While the NCAA basketball tournament is currently attracting the most attention across the sports world, fans of college athletics can soon add another postseason tournament to their viewing schedule.
The 16 teams that will participate in this season’s NCAA Men’s hockey tournament were unveiled over the weekend. If you’re from the New England area, you will have plenty of representation, as half of the 16 teams play in the northeast region of the country.
Maine clinched the Hockey East championship, while Bentley earned the Atlantic Conference title. Elsewhere, Boston College, Boston University, UConn, UMass, Quinnipiac, and Providence all earned at-large bids.
For UConn and Bentley, this marks their first ever participation in the NCAA mens hockey postseason tournament. Odds for the first round of games are already posted at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Boston College favorites to win Frozen Four
Boston College went 26-7-2 in the Hockey East conference this past season, which earned them the No. 1 PairWise ranking in the country.
Led by future NHLers Ryan Leonard (Washington), Gabe Perreault (NY Rangers), and James Hagens (projected top-five pick in the 2025 NHL draft) up front, Boston College has the firepower to matchup with anyone. Goaltender Jacob Fowler, a third-round NHL draft pick by Montreal, posted a superb .940 save percentage on the season.
As a result, Boston College is the betting favorite to win the NCAA Frozen Four men’s hockey tournament.
2025 Men’s NCAA Frozen Four odds
Here are the current odds for all sixteen schools at BetMGM Sportsbook:
- Boston College (+275)
- Michigan State (+400)
- Western Michigan (+750)
- Minnesota (+900)
- Denver (+1000)
- Maine (+1000)
- Boston University (+1300)
- UConn (+1800)
- Penn State (+2000)
- Ohio State (+2200)
- UMass (+2500)
- Quinnipiac (+3000)
- Providence (+3000)
- Cornell (+5000)
- Minnesota State (+5000)
- Bentley (+10000)
Tournament schedule, structure
The NCAA men’s hockey tournament is broken down into four regionals, with four teams heading to each region. At that point, there will be two semifinals, single-elimination games in each region.
The winner of those two matchups in each region will face off in the regional final, another single-elimination playoff game. The lone team left standing in each region will advance to the Frozen Four in St. Louis on April 10th-12th.
Toledo Regional:
3/27 Boston University vs. Ohio State
3/27 Michigan State vs. Cornell
3/29 Winner vs. Winner
Fargo Regional:
3/27 Western Michigan vs. Minnesota State
3/27 Minnesota vs. UMass
3/29 Winner vs. Winner
Manchester Regional:
3/28 Boston College vs. Bentley
3/28 Providence vs. Denver
3/30 Winner vs. Winner
Allentown Regional:
3/28 UConn vs. Quinnipiac
3/28 Maine vs. Penn State
3/30 Winner vs. Winner
Players to watch
Not only is the college game exciting to watch on its own with plenty of history and rivalry, it also gives viewers an opportunity to take a look at the NHL’s future stars.
Last season, Macklin Celebrini won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player. This year, he’s the current betting favorite to win the NHL Rookie of the Year award at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Whether it’s former NHL first-round picks such as Isaac Howard, Ryan Leonard, and Gabe Perreault who are dominating the college game, or it’s a late-round or undrafted player such as Aiden Fink or Quinn Hutson, there’s plenty of intrigue.
One of the more intriguing players to watch this tournament is James Hagens of Boston College. Hagens is one of the youngest players in college hockey at 18 years old and is currently projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. A good showing for a loaded Boston College team might propel him even higher.
