2020 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament explained

Year:2020
Gender:men's
Division:Division I
Teams:16
Frozenfourarena:Little Caesars Arena
Frozenfourcity:Detroit, Michigan (cancelled)
Champions:None

The 2020 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament was a planned national championship tournament for men's college ice hockey in the United States that was scheduled to take place from April 9–11, 2020. The tournament was to involve 16 teams in single-elimination play to determine the national champion at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the highest level of competition in college hockey. The tournament's Frozen Four – the semifinals and finals – was to be hosted by Michigan State University and the Detroit Sports Commission at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.[1] This was slated to be the seventh Frozen Four in the city of Detroit, with the most recent visitation being at Ford Field in 2010.

On March 11, 2020, the NCAA announced the entire tournament would be conducted with "only essential staff and limited family attendance" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The following day, the NCAA announced that all NCAA championships for spring sports would be cancelled due to the pandemic.[3]

Tournament procedure

The tournament was to comprise four groups of four teams in regional brackets. The four regionals were officially named after their geographic areas.[4]

March 27–28, 2020
  • Northeast Regional, DCU CenterWorcester, Massachusetts (Host: Holy Cross)
  • West Regional, Budweiser Events CenterLoveland, Colorado (Host: Denver)
    March 28–29, 2020
  • East Regional, Times Union CenterAlbany, New York (Host: ECAC Hockey)
  • Midwest Regional, PPL Center – Allentown, Pennsylvania (Host: Penn State)

    The winner of each regional was to advance to the Frozen Four:

    April 9–11
  • Little Caesars ArenaDetroit, Michigan (Host: Michigan State University)

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 2019–22 NCAA Championship Sites . NCAA.com.
    2. Web site: NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments will not include fans due to coronavirus concerns. Tom Schad. USA Today. 2020-03-11. 2020-03-11.
    3. Web site: Chris. Solari. NCAA cancels March Madness, Frozen Four, all other championships. Detroit Free Press. March 12, 2020. March 12, 2020.
    4. Web site: NCAA announces DI men's ice hockey regional sites for 2020 and 2021.