NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament
United States National Collegiate Hockey Championship Tournament
NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament Sport Ice hockey Founded 1948 No. of teams 16 Country United States Most recent Denver Most titles Denver (10)TV partner(s) ESPN Official website NCAA.com
The annual NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is a college ice hockey tournament held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the top men's team in Division I .[ 1] NCAA men's hockey competition. This tournament is somewhat unique among NCAA sports as many schools which otherwise compete in Division II or Division III compete in Division I for hockey.
Since 1999, the semi-finals and championship game of the tournament have been branded as the "Frozen Four "—a reference to the NCAA's long-time branding of its basketball semi-finals as the "Final Four ".
History
The NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championship is a single elimination competition that has determined the collegiate national champion since the inaugural 1948 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament . The tournament features 16 teams representing all six Division I conferences in the nation. The Championship Committee seeds the entire field from 1 to 16 within four regionals of 4 teams. The winners of the six Division I conference championships receive automatic bids to participate in the NCAA Championship. The tournament begins with initial games played at four regional sites culminating with the semi-finals and finals played at a single site.[ 1]
In setting up the tournament, the Championship Committee seeks to ensure "competitive equity, financial success and likelihood of playoff-type atmosphere at each regional site." A team serving as the host of a regional is placed within that regional. The top four teams are assigned overall seeds and placed within the bracket such that the national semifinals will feature the No. 1 seed versus the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed versus the No. 3 seed should the top four teams win their respective regional finals. Number 1 seeds are also placed as close to their home site as possible, with the No. 1 seed receiving first preference. Conference matchups are avoided in the first round; should five or more teams from one conference make the tournament, this guideline may be disregarded in favor of preserving the bracket's integrity.
Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado hosted the tournament for the first ten years and has hosted eleven times overall, the most of any venue.[ 2] Vic Heyliger has coached the most championship teams, winning six times with Michigan between 1948 and 1956.[ 3] [ 4]
The 2020 championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Tournament format history
1948–1976
4 teams (1 game series) 1977–1980
5–6 teams (1 game series) 1981–1987
8 teams (2 game, total goals first round at higher seed) 1988
12 teams (2 game, total goals first two rounds at higher seed) 1989–1991
12 teams (best of 3 games first two rounds series at higher seed) 1992–2002
12 teams (divided into 2 regionals, East Regional and West Regional; 6 teams each) 2003–present
16 teams (divided into 4 regionals: Northeast, East, Midwest, and West Regionals: 4 teams each)
Results
Year
Winning team
Coach
Losing team
Coach
Score
Location
Finals venue
1948 Michigan Vic Heyliger Dartmouth Eddie Jeremiah 8-4
Colorado Springs, Colorado Broadmoor Ice Palace
1949 Boston College John Kelley Dartmouth (2) Eddie Jeremiah 4-3
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1950 Colorado College Cheddy Thompson Boston University Harry Cleverly 13-4
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1951 Michigan (2)Vic Heyliger Brown Westcott Moulton 7-1
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1952 Michigan (3)Vic Heyliger Colorado College Cheddy Thompson 4-1
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1953 Michigan (4)Vic Heyliger Minnesota John Mariucci 7-3
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1954 Rensselaer Ned Harkness Minnesota (2) John Mariucci 5-4 (OT )
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1955 Michigan (5)Vic Heyliger Colorado College (2) Cheddy Thompson 5-3
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1956 Michigan (6)Vic Heyliger Michigan Tech Al Renfrew 7-5
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1957 Colorado College (2)Tom Bedecki Michigan Vic Heyliger 13-6
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor Ice Palace
1958 Denver Murray Armstrong North Dakota Bob May 6-2
Minneapolis, Minnesota Williams Arena
1959 North Dakota Bob May Michigan State Amo Bessone 4-3 (OT )
Troy, New York RPI Field House
1960 Denver (2)Murray Armstrong Michigan Tech (2) John MacInnes 5-3
Boston, Massachusetts Matthews Arena
1961 Denver (3)Murray Armstrong St. Lawrence George Menard 12-2
Denver, Colorado University of Denver Arena
1962 Michigan Tech John MacInnes Clarkson Len Ceglarski 7-1
Utica, New York Utica Memorial Auditorium
1963 North Dakota (2)Barry Thorndycraft Denver Murray Armstrong 6–5
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts McHugh Forum
1964 Michigan (7)Al Renfrew Denver (2) Murray Armstrong 6-3
Denver, Colorado
University of Denver Arena
1965 Michigan Tech (2)John MacInnes Boston College John Kelley 8-2
Providence, Rhode Island Meehan Auditorium
1966 Michigan State Amo Bessone Clarkson (2) Len Ceglarski 6-1
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Williams Arena
1967 Cornell Ned Harkness Boston University (2) Jack Kelley 4-1
Syracuse, New York Onondaga War Memorial
1968 Denver (4)Murray Armstrong North Dakota (2) Bill Selman 4-0
Duluth, Minnesota Duluth Entertainment Center
1969 Denver (5)Murray Armstrong Cornell Ned Harkness 4-3
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor World Arena
1970 Cornell (2)Ned Harkness Clarkson (3) Len Ceglarski 6-4
Lake Placid, New York Olympic Center
1971 Boston University Jack Kelley Minnesota (3) Glen Sonmor 4-2
Syracuse, New York Onondaga War Memorial
1972 Boston University (2)Jack Kelley Cornell (2) Dick Bertrand 4-0
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Garden
1973 Wisconsin Bob Johnson Denver (3) 1 Murray Armstrong 4-2
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Garden
1974 Minnesota Herb Brooks Michigan Tech (3) John MacInnes 4-2
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Garden
1975 Michigan Tech (3)John MacInnes Minnesota (4) Herb Brooks 6-1
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis Arena
1976 Minnesota (2)Herb Brooks Michigan Tech (4) John MacInnes 6-4
Denver, Colorado
University of Denver Arena
1977 Wisconsin (2)Bob Johnson Michigan (2) Dan Farrell 6-5 (OT )
Detroit, Michigan Olympia Stadium
1978 Boston University (3)Jack Parker Boston College (2) Len Ceglarski 5-3
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
1979 Minnesota (3)Herb Brooks North Dakota (3) Gino Gasparini 4-3
Detroit, Michigan
Olympia Stadium
1980 North Dakota (3)Gino Gasparini Northern Michigan Rick Comley 5-2
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
1981 Wisconsin (3)Bob Johnson Minnesota (5) Brad Buetow 6-3
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth Entertainment Center
1982 North Dakota (4)Gino Gasparini Wisconsin Bob Johnson 5-2
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
1983 Wisconsin (4)Jeff Sauer Harvard Bill Cleary 6-2
Grand Forks, North Dakota Ralph Engelstad Arena
1984 Bowling Green Jerry York Minnesota-Duluth Mike Sertich 5-4 (4OT )
Lake Placid, New York
Olympic Arena
1985 Rensselaer (2)Mike Addesa Providence Steve Stirling 2-1
Detroit, Michigan
Joe Louis Arena
1986 Michigan State (2)Ron Mason Harvard (2) Bill Cleary 6-5
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
1987 North Dakota (5)Gino Gasparini Michigan State (2) Ron Mason 5-3
Detroit, Michigan
Joe Louis Arena
1988 Lake Superior State Frank Anzalone St. Lawrence (2) Joe Marsh 4-3 (OT )
Lake Placid, New York
Olympic Center
1989 Harvard Bill Cleary Minnesota (6) Doug Woog 4-3 (OT )
Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul Civic Center
1990 Wisconsin (5)Jeff Sauer Colgate Terry Slater 7-3
Detroit, Michigan
Joe Louis Arena
1991 Northern Michigan Rick Comley Boston University (3) Jack Parker 8-7 (3OT )
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul Civic Center
1992 Lake Superior State (2)Jeff Jackson Wisconsin (2) 1 Jeff Sauer 5-3
Albany, New York Knickerbocker Arena
1993 Maine Shawn Walsh Lake Superior State Jeff Jackson 5-4
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bradley Center
1994 Lake Superior State (3)Jeff Jackson Boston University (4) Jack Parker 9-1
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul Civic Center
1995 Boston University (4)Jack Parker Maine Shawn Walsh 6-2
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
1996 Michigan (8)Red Berenson Colorado College (3) Don Lucia 3-2 (OT )
Cincinnati, Ohio Riverfront Coliseum
1997 North Dakota (6)Dean Blais Boston University (5) Jack Parker 6-4
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bradley Center
1998 Michigan (9)Red Berenson Boston College (3) Jerry York 3-2 (OT )
Boston, Massachusetts
FleetCenter
1999 Maine (2)Shawn Walsh New Hampshire Dick Umile 3-2 (OT )
Anaheim, California Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
2000 North Dakota (7)Dean Blais Boston College (4) Jerry York 4-2
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
2001 Boston College (2)Jerry York North Dakota (4) Dean Blais 3-2 (OT )
Albany, New York
Pepsi Arena
2002 Minnesota (4)Don Lucia Maine (2) Tim Whitehead 4-3 (OT )
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Xcel Energy Center
2003 Minnesota (5)Don Lucia New Hampshire (2) Dick Umile 5-1
Buffalo, New York HSBC Arena
2004 Denver (6)George Gwozdecky Maine (3) Tim Whitehead 1-0
Boston, Massachusetts
FleetCenter
2005 Denver (7)George Gwozdecky North Dakota (5) Dave Hakstol 4-1
Columbus, Ohio Value City Arena
2006 Wisconsin (6)Mike Eaves Boston College (5) Jerry York 2-1
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bradley Center
2007 Michigan State (3)Rick Comley Boston College (6) Jerry York 3-1
St. Louis, Missouri
Scottrade Center
2008 Boston College (3)Jerry York Notre Dame Jeff Jackson 4-1
Denver, Colorado
Pepsi Center
2009 Boston University (5)Jack Parker Miami Enrico Blasi 4-3 (OT )
Washington, D.C. Verizon Center
2010 Boston College (4)Jerry York Wisconsin (3) Mike Eaves 5-0
Detroit, Michigan
Ford Field
2011 Minnesota-Duluth Scott Sandelin Michigan (3) Red Berenson 3-2 (OT )
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Xcel Energy Center
2012 Boston College (5)Jerry York Ferris State Bob Daniels 4-1
Tampa, Florida Tampa Bay Times Forum
2013 Yale Keith Allain Quinnipiac Rand Pecknold 4-0
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Consol Energy Center
2014 Union Rick Bennett Minnesota (7) Don Lucia 7-4
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wells Fargo Center
2015 Providence Nate Leaman Boston University (6) David Quinn 4-3
Boston, Massachusetts
TD Garden
2016
North Dakota (8)
Brad Berry
Quinnipiac (2)
Rand Pecknold
5-1
Tampa, Florida
Amalie Arena
2017
Denver (8)
Jim Montgomery
Minnesota-Duluth (2)
Scott Sandelin
3-2
Chicago, Illinois
United Center
2018
Minnesota-Duluth (2)
Scott Sandelin
Notre Dame (2)
Jeff Jackson
2-1
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Xcel Energy Center
2019
Minnesota-Duluth (3)
Scott Sandelin
Massachusetts
Greg Carvel
3-0
Buffalo, New York
KeyBank Center
2020
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Detroit, Michigan
Little Caesars Arena
2021
Massachusetts
Greg Carvel
St. Cloud State
Brett Larson
5-0
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PPG Paints Arena
2022
Denver (9)
David Carle
Minnesota State
Mike Hastings
5-1
Boston, Massachusetts
TD Garden
2023
Quinnipiac
Rand Pecknold
Minnesota (8)
Bob Motzko
3-2 (OT )
Tampa, Florida
Amalie Arena
2024
Denver (10)
David Carle
Boston College (7)
Greg Brown
2-0
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Xcel Energy Center
2025
St. Louis, Missouri
Enterprise Center
2026
Paradise, Nevada
T-Mobile Arena
2027
Washington, D.C.
Capital One Arena
2028
Chicago, IL
United Center
^1
Team titles
Schools with D1 Mens Ice Hockey championships – 10 championships,
– 9 championships,
– 8 championships,
– 6 championships,
– 5 championships,
– 3 championships,
– 2 championships,
– 1 championship
Schools with D1 Mens Ice Hockey championships – 5 championships,
– 1 championship
Team
#
Years
Denver 10
1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, 2024
Michigan 9
1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998
North Dakota 8
1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016
Wisconsin 6
1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006
Boston College 5
1949, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2012
Boston University 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
Minnesota 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
Lake Superior State 3
1988, 1992, 1994
Michigan State 1966, 1986, 2007
Michigan Tech 1962, 1965, 1975
Minnesota Duluth 2011, 2018, 2019
Colorado College 2
1950, 1957
Cornell 1967, 1970
Maine 1993, 1999
RPI 1954, 1985
Bowling Green 1
1984
Harvard 1989
Massachusetts 2021
Northern Michigan 1991
Providence 2015
Quinnipiac 2023
Union 2014
Yale 2013
The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament:
• First round (12 teams starting in 1988, 16 teams starting in 2003 ) QF Quarterfinals (1 or 2 teams starting in 1977, 4 teams starting in 1980 ) F4 Frozen Four RU National Runner-up CH National Champion RU • The team achieved the placement shown, but the participation was later vacated. These vacated appearances are not included in the total columns.Starting in 2003, the 4 teams seeded No. 1 in the regions are shown with single underline .
^ Arizona State will join the NCHC for the 2024–25 season.
Records
Points in a Championship Game
Points in Multiple Championships
Championship Hat Tricks
* Was not a member of the winning team. † Natural hat-trick . ‡ Tournament participation later vacated.
Tournament Winning Percentage
Minimum 2 tournaments
Player
School
Years
Wins
Losses
Ties
Winning Percentage
Hunter Shepard Minnesota–Duluth 2018 , 2019 8
0
0
1.000
Darren Jensen North Dakota 1980 , 1982 5
0
0
1.000
Lorne Howes Michigan 1955 , 1956 4
0
0
1.000
George Kirkwood Denver 1960 , 1961 4
0
0
1.000
Gerry Powers Denver 1968 , 1969 4
0
0
1.000
Marc Behrend Wisconsin 1981 , 1982 , 1983 7
0
1
.938
John Muse Boston College 2008 , 2010 , 2011 8
1
0
.889
Filip Lindberg Massachusetts 2019 , 2021 6
1
0
.857
Blaine Lacher Lake Superior State 1992 , 1993 , 1994 6
1
0
.857
Kenny Reiter Minnesota–Duluth 2011 , 2012 5
1
0
.833
Jon Gillies Providence 2014 , 2015 5
1
0
.833
Marty Turco Michigan 1995 , 1996 , 1997 , 1998 9
2
0
.818
Willard Ikola Michigan 1952 , 1953 , 1954 4
1
0
.800
Bob Essensa Michigan State 1984 , 1985 , 1986 , 1987 4
1
0
.800
Parker Milner Boston College 2012 , 2013 4
1
0
.800
Cam Johnson North Dakota 2016 , 2017 4
1
0
.800
Scott Clemmensen Boston College 1998 , 1999 , 2000 , 2001 10
3
0
.769
Jeff Lerg Michigan State 2006 , 2007 , 2008 6
2
0
.750
Jack McDonald Michigan 1948 , 1949 3
1
0
.750
Bob Fox Rensselaer 1953 , 1954 3
1
0
.750
Gaye Cooley Michigan State 1966 , 1967 3
1
0
.750
Jim Craig Boston University 1977 , 1978 3
1
0
.750
Tanner Jaillet Denver 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 8
3
0
.727
Duane Derksen Wisconsin 1990 , 1991 , 1992 7
3
0
.700
Cory Schneider Boston College 2005 , 2006 , 2007 7
3
0
.700
Tournament Droughts
The following is a list of teams that have not made an NCAA tournament anytime in the last 10 seasons.
† Alaska's only appearance in 2010 was later vacated due to NCAA rules violations.[ 10] ‡ St. Lawrence received an automatic bid in 2021, however, the team had to decline the invitation due to a positive COVID-19 test from their head coach.[ 11]
Awards
At the conclusion of each tournament both an all-tournament team and 'Most Outstanding Player in Tournament' is named. Both achievements have been in effect since the inaugural championship in 1948
See also
References
