Men's Hockey Tournament Preview: Teams to Watch in 2026

The 2025-26 men's college hockey season has established a clear dominance from teams in the Midwest and West. The NCHC and Big Ten conferences have led the national rankings throughout the season, with Michigan securing the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

Michigan is not alone in the 16-team tournament field, as Michigan State, the Big Ten regular-season champion, also earned a No. 1 seed. Other notable Big Ten entries include Penn State and Wisconsin, both of which have appeared in the top five of the national rankings at various times during the season.

In the NCHC, both North Dakota and the defending national champion Western Michigan received No. 1 seeds, despite not reaching the conference tournament finals. The championship match featured Denver and Minnesota Duluth, both of which qualified for the NCAA tournament, with Denver winning 4-3 in double overtime.

All games of the NCAA men's hockey tournament will be broadcast on ESPN networks and available for live streaming via the ESPN App. Teams from the NCHC and Big Ten accounted for seven of the top nine rankings in the NPI, the metric used to select NCAA tournament teams and determine seeds.

Interestingly, the top teams from the East are not the usual powerhouses. Dartmouth, the ECAC champion and ranked No. 6 in NPI, is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1980. Providence, ranked No. 7, claimed its first-ever Hockey East regular-season title but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by 8-seed Merrimack, who emerged as a surprise champion.

As the NCAA tournament approaches, analysts Andrew Raycroft and Sean Ritchlin from ESPN shared their insights on the teams to watch, standout players, and predictions for the Frozen Four scheduled for April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas.

Raycroft expressed confidence that a No. 1 seed will win the national championship this year, citing the strength of the top four teams as formidable opponents. However, he noted that Denver, Minnesota Duluth, and Dartmouth should not be overlooked.

Ritchlin highlighted the historical trend of the NCAA hockey tournament favoring higher seeds, with No. 1 and No. 2 seeds frequently clinching the title. He emphasized the depth, balance, and strong goaltending of this year's top seeds, which are crucial in elimination games. While Denver is not a top seed, he sees them as a potential winner.

Raycroft pointed out Quinnipiac as a team to watch, particularly due to their favorable first-round match against Providence. He noted that Quinnipiac, led by scoring leader Ethan Wyttenbach, has a strong offensive performance.

Ritchlin mentioned Penn State, which has shown dynamic offense this season and features experienced players who made a deep run in last year's tournament. He emphasized their scoring potential and the threat they pose to higher-seeded teams.

In terms of standout players, Raycroft highlighted Michigan State's goalie Trey Augustine, who possesses the skills to lead his team to victory. Ritchlin agreed on the importance of goaltending and noted Johnny Hicks from Denver as a key player following his impressive performance in the Frozen Faceoff tournament.

Raycroft also praised Minnesota Duluth's Max Plante, who plays a significant role within the competitive NCHC. Ritchlin noted that this year lacks a clear favorite, with several players, including Dartmouth's Hayden Stavroff and Michigan's T.J. Hughes, making strong cases for accolades.

As for the tournament outlook, North Dakota is positioned well within their bracket, while Denver seeks to leverage local support in Loveland, Colorado. Michigan State benefits from having the best goalie in the tournament, while Minnesota Duluth aims to challenge top-seeded Michigan. Overall, Michigan has shown consistent performance and improved defensive play, crucial for their journey to Vegas.