2026 NCAA males’s hockey match: Schedule, outcomes

The 2026 men’s Frozen Four is set, with Michigan and Denver joining North Dakota and Wisconsin in the field bound for Las Vegas to play for the national championship.

Michigan held off a furious comeback bid to beat Minnesota Duluth 4-3 to win the Albany regional Sunday and claim the final spot. Earlier, the Pioneers avenged last season’s Frozen Four loss to Western Michigan with a 6-2 win over the defending national champs to win the Loveland Regional. On Saturday, the Fighting Hawks, who were the top seed in the Sioux Falls Regional, advanced with a 5-0 rout of Quinnipiac, while the Badgers won the Worcester regional with a 4-3 overtime victory over top seed Michigan State.

Denver is eyeing its record 11th national title in its 20th Frozen Four and fourth in five seasons. Michigan, which is in the national semifinals for an NCAA-record 29th time, is seeking its 10th national crown but hasn’t won since 1998. This is North Dakota’s first Frozen Four appearance since 2016, when it won the national championship. Wisconsin is in the Frozen Four for the first time since 2010. The Badgers last won it all in 2006.

Denver will meet Michigan in a battle of titans in one semifinal, with Wisconsin and North Dakota facing off in the other. Both games match up teams from the NCHC and Big Ten. In all, the four teams have a combined 33 national championships, the most ever for a Frozen Four.

Every game of the men’s hockey tournament will air on the ESPN networks and will stream live in the ESPN App. The Frozen Four semifinals will air on ESPN2 and the final on ESPN.

Below is a preview of the Frozen Four, including insight from college hockey analyst Andrew Raycroft, along with the complete schedule for the tournament, game highlights and video features.

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Frozen Four preview
Video features | Teams at a glance

Schedule

All times Eastern.

Worcester (Massachusetts) Regional

Semifinals, Thursday
No. 1 Michigan State 2, No. 4 UConn 1
No. 3 Wisconsin 5, No. 2 Dartmouth 1

Final, Saturday
Wisconsin 4, Michigan State 3 (OT)

Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Regional

Semifinals, Thursday
No. 3 Quinnipiac 5, No. 2 Providence 2
No. 1 North Dakota 3, No. 4 Merrimack 0

Final, Saturday
North Dakota 5, Quinnipiac 0

Albany (New York) Regional

Semifinals, Friday
No. 1 Michigan 5, No. 4 Bentley 1
No. 2 Minnesota Duluth 3, No. 3 Penn State 1

Final, Sunday
Michigan 4, Minnesota Duluth 3

Loveland (Colorado) Regional

Semifinals, Friday
No. 1 Western Michigan 3, No. 4 Minnesota State 1
No. 2 Denver 5, No. 3 Cornell 0

Final, Sunday
Denver 6, Western Michigan 2

FROZEN FOUR
at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

National semifinals, April 9
Wisconsin vs. North Dakota, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Michigan vs. Denver, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

National final, April 11
5:30 p.m., ESPN

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Frozen Four preview

WISCONSIN (23-12-2)

How the Badgers got to Vegas: Wisconsin saved its best for last in the Worcester Regional. The Badgers trailed Michigan State 3-1 with less than five minutes to play in the regional final, but scored twice in 34 seconds to tie it, then Ben Dexheimer won it with a goal 24 seconds into overtime. In the semifinal, Jack Horbach snapped a 1-1 tie midway through the third period to send Wisconsin to a 5-1 win over Dartmouth.

Andrew Raycroft’s keys

Keep the energy up: The 15-day break between Wisconsin’s elimination in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament (a 7-1 loss to Ohio State) and the start of the NCAA tournament ended up being an advantage for the Badgers. They played with the most energy of any team in the regionals and they will need to continue with that in Vegas.

Stay disciplined: Wisconsin had the fifth-worst penalty kill in the nation (72.3%) and went 0-for-2 against Michigan State. Special teams often dictate playoff hockey, and North Dakota and Michigan both have top-10 power plays nationally.

Player to watch: Quinn Finley. The talented forward with a great shot was instrumental in the Badgers’ regional wins with two goals and three assists, including one on the OT winner against Michigan State.

NORTH DAKOTA (29-9-1)

How the Fighting Hawks got to Vegas: Freshman goaltender Jan Spunar stole the show with back-to-back shutouts at Sioux Falls. First, he turned back 31 shots, including 14 in the third period, in a 3-0 win over Merrimack. Then he had 22 saves as NoDak blitzed Quinnipiac with three first-period goals en route to a 5-0 win, his sixth shutout of the season.

Raycroft’s keys

Steady hand behind the bench: In his first year as a head coach following 19 seasons as a North Dakota assistant, Dane Jackson has reestablished the culture at his alma mater, and it showed in the regionals. The Hawks were dominant in dismantling Merrimack and Quinnipiac by a combined score of 8-0.

Deep, large forward group: The Fighting Hawks’ forwards have a great mix of size and skill and the ability to carry momentum shift to shift. Their top three lines scored in Sioux Falls and manhandled the opposing teams with their forecheck.

Player to watch: Spunar. In addition to going 53-for-53 in the save department in the regionals, making big stops when they were needed, the NHL free agent plays the puck extremely well, which can help spring the Hawks out of their zone.

MICHIGAN (31-7-1)

How the Wolverines got to Vegas: The trip to Sin City seemed secure when Michigan broke out to a 3-0 lead over Minnesota Duluth midway through the first period of the Albany final and led 4-1 midway through the third. The Bulldogs showed their bite, making it 4-3 with three minutes to play and applying serious pressure to tie it, but Michigan held on behind Jack Ivankovic (30 saves, 13 in the third period). The Wolverines cruised past Bentley 5-1 in their opener.

Raycroft’s keys

Special teams: The Wolverines had the best power play in the nation going into the tournament with a conversion rate better than 30%, and it continued to produce (2-for-4). But the real story in the regional was their penalty kill going 7-for-8 with a huge short-handed goal against Duluth.

Hage’s health: Star forward Michael Hage didn’t play the first game of the regional and was a game-time decision for the second — he got on the ice but played less than seven minutes. The Wolverines didn’t need his 51-point talent in Albany, but they will be going up against Denver in the Frozen Four.

Player to watch: T.J. Hughes. The senior captain sets the tone and plays with great energy, leading Michigan with 56 points.

DENVER (27-11-3)

How the Pioneers got to Vegas: In the Loveland Regional final against defending national champion Western Michigan, Denver rushed to a 2-0 lead 5:24 into the game and led 4-1 after the first period. The Broncos made it 4-2 midway through the third period, but Kieran Cebrian’s goal with 6:02 to play essentially sealed a 6-2 win. Denver blanked Cornell 5-0 in the semifinals.

Raycroft’s keys

They’ve been here before: This is Denver’s third straight year in the Frozen Four and its fourth in five seasons. Coach David Carle is 14-3 in the NCAA tournament all time and will have the Pios prepared for Vegas.

Johnny Hicks might be unbeatable: Hicks, Denver’s freshman goalie, has never lost a college hockey game! Since taking over the starting role Jan. 24, he is 14-0-1 — as is Denver. Hicks has given up three goals in only one game all season, and that was a double-overtime win over Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC championship game.

Player to watch: Eric Pohlkamp. The right-shot defenseman is a Hobey Baker finalist and controls the play for the Pios at both ends of the ice.

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Highlights

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Teams at a glance

Records, statistics entering NCAA tournament

Worcester Regional

No. 1 Michigan State

Record: 25-8-2

NPI ranking: 3

How the Spartans got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 5-3-2 (lost to Ohio State in Big Ten semifinal)

NCAA history: 30th appearance; seeking 12th Frozen Four and fourth national title (last won in 2007). … Third straight NCAA appearance after 11-year absence. … Lost to Cornell in first round as No. 1 seed in 2025.

Fast fact: Michigan State’s roster features four first-round NHL draft picks and 15 picks overall, both the most among tournament teams.

No. 2 Dartmouth

Record: 23-7-4

NPI ranking: 6

How the Big Green got here: ECAC champion

Last 10 games: 6-1-3 (beat Princeton in ECAC final)

NCAA history: Fifth appearance; seeking fifth Frozen Four and first national title. … First NCAA appearance since 1980.

Fast fact: Sophomore Hayden Stavroff, an undrafted NHL free agent, leads the country with 29 goals. He has seven goals and five assists in his last eight games.

No. 3 Wisconsin

Record: 21-12-2

NPI ranking: 12

How the Badgers got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 6-4 (lost to Ohio State in Big Ten quarterfinal)

NCAA history: 29th appearance; seeking 13th Frozen Four and seventh national title (last won in 2006). … In the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons under coach Mike Hastings.

Fast fact: Wisconsin’s season has been a bit of a roller coaster, with a 14-2-2 start and 6-2 finish but a 2-7 stretch in between. The Badgers lost 7-1 to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament the last time they took the ice.

No. 4 UConn

Record: 20-12-5

NPI ranking: 14

How the Huskies got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 3-5-2 (lost to Merrimack in Hockey East final)

NCAA history: Second appearance; seeking first Frozen Four and first national title. … Recorded program’s first NCAA victory last year, beating Quinnipiac in first round before falling to Penn State in regional final.

Fast fact: UConn rebounded from a 1-4-2 closing stretch of the regular season to advance to the Hockey East final, then made the NCAA field as the last at-large team.

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Albany Regional

No. 1 Michigan

Record: 29-7-1

NPI ranking: 1

How the Wolverines got here: Big Ten champion

Last 10 games: 6-3-1 (beat Ohio State in Big Ten final)

NCAA history: 42nd appearance; seeking 29th Frozen Four appearance and 10th national title (last won in 1998). … Missed tournament last year after making four straight appearances.

Fast fact: Michigan is the highest-scoring team in the country (4.57 goals per game) and has the best power play (31% conversion rate). The Wolverines converted two of three chances in the Big Ten final against Ohio State.

No. 2 Minnesota Duluth

Record: 23-14-1

NPI ranking: 8

How the Bulldogs got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 6-3-1 (lost to Denver in NCHC final)

NCAA history: 16th appearance; seeking ninth Frozen Four and fourth national title (last won in 2019). … First NCAA appearance — and first winning season — since 2022. … Had made eight straight tournaments before that.

Fast fact: The Bulldogs’ special teams are just that: They are second nationally in power-play conversions (29.9%) and third in penalty killing (89.3%).

No. 3 Penn State

Record: 21-13-2

NPI ranking: 9

How the Nittany Lions got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 3-5-2 (lost to Michigan in Big Ten semifinal)

NCAA history: Sixth appearance; seeking second Frozen Four and first national title. … Defeated 1-seed Maine and 2-seed UConn in 2025 regionals before losing to Boston University in national semifinal. … All six NCAA appearances have come in the past 10 years.

Fast fact: Highly touted freshman Gavin McKenna, expected to be the No. 1 pick in June’s NHL draft, ranks second in the country with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 34 games.

No. 4 Bentley

Record: 23-11-5

NPI ranking: 23

How the Falcons got here: Atlantic Hockey champion

Last 10 games: 7-3 (beat St. Thomas in Atlantic final)

NCAA history: Second appearance; seeking first Frozen Four and first national title. … Lost 3-1 to top overall seed Boston College in last year’s tournament.

Fast fact: Bentley hasn’t lost in nine overtime games this season (4-0-5).

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Sioux Falls Regional

No. 1 North Dakota

Record: 27-9-1

NPI ranking: 2

How the Fighting Hawks got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 7-2-1 (lost to Minnesota Duluth in NCHC semifinals)

NCAA history: 36th appearance; seeking 23rd Frozen Four and ninth national title (last won in 2016). … Fifth NCAA appearance in the past seven years.

Fast fact: North Dakota has only two regulation losses since Nov. 28: 3-2 vs. Denver on Jan. 17 and 5-1 to Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC tournament.

No. 2 Providence

Record: 23-10-2

NPI ranking: 7

How the Friars got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 7-3-0 (lost to Merrimack in Hockey East quarterfinals)

NCAA history: 17th appearance; seeking sixth Frozen Four and second national title (won in 2015). … Lost to Denver in first round as 2-seed in 2025 tournament. … Second straight NCAA appearance after five-year absence.

Fast fact: The Friars rolled to their first regular-season Hockey East title, going 14-2 to close their schedule before losing to No. 8 seed Merrimack 3-2 in overtime in the conference quarterfinals.

No. 3 Quinnipiac

Record: 26-9-3

NPI ranking: 10

How the Bobcats got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 6-4 (lost to Clarkson in ECAC quarterfinals)

NCAA history: 12th appearance; seeking fourth Frozen Four and second national title (won in 2023). … Lost to UConn in first round of 2025 tournament. … Sixth straight NCAA appearance and 11th in 14 seasons.

Fast fact: Ethan Wyttenbach, a 19-year-old freshman, leads the NCAA with 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 38 games. He was a fifth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in last year’s NHL draft.

No. 4 Merrimack

Record: 21-15-2

NPI ranking: 19

How the Warriors got here: Hockey East champion

Last 10 games: 6-3-1 (beat UConn in Hockey East final)

NCAA history: Fourth appearance; seeking first Frozen Four appearance. … First NCAA bid since 2023 (first-round loss to Quinnipiac).

Fast fact: Sophomore goalie Max Lundgren leads the country with 1,109 saves (.920 percentage). He made a career-high 49 stops, 22 in the third period, in the Warriors’ win over UConn in the Hockey East championship game.

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Loveland Regional

No. 1 Western Michigan

Record: 26-10-1

NPI ranking: 4

How the Broncos got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 7-2-1 (lost to Denver in NCHC semifinals)

NCAA history: 11th appearance; seeking second Frozen Four and second national title (won last year). … Defeated Denver in national semifinals and Boston University in championship game in 2025.

Fast fact: Western Michigan faced one of the toughest schedules in the country, going 9-6 against ranked opponents.

No. 2 Denver

Record: 25-11-3

NPI ranking: 5

How the Pioneers got here: NCHC champion

Last 10 games: 9-0-1 (beat Minnesota Duluth in NCHC final)

NCAA history: 34th appearance; seeking 20th Frozen Four and 11th national title (last won in 2024). … Defeated overall No. 1 seed Boston College in regional final last year before losing to Western Michigan in national semifinal. … Has reached Frozen Four three of the past four seasons.

Fast fact: No one is hotter than the Pioneers, who extended their unbeaten streak to 13 (12-0-1) in winning the NCHC championship with a 4-3 double-overtime victory over Minnesota Duluth.

No. 3 Cornell

Record: 22-10-1

NPI ranking: 11

How the Big Red got here: At-large bid

Last 10 games: 5-4-1 (lost to Princeton in ECAC semifinals)

NCAA history: 26th appearance; seeking ninth Frozen Four and third national title (last won in 1970). … Beat 1-seed Michigan State in first round last year before losing to Boston University in regional final. … Has made eight of the past nine tournaments, with first-year coach Casey Jones picking up where longtime coach Mike Schafer left off.

Fast fact: Cornell has the stingiest defense in the country, allowing 1.94 goals per game.

No. 4 Minnesota State

Record: 22-10-7

NPI ranking: 13

How the Mavericks got here: CCHA champion

Last 10 games: 6-2-2 (beat St. Thomas in CCHA final)

NCAA history: 12th appearance; seeking third Frozen Four and first national title. … Eighth tournament appearance in the last nine years. … Lost to eventual national champion Western Michigan in double overtime in first round of last year’s tourney.

Fast fact: The Mavericks are in the tournament for the second straight year under Luke Strand after making the field in nine of 11 seasons under Mike Hastings, who left after the 2020-21 season to coach Wisconsin.