The chase for college hockey’s ultimate prize has been set.
The NCAA men’s hockey tournament bracket was unveiled Sunday, setting up four regional divisions that include rising contenders and potential bracket-busters — all vying for a spot in the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
The University of Michigan Wolverines headline the Albany Region as the top seed, where they will open against the Bentley Falcons.
Canadian Gavin McKenna and the Penn State Nittany Lions will take on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
The Loveland Region might be the most wide-open of the four. Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey enters as the No. 1 seed, but all eyes will be on the Denver Pioneers, who have a strong history in the tournament, sitting as the No. 2 seed.
Cornell and Minnesota State Mavericks round out the Loveland Region.
The Sioux Falls Region features a stacked group with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Merrimack Warriors, Providence Friars and Quinnipiac Bobcats, featuring the top opening-round matchups.
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey lead the Worcester Region, opening against the UConn Huskies. That region also features the Dartmouth Big Green and Wisconsin Badgers.
The road to the Frozen Four will culminate in Las Vegas, with the NCAA men’s hockey semifinals set for April 9 and the national championship game scheduled for April 11 at T-Mobile Arena.
Below is the complete bracket:
Albany Region
1. Michigan
2. Minnesota Duluth
3. Penn State
4. Bentley
Loveland Region
1. Western Michigan
2. Denver
3. Cornell
4. Minnesota
State Sioux Falls Region
1. North Dakota
2. Providence
3. Quinnipiac
4. Merrimack
Worcester Region
1. Michigan State
2. Dartmouth
3. Wisconsin
4. Connecticut
1:02
