The NCAA Hockey Tournament picture is heating up! As of January 15th, the race to the championship is intensifying, and the current bracketology gives us a fascinating glimpse into which teams are poised to compete. Based on the National Pairwise Index (NPI) and conference standings, here's how the tournament would shape up if it started today, with projected conference tournament winners in italics:
- Michigan
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota-Duluth
- Western Michigan
- Michigan State
- Penn State
- Dartmouth
- Cornell
- Quinnipiac
- Denver
- Augustana
- Providence
- St. Thomas
- Boston College
- Bentley
First Four Out: Princeton, Minnesota State, UConn, St. Cloud State
The selection committee adds a layer of strategy by avoiding in-conference matchups in the first round. They also tend to place the top-seeded teams in the regions closest to their geographic location. A key factor to note: Denver, as the host of the Loveland Regional, is guaranteed a spot there if they make the tournament.
So, how would the matchups look?
Sioux Falls Regional
- North Dakota vs. Boston College
- Penn State vs. Quinnipiac
Loveland Regional
- Wisconsin vs. St. Thomas
- Michigan State vs. Denver
Worcester Regional
- Michigan vs. Bentley
- Dartmouth vs. Augustana
Albany Regional
- Minnesota-Duluth vs. Providence
- Western Michigan vs. Cornell
What's changed since last week? The top eight teams remain the same, though positions 5-8 have shuffled. Western Michigan, the defending champion, surged to No. 5 after a dominant road sweep against Denver, outscoring them 10-3. Penn State climbed to No. 7, narrowly edging out Dartmouth by a mere .01 margin in the NPI. Michigan State slipped to No. 6 after splitting their series with Ohio State.
Cornell, Augustana, and Quinnipiac solidified their positions with weekend sweeps. Providence made a significant leap into the field with a home sweep over Maine, though Boston College still holds the projected automatic bid for Hockey East. St. Thomas pulled off a road upset against Minnesota State, taking the lead in the CCHA and pushing the Mavericks further away from the bubble.
Michigan remains the No. 1 overall seed after sweeping Notre Dame. But here's where it gets controversial... The wins came at a cost, as starting goaltender Jack Ivankovic suffered a significant injury. The Wolverines are hoping for his return for the postseason, but they may have to navigate the remainder of their regular season without one of the NCAA's top goaltenders.
Key Games to Watch This Weekend:
- No. 11 Denver at No. 2 North Dakota - Friday (8pm) and Saturday (8pm)
- No. 3 Wisconsin at No. 6 Michigan State - Thursday (9pm on BTN) and Friday (8pm on Big Ten Plus)
- No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth at No. 19 St. Cloud State - Friday (8pm) and Saturday (7pm)
- No. 10 Quinnipiac at No. 9 Cornell - Saturday (7pm on ESPN+)
- No. 15 Princeton at No. 9 Cornell - Friday (7pm on ESPN+)
- No. 13 Providence vs. No. 18 Boston College - Friday at BC (7pm on ESPNU), Saturday at PC (7pm on ESPN+)
And this is the part most people miss... The impact of injuries and upsets can drastically change the tournament landscape. With key matchups ahead, the path to the championship is far from set. What do you think? Which teams are you most excited to watch? Do you agree with the projected matchups, or do you see a different outcome? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
