The countdown to the 2025 Men’s Frozen Four is underway, with four of the six leagues diving into tournament action this weekend as they vie for NCAA bids. The champions from each of the six conference tournaments will secure their spots, along with ten at-large teams determined by the PairWise rankings.
NCAA Tournament Overview
The NCAA tournament bracket is set to be revealed on March 23, with regional play kicking off on March 27. The regional finals will follow on March 29 and 30, culminating in the Frozen Four, scheduled for April 10 and 12 in St. Louis. All tournament games will be broadcast on ESPN networks and available for streaming via ESPN+.
Conference Tournament Breakdown
With several leagues expected to produce only one NCAA representative, the stakes are higher than ever in these conference tournaments. Below are the tournament schedules, which will be updated with results as they occur.
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey tournament is critical for Holy Cross, which secured its first regular-season title since 2006. Currently on a 12-1-1 streak, Holy Cross needs to maintain this momentum to clinch a tournament win for an NCAA bid. Meanwhile, American International College (AIC) faces the impending necessity to earn a tournament title before it transitions out of Division I.
- Quarterfinals: March 7-9 (best of three)
- No. 8 AIC at No. 1 Holy Cross
- No. 5 Army at No. 4 Niagara
- No. 6 Canisius at No. 3 Bentley
- No. 7 Air Force at No. 2 Sacred Heart
- Semifinals: March 14-16 (best of three)
- Final: March 22
Big Ten
In the Big Ten, Penn State has been performing exceptionally well and is contesting for its NCAA standing. The upcoming quarterfinal match against Michigan will be pivotal for both teams as they aim to secure their places in the postseason.
- Quarterfinals: March 7-9 (best of three)
- No. 5 Penn State at No. 4 Michigan
- No. 6 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State
- No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 2 Minnesota
- Semifinals: March 15
- Final: March 22
CCHA
Minnesota State has distanced itself from competitors following a strong finish to the regular season, though it still needs a remarkable performance to rise in the PairWise rankings. Augustana hopes to make noise in the NCAA tournament in its second Division I season.
- Quarterfinals: March 7-9 (best of three)
- No. 8 Lake Superior State at No. 1 Minnesota State
- No. 5 Michigan Tech at No. 4 Bowling Green
- No. 6 Ferris State at No. 3 St. Thomas
- No. 7 Bemidji State at No. 2 Augustana
- Semifinals: March 15
- Final: March 22
ECAC
Quinnipiac currently sits on the edge of NCAA qualification but risks dropping out if it cannot secure a victory. The ECAC tournament could produce multiple strong contenders given its depth, featuring teams such as Clarkson and Cornell currently in the PairWise rankings.
- First round: March 7
- No. 9 Princeton at No. 8 Brown, 7 p.m.
- No. 10 Rensselaer at No. 7 Harvard, 7 p.m.
- Quarterfinals: March 14-16 (best of three)
- Semifinals: March 21 at Lake Placid, N.Y.
- Final: March 22 at Lake Placid, N.Y.
Hockey East
As seeding is still being determined, this weekend presents crucial matchups for teams like Boston College, who is leading the national rankings. Other potential NCAA qualifiers include UMass and UMass-Lowell, both needing good performances in the conference tournament to enhance their chances.
- First round: March 12
- Quarterfinals: March 15
- Semifinals: March 20 at Boston
- Finals: March 21 at Boston
NCHC
With Western Michigan having clinched its first-ever regular-season title, they solidify their spot as a top contender. Defending champions, Denver, are all but guaranteed a spot in the NCAA bracket, while Arizona State still has a fighting chance for an at-large bid depending on the outcomes this weekend.
- Quarterfinals: March 14-16 (best of three)
- Semifinals: March 21 at St. Paul, Minnesota
- Finals: March 22 at St. Paul, Minnesota
As we approach the pivotal moments in collegiate hockey, all eyes are on these tournaments that will shape the upcoming NCAA landscape.
