Puck Prose
Fansided

NCAA Hockey: Tournament Update and Frozen Four Preview

By Rohan Yaradi

MANCHESTER, NH - MARCH 30: UMASS Minutemen forward Brett Boeing (22) fends off Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenseman Bobby Nardella (27) during the Northeast Regional final between the UMASS Minutemen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 30, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, NH - MARCH 30: UMASS Minutemen forward Brett Boeing (22) fends off Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenseman Bobby Nardella (27) during the Northeast Regional final between the UMASS Minutemen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 30, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
NCAA Hockey
Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

The first two rounds of the men’s NCAA Hockey tournament are in the books. Here is everything you need to know before this week’s Frozen Four.

The Stanley Cup playoffs may be receiving a lot of the press, but it is not the only best-on-best hockey tournament taking place this week. Fresh off of last week’s regionals, the Frozen Four of the men’s NCAA Hockey tournament is back this week.

If you have not been able to keep up-to-date on the tournament, you have missed some pretty great storylines. From heart-stopping overtime to classic goaltending performances, to some insane upsets – this tournament has already had it all.

More from Puck Prose

There are only two days left in the tournament: the semifinals, which happen on Thursday, and the finals, on Saturday. All games will be played in Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.

Here is a quick rundown of who won each regional, followed by a preview of the final two rounds of the NCAA Hockey tournament.

West Regionals

My Prediction: St. Cloud State Huskies

March 29:

(4) American International over (1) St. Cloud State, 2-1

(2) Denver over (3) Ohio State, 2-0

March 30:

(2) Denver over (4) American International, 3-0

Winner: Denver University Pioneers

Wow. For the second year in a row, the number one overall seed St. Cloud State was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Hockey tournament by the Atlantic Hockey conference champions. This year, it was the Yellow Jackets of American International College.

Going in, I thought the Huskies (like Virginia in men’s basketball) would redeem themselves after last year’s embarrassment. Watching the game, it was painfully obvious that this team was in its own head. If they come in next year with fewer expectations, it may just be the cure they need.

The Huskies being eliminated open the door for the next-best team in the quadrant, Denver, to waltz into the Frozen Four. Their defense and goaltending has been very good, as predicted, as they have yet to allow a goal in this tournament.

Home/Editorials