With conference tournaments about to begin and selection day for the NCAA men’s hockey tournament less than three weeks away, we’re taking a look at the contenders for the Field of 16, ranging from teams on the bubble to No. 1 seeds.
Six automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament will be awarded to the winners of the six conference tournaments, with championship games scheduled for March 20 and 21. Ten more teams will earn at-large spots determined by the NPI formula, which replaces the pairwise rankings this season. Every game can make an impact npi rankingWhich affects strength of schedule, home/road splits and overtime results.
Once the NCAA field is set, four regional brackets will be announced on March 22. Regional games will be played March 26-29; The sites are Albany, New York; Loveland, Colorado; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Worcester, Massachusetts. The Frozen Four will be held on April 9 and 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Every game and selection show of the NCAA Tournament will be available on ESPN Networks and the ESPN app.
Here’s a look at the NCAA contenders, listed with their NPI rankings, key results and remaining schedules.
NPI rankings, team records through February 28 games.
Frozen Four or Bust
Michigan State and Michigan have been at or near the top of the rankings throughout the season as the top teams in the best conference in the country. North Dakota and Western Michigan aren’t far behind their counterparts in the always-rugged NCHC.
number 1 michigan
record: 26-7-1, 17-6-1 Big Ten
main results: Michigan split two games with Minnesota over the weekend to complete its regular season schedule and move past Michigan State into the No. 1 spot in the NPI rankings.
Remaining programs: Big Ten Tournament
No. 2 Michigan State
record: 24-7-1, 15-6-1 Big Ten
main results: The Spartans finished the weekend 0-1-1 against Ohio State. Prior to this, they had won nine of their last 10 games, including a 5–2 win over Michigan on February 7.
Remaining programs: Thursday, Friday in Minnesota
No. 3 North Dakota
record: 25-8-1, 17-6-1 NCHC
main results: NoDak split two games against Western Michigan to clinch the top seed in the NCHC Tournament. The Fighting Hawks are 9-5 against ranked teams this season.
Remaining programs: NCHC Tournament – vs. Omaha, best-of-three quarterfinals beginning Friday
No. 4 Western Michigan
record: 24-9-1, 16-7-1 NCHC
main results: The defending national champions are 14-3-1 since Christmas, including wins over Boston College and Wisconsin in the Quick Trip Holiday Face-Off and a two-game win at Denver.
Remaining programs: NCHC Tournament – vs. Colorado College, best-of-three quarterfinals beginning Friday
rock solid
Teams at this level should make sure to keep their calendars clear for the last weekend of March. It’s hard to create scenarios where they miss the NCAA Tournament.
No. 5 Penn State
record: 20-10-2, 12-8-2 Big Ten
main results: Penn State showed how dangerous it can be with an 11–4 win over Ohio State on February 20, which included a goal and seven assists from freshman Gavin McKenna. But the Nittany Lions went 0-1-1 at Notre Dame last weekend. They are 19–4–1 against teams named Michigan and Michigan State, but are 1–6–1 against the top two teams in the Big Ten.
Remaining programs: Thursday, Friday vs. Wisconsin
No. 6 Providence
record: 22-9-2, 17-5-1 Hockey East
main results: The Friars won the Hockey East regular season title with a division tie against New Hampshire. They have won 13 of their last 15 matches.
Remaining programs: on saturday vs ucon
No. 7 Quinnipiac
record: 26-7-3, 17-4-1 ECAC
main results: The Bobcats have shown some cracks the past two weekends, suffering a 7-4 loss at Dartmouth and a 6-1 loss to Cornell. Previously, Quinnipiac was 12-1-1 since the calendar turned to 2026.
Remaining programs: ECAC Tournament – TBD, best-of-three quarterfinals begin March 13
No. 8 Denver
record: 21-11-3, 17-6-1 NCHC
main results: Denver is undefeated in its last nine games (8-0-1) and has emerged as the hottest team in the country, which is nothing new for the Pioneers in March. They have bounced back nicely after starting January by going 1-5-1 against Maine, Western Michigan and North Dakota.
Remaining programs: NCHC Tournament – Miami (Ohio), best-of-three quarterfinals beginning Friday
No. 9 Cornell
record: 20-8-1, 15-6-1 ECAC
main results: The Big Red essentially locked up an NCAA berth with wins over St. Lawrence and Clarkson, which came after a 6–1 loss at Quinnipiac on February 20.
Remaining programs: ECAC Tournament – TBD, best-of-three quarterfinals begin March 13
No. 10 Minnesota Duluth
record: 20-13-1, 11-12-1 NCHC
main results: The Bulldogs went 0-1-1 against Colorado College over the weekend, dropping two spots in the NPI, but before that bolstered their resume with wins over Western Michigan and North Dakota (two).
Remaining programs: NCHC Tournament – vs. St. Cloud State, best-of-three quarterfinals beginning Friday
No. 11 Dartmouth
record: 19-7-4, 13-5-4 ECAC
main results: Dartmouth moved into that category after a 7-4 win over Quinnipiac on Friday. The Big Green’s berth in the NCAA regionals is on the strength of an 11-0 start, and they will look to recapture that form in March.
Remaining programs: ECAC Tournament – TBD, best-of-three quarterfinals begin March 13
I’m liking it
These teams are in a good position to take the field, but they cannot be complacent. A poor finish to the regular season will add pressure come conference tournament time.
No. 12 Wisconsin
record: 19-11-2, 12-10-0 Big Ten
main results: The Badgers moved up one spot in the NPI during the weekend break. Wisconsin gave its major hopes a big boost with a 4–1 win over Michigan on February 20. A weekend series at Penn State offers a chance to further strengthen its position.
Remaining programs: Thursday, Friday at Penn State
No. 13 Boston College
record: 19-12-1, 13-9-0 Hockey East
main results: Following the weekend sweep of UConn, the Eagles dropped a pair to rival Boston University, slipping one spot in the NPI. With a win or two on their resume, BC will definitely feel more secure on selection day.
Remaining programs: Thursday at UMass; vs north east on saturday
For now – in the field
The cutline in the NPI rankings to make NCAA field figures will be No. 15, as the Atlantic champion will earn an automatic bid and claim the 16th seed. For now, these teams are on the right side of the bubble, but that could change with any missteps.
No. 14 Augustana
record: 20-10-4, 14-8-4 CCHA
main results: The Vikings had the best weekend of any bubble team without ever stepping on the ice. After ending the regular season with a five-point sweep at St. Thomas on February 20 and 21, they moved up three spots in the NPI thanks to the other teams’ results.
Remaining programs: CCHA Tournament–Bemidji State, best-of-three quarterfinals begin Friday
No. 15 UConn
record: 17-10-5, 11-8-3 Hockey East
main results: UConn went 0-1-1 in a home-and-home set with UMass over the weekend and is 0-3-2 in its last five games, weakening the Huskies’ once-strong grip on an at-large berth in the NCAA playoffs. UConn finishes the regular season at No. 6 Providence before heading to the Hockey East Tournament.
Remaining programs: on Thursday vs. New Hampshire; Saturday in Providence
Bentley/Atlantic Champion
record: 18-11-5, 16-6-4 Atlantic; Number 32 in NPI
main results: The 16th spot in the NCAA field will likely be filled by the Atlantic hockey champion. We’d have Bentley in this slot at the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament, but after a pair of losses to Air Force, the Falcons slipped seven spots to No. 32 in NPI. Sacred Heart, the No. 2 seed, is No. 31 in the Atlantic.
Remaining programs: Atlantic Tournament, best-of-three quarterfinals begin Friday
work has to be done
With four CCHA teams with NPI rankings between No. 14 and No. 19, the conference tournament will have significant bubble implications. Big expectations aren’t great for anyone here, but we’re saying there’s a chance — and there’s always the conference tournament to lean on.
minnesota state
record: 18-9-7, 14-7-5 CCHA; Number 16 in NPI
main results: Sitting on the wrong side of the bubble after a 1-0-1 weekend against Northern Michigan, the Mustangs could move on to the NCAA regionals if they win a few games in the CCHA tournament and a spot opens up.
Remaining programs: CCHA Tournament – vs. Ferris State, best-of-three quarterfinals beginning Friday
st thomas
record: 18-11-5, 15-7-4 CCHA; Number 17 in NPI
main results: St. Thomas is just 1-4-2 in its last seven games after going 0-1-1 against Bemidji State, dashing the Tommies’ high hopes.
Remaining programs: CCHA Tournament – vs. Lake Superior State, best-of-three quarterfinals beginning Friday
I
record: 18-12-3, 12-10-1 Hockey East; Number 18 in NPI
main results: The Black Bears improved their standing with a win over Northeastern over the weekend, but their best path to the NCAAs is clearly to win the Hockey East Tournament.
Remaining programs: saturday in vermont
bowling Green
record: 18-9-7, 15-7-4 CCHA; Number 19 in NPI
main results: A weekend sweep at Michigan Tech (1-0 and 4-3 in OT) earned Bowling Green the spot, although the Falcons’ chances at an at-large berth are slim.
Remaining programs: CCHA Tournament–at Michigan Tech, best-of-three quarterfinals begin Friday
umass
record: 19-12-1, 12-9-1 Hockey East; Number 20 in NPI
main results: The 1-0-1 weekend against UConn didn’t do much for the Minutemen in the NPI due to other results around the country, but they still have a chance to make up some ground with games against Boston College and in the Hockey East Tournament.
Remaining programs: on Thursday vs. Boston College; Saturday in New Hampshire
