97/game (T-36th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 29.89 for, 30.19 against (T-24th, 36th)
Power Play: 27.9% (4th)
Penalty Kill: 77.8% (T-41st)
Top Scorer: Quinn Hutson, Junior Forward; 21 G - 26 A - 47 P
Top Goalie: Mikhail Yegorov, Freshman; 8-5-1, 1.99 GAA, .931 SV%, and 1 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Cole Huston, Freshman, Defenseman; 12 G - 28 A - 40 P
The newest Hutson brother in Boston has already made his presence known on the blue line. Cole leads the Terriers in assists (28) and is tied for the lead in game-winning goals (4). He has the most points among all NCAA freshmen this season.
- Cole Eiserman, Freshman, Forward; 21 G - 11 A - 32 P
Another freshman, another star for BU. Cole Eiserman is tied for the team lead in goals (21) and is tied for the NCAA lead in power play goals (10).
- Shane LaChance, Sophomore, Forward; 11 G - 17 A - 28 P
LaChance was named the first ever sophomore captain this year. He is one of six players with double-digit goals and one of nine with 20+ blocked shots this season.
Why They Can Win It All: Underclassmen Talent
Boston University was an overtime goal away from playing rival Boston College for the NCAA title last season, but lost to the eventual champion Denver in the semifinals. After their deep playoff run the Terriers had two incredible underclassmen talents leave for the NHL, Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson.
Despite losing two of college hockey’s best players (and the Hobey Baker Award winner), Boston University is in an almost identical spot a year later, a top seed in the tournament with some of the best underclassmen talent in the country. Led by freshman Cole Eiserman (21 goals, 11 assists) and Cole Hutson (12 goals, 28 assists), Boston University has had 60% of their point production from freshman and sophomores this season.
Some fans may be worried about the team’s youth being an issue in the tournament (average age of 21.2, 3rd youngest in NCAA), but there are still plenty of leaders from last year’s Frozen Four run on the roster, like Quinn Hutson, Ryan Greene, and Shane LaChance. Those players will be able to lead the team on what to expect as they get further along in the tournament.
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#10 - Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 24-13-2 Overall, 14-9-1 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 3rd in Big Ten Regular Season, 2nd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.18/game (T-17th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.51/game (T-16th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 30.74 for, 29.77 against (20th, 33rd)
Power Play: 17.5% (43rd)
Penalty Kill: 76.9% (50th)
Top Scorer: Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Graduate Senior, Forward; 17 G - 23 A - 40 P
Top Goalie: Logan Terness, Senior; 12-9-1, 2.27 GAA, .925 SV%, and 0 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Aiden Hansen-Bukata, Graduate Senior, Defenseman; 2 G - 27 A - 29 P
Hansen-Bukata the only Ohio State player who has made the tournament in back-to-back years (he transferred from RIT this year). He leads the Buckeyes in assists (27), including one on each of their three goals in the Big Ten championship game.
- Max Montes, Sophomore, Forward; 13 G - 12 A - 25 P
Montes has a knack for scoring big goals. Five of his 22 career tallies are game winners, including four this season (1st on team, T-20th in NCAA).
- Damien Carfagna, Junior, Defenseman; 7 G - 21 A - 28 P
In his second year at Ohio State Carfagna has found his stride. He leads OSU defenseman in goals (7), power play goals (2), and blocked shots (68).
Why They Can Win It All: 3rd Period Dominance
In terms of their rank among all teams, Ohio State is in a bit of a down year statistically compared to their last NCAA tournament appearance in 2023. They are still a top-20 team in terms of goals/game and goals/against per game, but have struggled on special teams.
The biggest difference between the 2022-23 and 2024-25 Buckeyes is their ability to win games in the 3rd period. OSU has more wins when tied or trailing after the 2nd period than any other team in the tournament field (6-1-0 when tied after 40 minutes, 3-11-0 when trailing). The Buckeyes have also scored the 3rd-most goals among NCAA teams in the third period of games this season, trailing only Minnesota (55) and Denver (54). In total, the Buckeyes have scored 18 more goals than they’ve allowed in the final 20 minutes of games, despite being outshot 394-391.
In their last two games, Ohio State was down 2-1 after two against Penn State in the Big Ten Semifinals and down 3-1 early in the third against Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship, but came back in both games to force overtime (OSU beat Penn State 4-3 in OT but lost to Michigan State 4-3 in 2OT). Both of those games were on the road, which shows the Buckeyes keep fighting in the biggest moments.
Like most teams in the field, Ohio State is also dominant when leading after the 2nd period (15-1-2), with their lone loss coming in early January. They are not only one of the most experienced teams in close games this year (9-4 in one-goal games, 5-3-2 in overtime), but they are one of the most clutch as well.
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#15 - Cornell Big Red
Record: 18-10-6 Overall, 10-8-4 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 6th in ECAC Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.12/game (T-20th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.24/game (T-9th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 27.79 for, 22.41 against (T-45th, 1st)
Power Play: 14.3% (60th)
Penalty Kill: 83.8% (12th)
Top Scorer: Ryan Walsh, Sophomore, Forward; 14 G - 14 A - 28 P
Top Goalie: Ian Shane, Senior; 16-10-6, 2.17 GAA, .902 SV%, and 3 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Tim Rego, Senior, Defenseman; 8 G - 14 A - 22 P
Rego has posted a career high in goals (8), assists (14), points (22), and shots (50) in his final year at Cornell. The senior has appeared in 134 career games for the Big Red.
- Kyle Penney, Senior, Forward; 6 G - 1 A - 7 P
A two-year captain, Penney has missed 11 games this season with an injury but is now back. He posted 28 points and a +30 plus/minus rating a season ago.
- Sullivan Mack, Senior, Forward; 8 G - 13 A - 21 P
Mack was one of Cornell’s most clutch players in last year’s NCAA tournament. He scored two of his seven goals all season in their upset win over Maine in the regional semifinals. He’s posted similar, but improved numbers from a season ago (7 G - 10 A - 17 P in 2023-24).
Why They Can Win It All: Limiting Shots on Goal
Cornell is the best team in college hockey this season at allowing shots on goal, holding teams to just 22.4/game. That’s almost two per game fewer than the next closest team in the tournament field, Quinnipiac (24 shots allowed/game).
A big reason for the limited number of shots is Cornell’s style of play, size, and age on the blueline. The Big Red have four senior defensemen this season, led by Tim Rego and Michael Suda. Sophomores Ben Robertson and Hoyt Stanley are also playing big minutes this season, joining the top two pairs with the two seniors (Stanley is a 4th-round NHL Draft pick).
Because Cornell has limited shots on goals, it’s allowed them to post a top-ten scoring defense this season despite a down year from goaltender Ian Shane. The Californian’s stats have dropped in his senior year, as he’s allowing almost a half-goal more per game (1.69 GAA in 2023-24, 2.17 in 2024-25) and saving about 2 fewer pucks for every 1,000 shots this season (.923 SV% to .902 SV%).
Despite the drop off Shane is still an above-average goalie in college hockey, and can almost certainly steal a game or two if he gets hot. Cornell won five-straight games to win the ECAC Championship and make it to the NCAA Tournament. Can they win four more to get back on top of the college hockey world?
Allentown, PA Regional: mARCH 27, 29
#3 - Maine Black Bears
Record: 24-7-6 Overall, 23-5-6 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 2nd in Hockey East Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.32/game (T-12th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 1.89/game (3rd)
Shots For, Against/Game: 34.95 for, 25.54 against (4th, 8th)
Power Play: 21.5% (25th)
Penalty Kill: 83.9% (T-10th)
Top Scorer: Harrison Scott, Senior, Forward; 18 G - 17 A - 35 P
Top Goalie: Albin Boija, Sophomore; 23-7-6, 1.76 GAA, .930 SV%, and 4 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Taylor Makar, Senior, Forward; 18 G - 12 A - 30 P
Makar, the younger brother of NHL star Cale, has found his stride since transferring from Massachusetts. The senior is tied for a team high with 18 goals, including six game-winners.
- Brandon Holt, Junior, Defenseman; 4 G - 16 A - 20 P
Alongside leading Maine’s defenseman in points, Holt has turned into one of the best shutdown players in the country, He was named runner-up for Hockey East Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
- Josh Nadeau, Sophomore, Forward; 10 G - 19 A - 29 P
Nadeau has taken a step back offensively without his younger brother Bradly, but still can score any time he touches the puck. He has four points in his last three games, including a highlight-reel goal in the Hockey East championship game.
Why They Can Win It All: Scoring Depth + Goaltending
The Black Bears rode a dangerous combination to their first Hockey East championship in over two decades. Up front, they have eight forwards scoring at half a point a game or better (including two defenseman scoring at the same mark from the blue line).
Maine is led by two seniors, Harrison Scott (35 points) and Taylor Makar (30), both of whom have scored 18 goals this season. Despite not having a single player scoring at a point/game, the Black Bears have still posted a top-15 offense this season (T-10th among NCAA tournament teams).
Despite lots of depth on offense, Maine’s standout player this season is in net. Sophomore goaltender Albin Boija is top ten in the country in every major statistical category: Wins (23, 5th in NCAA), GAA (1.76, T-4th), save percentage (.930, 8th), and shutouts (4, T-4th). You can make the argument that Boija is arguably the flashiest of the top goaltenders this year, making incredible saves look routine in some of the biggest spots of games. His save against Massachusetts in early February comes to mind, sprawling across the crease to somehow keep the game tied with just minutes to go in the third period.
With a top goaltender and three lines who can score at any time, Maine is one of the most dangerous teams in the country and seems to be getting better. They’ve lost just four games in regulation the second half of the season, all to tournament teams.
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#6 - Connecticut Huskies
Record: 22-11-4 Overall, 12-8-4 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 4th in Hockey East Regular Season, 2nd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.35/game (T-10th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.51/game (T-16th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 31.30 for, 28.76 against (T-16th, T-27th)
Power Play: 23.7% (16th)
Penalty Kill: 80.8% (T-26th)
Top Scorer: Joey Muldowney, Sophomore, Forward; 27 G - 18 A - 45 P
Top Goalie: Tyler Muszelik, Junior; 12-6-3, 2.28 GAA, .914 SV%, and 1 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Hudson Schandor, Graduate Senior, Forward; 10 G - 30 A - 40 P
A fifth-year senior and team captain, Schandor is looking to return from injury before the NCAA Tournament. He leads the team with 30 assists despite missing the last two games of the Hockey East tournament.
- Jake Richard, Sophomore, Forward; 15 G - 27 A - 42 P
Before being blanked in the Hockey East championship Richard posted five-straight multi-point games, including four assists in the semifinals against Boston University. The sophomore leads Connecticut in points/game (1.31).
- Viking Gustafsson Nyberg, Sophomore, Defenseman; 1 G - 9 A - 10 P
At 6’6”, 205 lbs., Gustafsson Nyberg can eat a lot of pucks. He leads the Huskies with 57 blocked shots this season, one of three players with 50+.
Why They Can Win It All: Forward Depth, Beginners Luck?
For the first time ever, we will be seeing Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament this season. A 22-11-4 record is the most wins the Huskies have gotten in a season since making the jump to Division I in 1998, ending one of the longest droughts in college hockey.
UConn got to the tournament with a high-scoring, high-flying offense. Led by top-line wingers Jake Richard and Joey Muldowney (combined 42 goals, 45 assists), the Huskies have three players averaging over a point/game this season, which is tied with Boston College and Denver for most in the tournament field. Muldowney’s 27 goals are 12 more than anyone else on Connecticut’s roster, and rank second in the NCAA this season.
The Huskies’ top line has recently taken a hit, however, as top line center Hudson Schandor has missed the last two games with a reported lower-body injury. He has since been replaced by junior Hutson Karpman, a big loss in terms of point production (Karpman has 0 points in 17 games compared to Schandor’s 40 in 25 games).
There might be some nerves heading into their first-ever tournament game, but Connecticut does have some success already this season against the other teams in their regional. They beat their first-round matchup, Quinnipiac, 2-1 in the Connecticut Ice Tournament in late January and went 2-1-1 against the region’s top seed, Maine, this season. Don’t be surprised if the Huskies make some noise during their first time at the big dance.
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#12 - Quinnipiac Bobcats
Record: 24-11-2 Overall, 16-5-1 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 1st in ECAC Regular Season, 3rd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.62/game (6th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.14/game (T-5th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 29.62 for, 24.03 against (T-28th, T-3rd)
Power Play: 29.9% (1st)
Penalty Kill: 87.5% (3rd)
Top Scorer: Jeremy Wilmer, Senior, Forward; 14 G - 26 A - 40 P
Top Goalie: Matej Marinov, Sophomore; 12-3-0, 1.75 GAA, .928 SV%, and 3 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Jack Ricketts, Graduate Senior, Forward; 20 G - 7 A - 27 P
After transferring from Holy Cross, Ricketts has posted a career high in goals (20). He leads Quinnipiac and ranks T-14th in the NCAA.
- Chris Pelosi, Freshman, Forward; 13 G - 11 - A - 24 P
Pelosi is the highest NHL draft pick on Quinnipiac’s roster this season (Round 3, Boston). He has 12 points in his last 11 games heading into the NCAA tournament.
- Victor Czerneckianair, Junior, Forward; 7 G - 9 A - 16 P
Czerneckianair is the only remaining player on Quinnipiac's roster to have played in the team’s national championship win in 2023. He leads the Bobcats in plus/minus rating (+23) and faceoff wins (325 total, 57%) this season.
Why They Can Win It All: Special Teams
Quinnipiac is the only team in the tournament field to rank top-ten in both power play percentage and penalty kill, let alone having both rank in the top three.
This season the Bobcats have scored 41 times on the power play in 37 total games (29.9%, 1st in NCAA) and have given up just 13 shorthanded goals in 104 attempts (87.5%, 3rd). QU has also scored five shorthanded goals, helping them post a +31 special teams mark on the season. (Quinnipiac has given up seven shorties on the season so far).
On average QU takes a little under four minor penalties a game, or 7.4 penalty minutes/game (T-6th in NCAA). Only three teams in the tournament take fewer penalties: Western Michigan, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. Because of their ability to stay out of the box, the Bobcats have had 33 more chances on the man advantage than their opponents this season, averaging to around one a game.
During their national championship run, Qunnipiac’s penalty kill allowed zero goals in four games (11-for-11 on kills, 100%). Although their power play didn’t do as great (1-for-12, 8%) they famously scored a game-tying goal in the championship game just as time expired on a Minnesota penalty. Head coach Rand Pecknold knows just how important special teams are this time of year. It should be (and will be) a point of emphasis heading into yet another tournament appearance for Quinnipiac.
#13 - Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 20-13-4 Overall, 9-11-4 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 5th in Regular Season, T-3rd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.51/game (T-7th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 3.08/game (T-41st)
Shots For, Against/Game: 32.62 for, 31.46 against (11th, T-50th)
Power Play: 23.5% (17th)
Penalty Kill: 78.8% (36th)
Top Scorer: Aiden Fink, Sophomore, Forward; 23 G - 29 A - 52 P
Top Goalie: Arsenii Sergeev, Junior; 17-8-4, 2.66 GAA, .915 SV%, and 4 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Charlie Cerrato, Freshman, Forward; 15 G - 22 A - 37 P
Cerrato is one of the hottest players in the country right now with a point in six-straight games. He ranks third among all NCAA freshmen with 37 points.
- Simon Mack, Senior, Defenseman; 3 G - 24 A - 27 P
As Penn State’s captain, Mack leads by example from the blue line. He ranks second on the team in assists (24) and blocked shots (64).
- JJ Wiebusch, Freshman, Forward; 12 G - 18 A - 30 P
Wiebusch is one of four underclassmen (and five players total) with 30 or more points this season. He also has two game-winning goals (T-3rd on PSU), including an overtime winner against Michigan in the Big Ten Quarterfinals.
Why They Can Win It All: Electric Top Line, Hosting a Regional
When at full strength, the Nittany Lions’ top line is one of the best in college hockey. Center Reese Laubach has been in and out of the lineup over the last few weeks dealing with a lower-body injury. The sophomore has put up 15 goals and 15 assists in 32 games so far this season.
On the wings, Penn State has senior Danny Dzhaniyev and sophomore Aiden Fink. In total, the top line has put up a combined 3.17 points/game this season (50 goals, 62 assists). To be clear, Fink has scored the most of those points (52, 3rd in NCAA) and has been one of the most electric players in college hockey this season. However, the Hobey Baker Award finalist would likely not be where he is without his two top linemates. The Nittany Lions can outscore anyone on any night, something they’ve had to do at points this season. Their top line has helped lead them to a top-10 offense for the first time since 2022-23.
Another big reason to have optimism in PSU this season is they’re the only team to be hosting a regional this year. That means they’ll (likely) get a home crowd this weekend in Allentown, a huge advantage in a 1-4 matchup vs. Maine. Although hosting a regional does not guarantee a team to make it to the Frozen Four, it sure does help playing in front of a “home” crowd in the biggest game(s) of the year.
Fargo, ND Regional: march 27, 29
#4 - Western Michigan Broncos
Record: 30-7-1 Overall, 19-4-1 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 1st in NCHC Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 4.05/game (1st)
Goals Against/Game: 2.11/game (T-5th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 35.66 for, 26.00 against (2nd, 9th)
Power Play: 24.5% (T-11th)
Penalty Kill: 86.6% (T-4th)
Top Scorer: Alex Bump, Sophomore, Forward; 23 G - 23 A - 46 P
Top Goalie: Hampton Slukynsky, Freshman; 15-5-1, 2.04 GAA, .918 SV%, and 1 SO.
Three Players to Know:
- Tim Washe, Graduate Senior, Forward; 15 G - 19 A - 34 P
Washe has grown into one of the best two-way forwards in college hockey. He has an absurd 63.7% faceoff win percentage (437 total), 26 blocked shots, and a team-leading seven game-winning goals this season.
- Joona Vaisanen, Freshman, Defenseman; 4 G - 19 A - 23 P
The Finland native has found his way onto the top pair with fellow Nordic and NHL draft pick Samuel Sjolund. Vaisanen is tied for the team lead in plus/minus rating (+24) and was a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year.
- Cameron Rowe, Graduate Senior, Goalie; 15-2-0, 2.00 GAA, .924 SV%, and 1 SO
Rowe is another Bronco “in the stable” for Western Michigan. He has posted almost identical numbers to current starter Hampton Slukynsky and was named a finalist for NCHC Goaltender of the Year, but has not played in over a month.
Why They Can Win It All: Unrelenting Offense
Western Michigan won both the NCHC Regular Season and Postseason Title this year with the country’s best offense (4.1 goals/game, 1st in NCAA) and a solid defense (2.1 goals against/game, T-5th) the only team in the tournament field to rank in the top five in both marks.
Fourth-year head coach Pat Ferschweiler has once again led the Broncos back to the NCAA Tournament, and again has his team focused on the little things: forechecking, faceoffs, and breakouts. The Broncos can seemingly turn a blue-line turnover into a scoring chance within seconds, and it was fully on display last weekend in the NCHC semifinals (both of their 5-on-5 goals were scored seconds after stealing the puck from a breakout).
Ten players, including eight forwards and two defenseman, are scoring at a 0.6 point/game or better pace this season. Leading the way is sophomore Alex Bump, a Hobey Baker snub who leads the Broncos in both goals (23) and assists (23). The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick is heating up at the right time with six goals and two assists in his last four games.
Western Michigan is ranked in or near the top ten in almost every major statistical category this season and has almost no weakness to their game. They’re exactly the type of team you want to try and avoid during the tournament.
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#5 - Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 25-10-4 Overall, 15-6-3 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 2nd in Big Ten Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.85/game (3rd in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.46/game (T-16th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 35.23 for, 26.87 against (3rd, 15th)
Power Play: 24.4% (13th)
Penalty Kill: 75.9% (52nd)
Top Scorer: Jimmy Snuggerud, Junior, Forward; 22 G - 27 A - 49 P
Top Goalie: Liam Souliere, Graduate Senior; 13-7-2, 2.28 GAA, .918 SV%, and 2 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Sam Rinzel, Sophomore, Defenseman; 10 G - 21 A - 31 P
Rinzel is one of the steadiest defensemen in the country (named Big Ten Defensive Player of the year last week) and has surprising offensive upside from the blue line. Rinzel is a first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Connor Kurth, Junior, Forward; 17 G - 21 A - 38 P
After posting the second-worst plus/minus on the Gophers last year (-5) Kurth has dialed in his 200-foot game. He is tied for second in the NCAA with a +31 rating this season.
- Aaron Huglen, Senior, Forward; 5 G - 14 A - 19 P
Huglen, one of the senior leaders on this Minnesota team, is one of the few players listed in this piece who won’t be playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers will have to find a way to replace him after he suffered a season-ending injury in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
Why They Can Win It All: NCAA Experience
Minnesota has been one of the most successful teams in the NCAA tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve made the tournament all five years (including this season), have made it to their regional final the last four years, have made it to two Frozen Fours, and got to the championship game once.
Although they have not won a title in that time, all of that experience adds up for a team. The Gophers have two graduate seniors (forward Mason Nevers and defenseman Mike Koster) who have played in 11 career NCAA tournament games. Minnesota’s junior class (eight players) has nine such games in their careers.
Like the other top teams in this tournament, Minnesota is a high-skilled well-coached team, but it’s that tournament experience that sets them apart from (most of) the NCAA field. The Gophers’ big group of juniors had their first tournament game at Scheels Arena in Fargo. They’ll be back where it started this weekend.
#11 - Massachusetts Minutemen
Record: 20-13-5 Overall, 10-9-5 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 6th in Hockey East Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.34/game (T-12th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.39/game (T-13th)
Shots For, Against/Game: 30.95 for, 31.11 against (19th, T-47th)
Power Play: 24.8% (10th)
Penalty Kill: 83.5% (T-14th)
Top Scorer: Cole O’Hara, Junior, Forward; 22 G - 29 A - 51 P
Top Goalie: Michael Hrabal, Sophomore; 18-11-5, 2.33 GAA, .926 SV%, and 2 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Aydar Suniev, Sophomore, Forward; 18 G - 18 A - 36 P
Although not as prolific as his older teammate O’Hara, Aydar Suniev has posted another great offensive season for the Minutemen. He’s tied for second on the team in goals this season (18).
- Dans Locmelis, Sophomore, Forward; 7 G - 23 A - 30 P
Locmelis has certainly learned how to feed the puck in his second year on campus. Although he’s posted seven goals in back-to-back years so far, he’s tallied 16 more assists this year already (23 total).
- Linden Alger, Graduate Senior, Defenseman; 3 G - 6 A - 9 P
The Minuteman captain is the first Massachusetts native to wear the ‘C’ for UMass in over a decade. He’s posted career highs in goals, assists, points, shots, and +/- in his fifth and final year.
Why They Can Win It All: Scoring First
Among the 16 teams in the field, UMass is tied with Western Michigan for scoring the most first goals in games this season (26). In 16 of those games, the Minutemen scored the opening goal in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Last season in the NCAAs the team that scored the first goal went 6-9 (40%), but the three years before that, teams went a combined 30-13 when scoring first. Meaning since the pandemic, tournament teams who score first go on to win around 62% of their games.
Although the Minutemen have not posted a great record in such games this season (16-7-3), they have gotten their act together as of late. They’ve lost just two games in the second half of the season after scoring first, and have posted some of their biggest wins of the season (3-2 win @ Boston College, 5-1 vs. Maine) when getting off to fast starts.
It’s no surprise UMass can find the back of the net as quickly as they do. There are five 30-point scorers on their team this season, led by junior forward Cole O’Hara who has exploded for 51 points in 38 games (T-4th in NCAA). Massachusetts’ young core will look to him and seniors Lucas Mercuri and Ryan Lautenbauch for guidance against a familiar opponent in round one.
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#14 - Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks
Record: 27-8-3 Overall, 18-5-3 in Conference Play
Conference Finish: 1st in CCHA Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.95/game (T-25th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 1.47/game (1st)
Shots For, Against/Game: 28.29 for, 26.26 against (41st, 10th)
Power Play: 21.2% (T-26th)
Penalty Kill: 84.5% (T-8th)
Top Scorer: Rhett Pitlick, Senior, Forward; 13 G - 27 A - 40 P
Top Goalie: Alex Tracy, Junior; 26-8-3, 1.43 GAA, .945 SV%, and 5 SO
Three Players to Know:
- Josh Groll, Graduate Senior, Forward; 14 G - 18 A - 32 P
Minnesota State’s captain has played in 141 career games for the Mavericks. His +31 plus/minus rating this season trails only his linemate Rhett Pitlick for most in all of college hockey.
- Evan Murr, Sophomore, Defenseman; 7 G - 19 A - 26 P
Murr has turned into an offensive weapon for Mankato. The CCHA Defenseman of the Year is tied for the team lead in power play goals (4) and has 15 points in his last 12 games.
- Mason Wheeler, Junior, Defenseman; 0 G - 6 A - 6 P
Although you probably won’t find Wheeler on the scoresheet, you’ll definitely see him on the stat sheet. He has a team-leading 63 blocks this season, and 143 in his career.
Why They Can Win It All: Goaltending
Just like their Frozen Four teams of recent memory, Minnesota State is led between the pipes. After sharing time in net last year, junior Alex Tracy has transformed into one of the best goaltenders in college hockey this season. He is top three in the country in wins (26, 2nd in NCAA), GAA (1.43, 1st), save percentage (.945%, 1st), and shutouts (5, 3rd), and was named both a Hobey Baker and Mike Richter Award finalist this season.
Tracy has remarkably not allowed four or more goals in a single game all season. He’s allowed two or fewer in ten-straight and 15 of his last 16 games. Plus, two of the five times this season he has allowed three goals – which in itself is a great statistic – the very next game he followed it up by posting a shutout.
Denver had Matt Davis and Magnus Chrona, Quinnipiac had Yaniv Perets, Massachusetts had Filip Lindberg. To make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament you need to have an elite goaltender. Minnesota State has one of, if not the best in the country, most certainly the best among the non-#1 seeds in this year’s tournament.