NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament explained

Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:1948
Teams:16
Country:United States
Champion:Denver
Most Champs:Denver (10)
Tv:ESPN
Website:NCAA.com
Current Season:2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament

The annual NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is a college ice hockey tournament held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the top men's team in Division I.[1] Like other Division I championships, it is the highest level of NCAA men's hockey competition. This tournament is somewhat unique among NCAA sports as many schools which otherwise compete in Division II or Division III compete in Division I for hockey.

Since 1999, the semi-finals and championship game of the tournament have been branded as the "Frozen Four"—a reference to the NCAA's long-time branding of its basketball semi-finals as the "Final Four".

History

The NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championship is a single elimination competition that has determined the collegiate national champion since the inaugural 1948 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament. The tournament features 16 teams representing all six Division I conferences in the nation. The Championship Committee seeds the entire field from 1 to 16 within four regionals of 4 teams. The winners of the six Division I conference championships receive automatic bids to participate in the NCAA Championship. The tournament begins with initial games played at four regional sites culminating with the semi-finals and finals played at a single site.[1]

In setting up the tournament, the Championship Committee seeks to ensure "competitive equity, financial success and likelihood of playoff-type atmosphere at each regional site." A team serving as the host of a regional is placed within that regional. The top four teams are assigned overall seeds and placed within the bracket such that the national semifinals will feature the No. 1 seed versus the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed versus the No. 3 seed should the top four teams win their respective regional finals. Number 1 seeds are also placed as close to their home site as possible, with the No. 1 seed receiving first preference. Conference matchups are avoided in the first round; should five or more teams from one conference make the tournament, this guideline may be disregarded in favor of preserving the bracket's integrity.

Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado hosted the tournament for the first ten years and has hosted eleven times overall, the most of any venue.[2] The Denver Pioneers have won the most tournaments with ten, while Vic Heyliger has coached the most championship teams, winning six times with Michigan between 1948 and 1956.[3] [4]

The 2020 championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] [6] [7]

Tournament format history

1948–1976
  • 4 teams (1 game series)
    1977–1980
  • 5–6 teams (1 game series)
    1981–1987
  • 8 teams (2 game, total goals first round at higher seed)
    1988
  • 12 teams (2 game, total goals first two rounds at higher seed)
    1989–1991
  • 12 teams (best of 3 games first two rounds series at higher seed)
    1992–2002
  • 12 teams (divided into 2 regionals, East Regional and West Regional; 6 teams each)
    2003–present
  • 16 teams (divided into 4 regionals: Northeast, East, Midwest, and West Regionals: 4 teams each)

    Results

    YearWinning teamCoachLosing teamCoachScoreLocationFinals venue
    8-4 Broadmoor Ice Palace
    4-3 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    13-4 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    Michigan (2) 7-1 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    Michigan (3) 4-1 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    Michigan (4) 7-3 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    5-4 (OT) Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    Michigan (5) 5-3 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    Michigan (6) 7-5 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    Colorado College (2) 13-6 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
    6-2 Williams Arena
    4-3 (OT) RPI Field House
    Denver (2) 5-3 Matthews Arena
    Denver (3) 12-2 University of Denver Arena
    7-1 Utica Memorial Auditorium
    North Dakota (2) 6–5 McHugh Forum
    Michigan (7) 6-3 Denver, Colorado University of Denver Arena
    Michigan Tech (2) 8-2 Meehan Auditorium
    6-1 Minneapolis, Minnesota Williams Arena
    4-1 Onondaga War Memorial
    Denver (4) 4-0 Duluth Entertainment Center
    Denver (5) 4-3 Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor World Arena
    Cornell (2) 6-4 Olympic Center
    4-2 Onondaga War Memorial
    Boston University (2) 4-0 Boston, Massachusetts Boston Garden
    4-2 Boston, Massachusetts Boston Garden
    4-2 Boston, Massachusetts Boston Garden
    Michigan Tech (3) 6-1 St. Louis Arena
    Minnesota (2) 6-4 Denver, Colorado University of Denver Arena
    Wisconsin (2) 6-5 (OT) Olympia Stadium
    Boston University (3) 5-3 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
    Minnesota (3) 4-3 Detroit, Michigan Olympia Stadium
    North Dakota (3) 5-2 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
    Wisconsin (3) 6-3 Duluth, Minnesota Duluth Entertainment Center
    North Dakota (4) 5-2 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
    Wisconsin (4) 6-2 Ralph Engelstad Arena
    5-4 (4OT) Lake Placid, New York Olympic Arena
    Rensselaer (2) 2-1 Detroit, Michigan Joe Louis Arena
    Michigan State (2) 6-5 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
    North Dakota (5) 5-3 Detroit, Michigan Joe Louis Arena
    4-3 (OT) Lake Placid, New York Olympic Center
    4-3 (OT) Saint Paul Civic Center
    Wisconsin (5) 7-3 Detroit, Michigan Joe Louis Arena
    8-7 (3OT) Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul Civic Center
    Lake Superior State (2) 5-3 Knickerbocker Arena
    5-4 Bradley Center
    Lake Superior State (3) 9-1 Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul Civic Center
    Boston University (4) 6-2 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
    Michigan (8) 3-2 (OT) Riverfront Coliseum
    North Dakota (6) 6-4 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bradley Center
    Michigan (9) 3-2 (OT) Boston, Massachusetts FleetCenter
    Maine (2) 3-2 (OT) Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
    North Dakota (7) 4-2 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center
    Boston College (2) 3-2 (OT) Albany, New York Pepsi Arena
    Minnesota (4) 4-3 (OT) Saint Paul, Minnesota Xcel Energy Center
    Minnesota (5) 5-1 HSBC Arena
    Denver (6) 1-0 Boston, Massachusetts FleetCenter
    Denver (7) 4-1 Value City Arena
    Wisconsin (6) 2-1 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bradley Center
    Michigan State (3) 3-1 St. Louis, Missouri Scottrade Center
    Boston College (3) 4-1 Denver, Colorado Pepsi Center
    Boston University (5) 4-3 (OT) Verizon Center
    Boston College (4) Wisconsin (3)5-0 Detroit, Michigan Ford Field
    3-2 (OT) Saint Paul, Minnesota Xcel Energy Center
    Boston College (5) Ferris State4-1 Tampa Bay Times Forum
    Quinnipiac4-0 Consol Energy Center
    7-4 Wells Fargo Center
    4-3 Boston, Massachusetts TD Garden
    2016North Dakota (8)Brad BerryQuinnipiac (2)Rand Pecknold5-1Tampa, FloridaAmalie Arena
    2017Denver (8)Jim MontgomeryMinnesota-Duluth (2)Scott Sandelin3-2Chicago, IllinoisUnited Center
    2018Minnesota-Duluth (2)Scott SandelinNotre Dame (2)Jeff Jackson2-1Saint Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
    2019Minnesota-Duluth (3)Scott SandelinMassachusettsGreg Carvel3-0Buffalo, New YorkKeyBank Center
    2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Detroit, MichiganLittle Caesars Arena
    2021MassachusettsGreg CarvelSt. Cloud StateBrett Larson5-0Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPPG Paints Arena
    2022Denver (9)David CarleMinnesota StateMike Hastings5-1Boston, MassachusettsTD Garden
    2023QuinnipiacRand PecknoldMinnesota (8)Bob Motzko3-2 (OT)Tampa, FloridaAmalie Arena
    2024Denver (10)David CarleBoston College (7)Greg Brown2-0Saint Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
    2025St. Louis, MissouriEnterprise Center
    2026Paradise, NevadaT-Mobile Arena
    Participation in the tournament vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

    Team titles

    TeamYears
    101958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, 2024
    91948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998
    81959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016
    61973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006
    51949, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2012
    1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
    1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
    31988, 1992, 1994
    1966, 1986, 2007
    1962, 1965, 1975
    2011, 2018, 2019
    21950, 1957
    1967, 1970
    1993, 1999
    1954, 1985
    11984
    1989
    2021
    1991
    2015
    2023
    2014
    2013

    Performance by team

    See also: List of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament champions, NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament appearances by team and List of NCAA Division I men's Frozen Four appearances by team.

    The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament:

    Starting in 2003, the 4 teams seeded No. 1 in the regions are shown with .

    SchoolConference
    as of 2024
    QFF4CGCH
    33 2519 11 10
    41 36 28 12 9
    35 28 22 13 8
    27 20 11 8 6
    41 35 23 13 5
    37 33 26 12 5
    39 33 24 11 5
    16 10 10 7 3
    28 20 11 5 3
    15 15 8 5 3
    11 10 4 4 3
    19 15 11 5 2
    20 18 10 5 2
    24 19 8 4 2
    9 6 5 2 2
    27 15 13 3 1
    10 63 3 1
    15 10 5 2 1
    8 5 3 2 1
    5 3 2 2 1
    10 7 2 1 1
    8 4 2 1 1
    5 3 2 1 1
    22 14 7 3 -
    16 12 9 2 -
    22 14 7 2 -
    13 7 4 2 -
    4 4 4 2 -
    4 3 3 1 -
    17 7 2 1 -
    12 5 2 1 -
    9 2 2 1 -
    4 4 1 1 -
    6 2 1 1 -
    10 3 2 - -
    6 2 2 - -
    9 7 1 - -
    5 2 1 - -
    4 2 1 - -
    8 1 1 - -
    5 1 1 - -
    7 3 - - -
    92 - - -
    3 2 - - -
    4 1 - - -
    3 1 - - -
    3 1 - - -
    3 1 - - -
    2 1 - - -
    4 - - - -
    3 - - - -
    on hiatus[8] 2 - - - -
    2 - - - -
    defunct [9] 1 - - - -
    1 - - - -
    1 - - - -
    - - - - -
    SchoolConferenceQFF4CGCH

    Records

    Points in a Championship Game

    Player SchoolYearGoalsAssistsPoints
    3 3 6
    4 2 6
    4 2 6
    2 3 5
    2 3 5
    3 2 5
    1 4 5
    1 4 5
    1 3 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    1 3 4
    1 3 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    3 1 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    1 3 4
    4 0 4
    2 2 4
    3 1 4
    3 1 4
    0 4 4
    2 2 4
    2 2 4
    1 3 4

    Points in Multiple Championships

    Player SchoolGamesGoalsAssistsPoints
    2 4 5 9
    2 4 3 7
    3 2 5 7
    1 3 3 6
    1 4 2 6
    1 4 2 6
    2 3 3 6
    2 2 4 6

    Championship Hat Tricks

    Player SchoolYearGoalsGame–WinnerMOP
    3
    4
    3
    4
    3
    3
    Bob Hamill3
    3
    4
    3
    Allen Bourbeau3
    3
    3
    3
    Jason Zent
    3
    3
    3

    † Natural hat-trick.
    ‡ Tournament participation later vacated.

    Tournament Winning Percentage

    Minimum 2 tournaments

    Player SchoolYearsWinsLossesTiesWinning Percentage
    8 0 0
    5 0 0
    4 0 0
    4 0 0
    4 0 0
    7 0 1
    8 1 0
    6 1 0
    6 1 0
    5 1 0
    5 1 0
    9 2 0
    4 1 0
    4 1 0
    4 1 0
    4 1 0
    10 3 0
    6 2 0
    3 1 0
    3 1 0
    3 1 0
    3 1 0
    8 3 0
    7 3 0
    7 3 0

    Tournament Droughts

    The following is a list of teams that have not made an NCAA tournament anytime in the last 10 seasons.

    SchoolAppearancesLast Appearance
    0 Never
    3
    0 Never
    0 Never
    4
    0 Never
    4 1980
    2 2006
    3 2005
    9 2011
    0 Never
    16 2007
    † Alaska's only appearance in 2010 was later vacated due to NCAA rules violations.[10]
    ‡ St. Lawrence received an automatic bid in 2021, however, the team had to decline the invitation due to a positive COVID-19 test from their head coach.[11]

    Awards

    See main article: List of NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament Most Outstanding Player. At the conclusion of each tournament both an all-tournament team and 'Most Outstanding Player in Tournament' is named. Both achievements have been in effect since the inaugural championship in 1948

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: NCAA page for men's ice hockey . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142938/http://www.ncaa.sports.hopeark.com/icehockey-mens . dead . 2014-04-13 . 2008-05-15 . NCAA.com .
    2. Web site: Attendance records and sites. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2009-02-23.
    3. Web site: Men's Tournament records. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2009-02-23.
    4. Web site: Men's coaching records. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2009-02-23.
    5. Web site: NCAA Cancels Hockey Tournaments, Ending Top-Ranked Cornell Hockey Teams' Seasons. 12 March 2020.
    6. Web site: Gophers hockey cancellation: 'What are we even supposed to do?'.
    7. Web site: Canceled: Michigan vs. Ohio State in Big Ten hockey semifinal. 13 March 2020.
    8. Web site: 2021-05-05. UAH suspends hockey program, 2021-2022 season will not happen. 2021-12-08. WHNT.com. en-US.
    9. News: Wodon. Adam. College Hockey News. Wayne State Bids Farewell. March 11, 2008. September 19, 2011.
    10. News: NCAA bans Nanooks from postseason, takes away victories . Anchorage Daily News. 2014-11-05. 2018-05-03.
    11. Web site: St. Lawrence Withdraws From NCAAs Over Positive COVID-19 Test. 2021-03-22. College Hockey News.