The NCAA male hockey tournament is established, and this year's field is heavy in East Hockey, The Big Ten and, as usual, intrigue.
Ten of the 16 teams are one of the two strongest conferences in the country (six East hockey, four of the Big Ten). Most of the usual suspects of the last seasons are here, including the Western Michigan conference champions, Minnesota State and Cornell, while two teams, Uconn and Bentley are in the field for the first time.
Boston College and Michigan State, the first two seeds, have been at the head of the class throughout the season, but the field is deep with the legitimate contenders. Three seeds No. 3, Denver, Quinnipiac and Umass, have recent banners of the National Championship that show that they know what is needed to win everything.
And there is a lot of star power, from Ryan Leonard of BC and Isaac Howard from the state of Michigan to Jimmy Snuggerud from Minnesota and Zeev Buium of Denver.
The regional game begins on Thursday, with the regional finals on Saturday and Sunday. All games will be transmitted in the ESPN family of networks and/or will be transmitted in ESPN+.
We ask ESPN College Andrew Raycroft hockey analysts and Sean Ritchlin for their versions about some of the main stories that enter the tournament, including teams and players to see, and who will make the trip to St. Louis for the Frozen Four on April 10 and 12.
Each NCAA tournament game will be available on ESPN+. Subscribe to see.
BC and Michigan State are in a collision course for the national title game? Who has the best opportunity to strengthen your party?
Raycroft: As well as BC and Michigan State have been this year, it is difficult for me to see a scenario in which we get everything. There are too many good teams below the peers classifications, such as the Denver defending champion, which can wreak havoc in the regional ones. With the leadership that the pioneers have back last year, Matt Davis, Zeev Buium, Jack Devine, coach David Carle, it is difficult to look beyond the reigning champions.
Ritchlin: The increase in the state of the state of Michigan feels like the real business, especially with its elite defensive structure and its confidentiality. The Spartans are not only winning, they are controlling the games. When the main BC lines click, they are afraid, but the eagles need to show that they can fight through the slower and output games. He cannot trust the speed and ability in the NCAA, and his loss against Northeastern in the quarterfinals of Hockey East could be the attention call that the eagles needed.
But Western Michigan is a complete team that has just registered a massive victory over Denver in an extra time thriller for the NCHC championship. Broncos are built as a tournament team, deep and balanced, and have been silently consistent throughout the year.
What team in the lower half of the field will be the most difficult?
Raycroft: Umass finished the hard regular season of hockey East in a 11-3-2 race, with the three losses in the first six teams in the park. The Minutemen have defeated all East Hockey teams in the tournament at least once this season.
Ritchlin: Penn State is the type of team that nobody wants to face right now. Since January, the Nittany Lions have overturned a switch. His great motorcycle and his aggressive search for Puck is the Gadoowsky Hockey textbook, relentless, physical and opportunistic. When PSU strikers fly and finish checks, use equipment quickly. Maine's structure and discipline are not jokes, but the speed and chaos of the PSU network could really throw the black bears of their rhythm. In addition, being in Allentown is a massive advantage for Penn State. Fans' energy will feel like a game at home, and that can be a true difference in tournament hockey.
What player is the most important for the success of his team?
Raycroft: Boston College Jacob Fowler goalkeeper. Mike Richter's favorite, which has an average of 1.63 goals against and a .940 savings percentage, will need to continue his historical game for seed number 1 to win everything.
Ritchlin: Michigan's state goalkeeper Trey Augustine. He has already shown that he can handle the pressure, and not only in the university, we are talking about young World Cups, where bets and the center of attention are enormous. Agustín is great under fire, fast laterally and there is not many opportunities. When it is locked, it gives Spartans the confidence to push offensively, knowing that it is a wall in the back.
What is your opinion about Hobey Baker's career?
Raycroft: Boston College Ryan Leonard striker or Penn State Aiden Fink eaves. I think BC lost the Beanpot and in the East Hockey Tournament could damage Leonard because his “great” moments were before the season, while Fink has been more recent since the Nittany Lions have been one of the hottest teams in the country during the last month. I think you can make a fairly good argument for both.
Ritchlin: Leonard could not lead the nation in annotations, but he is the most complete player in university hockey. He plays in all situations, brings physical and has been demonstrated on the international stage. The Michigan state striker, Isaac Howard, has been clutch all year round, scoring great goals in key moments. He is not the most striking player, but he is a real player whose impact appears when he counts. Jack Devine leads the country at points and is the offensive engine for Denver, but its score has arrived in waves, and that scratched production could pause the voters. Even so, your ability and vision are first level.
Prediction time: Who will do the four frozen?
Raycroft
Boston College: I trust that the Eagles learn from their loss of loss in the quarterfinals of Hockey East, and will not happen again in Manchester.
Michigan state: Toledo is a regional hard for general seed number 2, but Trey Augustine and Isaac Howard will prevail.
Western Michigan: The nation's largest team will continue to fill the network in Fargo.
UCONN: Despite losing to Maine in the East Hockey final, the Huskies will avenge themselves in the regional ones.
Ritchlin
Boston College: BC is an offensively explosive, and when the upper line of the Eagles is buzzing, they are almost unstoppable. If they can squeeze defensively, they have firepower to win everything.
Michigan state: It could be said that the most balanced team in the field, the Spartans have an elite goal, a strong structure and are in the update trend at the perfect time. They look like a championship team.
Western Michigan: When leaving a sandy victory in the NCHC title, the Broncos are deep, physical and safe. This is a veteran group who knows how to win closed games and will be dangerous in a unique format.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions are relentless in the condemnation and play with a serious purpose. If they set up their impulse and the crowd appear in Allentown, they are a real threat.
