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] Like other Division I championships, it is the highest level of 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.

Quick Facts Sport, Founded ...
NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament
Thumb
SportIce hockey
Founded1948
No. of teams16
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)
Denver
Most titlesDenver (10)
TV partner(s)ESPN
Official websiteNCAA.com
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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] The Denver Pioneers have won the most tournaments with ten, while 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

More information Year, Winning team ...
Year Winning team Coach Losing team Coach Score Location Finals venue
1948MichiganVic HeyligerDartmouthEddie Jeremiah8-4Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1949Boston CollegeJohn KelleyDartmouth (2)Eddie Jeremiah4-3Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1950Colorado CollegeCheddy ThompsonBoston UniversityHarry Cleverly13-4Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1951Michigan (2)Vic HeyligerBrownWestcott Moulton7-1Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1952Michigan (3)Vic HeyligerColorado CollegeCheddy Thompson4-1Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1953Michigan (4)Vic HeyligerMinnesotaJohn Mariucci7-3Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1954RensselaerNed HarknessMinnesota (2)John Mariucci5-4 (OT)Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1955Michigan (5)Vic HeyligerColorado College (2)Cheddy Thompson5-3Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1956Michigan (6)Vic HeyligerMichigan TechAl Renfrew7-5Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1957Colorado College (2)Tom BedeckiMichiganVic Heyliger13-6Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor Ice Palace
1958DenverMurray ArmstrongNorth DakotaBob May6-2Minneapolis, MinnesotaWilliams Arena
1959North DakotaBob MayMichigan StateAmo Bessone4-3 (OT)Troy, New YorkRPI Field House
1960Denver (2)Murray ArmstrongMichigan Tech (2)John MacInnes5-3Boston, MassachusettsMatthews Arena
1961Denver (3)Murray ArmstrongSt. LawrenceGeorge Menard12-2Denver, ColoradoUniversity of Denver Arena
1962Michigan TechJohn MacInnesClarksonLen Ceglarski7-1Utica, New YorkUtica Memorial Auditorium
1963North Dakota (2)Barry ThorndycraftDenverMurray Armstrong6–5Chestnut Hill, MassachusettsMcHugh Forum
1964Michigan (7)Al RenfrewDenver (2)Murray Armstrong6-3Denver, ColoradoUniversity of Denver Arena
1965Michigan Tech (2)John MacInnesBoston CollegeJohn Kelley8-2Providence, Rhode IslandMeehan Auditorium
1966Michigan StateAmo BessoneClarkson (2)Len Ceglarski6-1Minneapolis, MinnesotaWilliams Arena
1967CornellNed HarknessBoston University (2)Jack Kelley4-1Syracuse, New YorkOnondaga War Memorial
1968Denver (4)Murray ArmstrongNorth Dakota (2)Bill Selman4-0Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth Entertainment Center
1969Denver (5)Murray ArmstrongCornellNed Harkness4-3Colorado Springs, ColoradoBroadmoor World Arena
1970Cornell (2)Ned HarknessClarkson (3)Len Ceglarski6-4Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Center
1971Boston UniversityJack KelleyMinnesota (3)Glen Sonmor4-2Syracuse, New YorkOnondaga War Memorial
1972Boston University (2)Jack KelleyCornell (2)Dick Bertrand4-0Boston, MassachusettsBoston Garden
1973WisconsinBob JohnsonDenver (3)1Murray Armstrong4-2Boston, MassachusettsBoston Garden
1974MinnesotaHerb BrooksMichigan Tech (3)John MacInnes4-2Boston, MassachusettsBoston Garden
1975Michigan Tech (3)John MacInnesMinnesota (4)Herb Brooks6-1St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis Arena
1976Minnesota (2)Herb BrooksMichigan Tech (4)John MacInnes6-4Denver, ColoradoUniversity of Denver Arena
1977Wisconsin (2)Bob JohnsonMichigan (2)Dan Farrell6-5 (OT)Detroit, MichiganOlympia Stadium
1978Boston University (3)Jack ParkerBoston College (2)Len Ceglarski5-3Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence Civic Center
1979Minnesota (3)Herb BrooksNorth Dakota (3)Gino Gasparini4-3Detroit, MichiganOlympia Stadium
1980North Dakota (3)Gino GaspariniNorthern MichiganRick Comley5-2Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence Civic Center
1981Wisconsin (3)Bob JohnsonMinnesota (5)Brad Buetow6-3Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth Entertainment Center
1982North Dakota (4)Gino GaspariniWisconsinBob Johnson5-2Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence Civic Center
1983Wisconsin (4)Jeff SauerHarvardBill Cleary6-2Grand Forks, North DakotaRalph Engelstad Arena
1984Bowling GreenJerry YorkMinnesota-DuluthMike Sertich5-4 (4OT)Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1985Rensselaer (2)Mike AddesaProvidenceSteve Stirling2-1Detroit, MichiganJoe Louis Arena
1986Michigan State (2)Ron MasonHarvard (2)Bill Cleary6-5Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence Civic Center
1987North Dakota (5)Gino GaspariniMichigan State (2)Ron Mason5-3Detroit, MichiganJoe Louis Arena
1988Lake Superior StateFrank AnzaloneSt. Lawrence (2)Joe Marsh4-3 (OT)Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Center
1989HarvardBill ClearyMinnesota (6)Doug Woog4-3 (OT)Saint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul Civic Center
1990Wisconsin (5)Jeff SauerColgateTerry Slater7-3Detroit, MichiganJoe Louis Arena
1991Northern MichiganRick ComleyBoston University (3)Jack Parker8-7 (3OT)Saint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul Civic Center
1992Lake Superior State (2)Jeff JacksonWisconsin (2)1Jeff Sauer5-3Albany, New YorkKnickerbocker Arena
1993MaineShawn WalshLake Superior StateJeff Jackson5-4Milwaukee, WisconsinBradley Center
1994Lake Superior State (3)Jeff JacksonBoston University (4)Jack Parker9-1Saint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul Civic Center
1995Boston University (4)Jack ParkerMaineShawn Walsh6-2Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence Civic Center
1996Michigan (8)Red BerensonColorado College (3)Don Lucia3-2 (OT)Cincinnati, OhioRiverfront Coliseum
1997North Dakota (6)Dean BlaisBoston University (5)Jack Parker6-4Milwaukee, WisconsinBradley Center
1998Michigan (9)Red BerensonBoston College (3)Jerry York3-2 (OT)Boston, MassachusettsFleetCenter
1999Maine (2)Shawn WalshNew HampshireDick Umile3-2 (OT)Anaheim, CaliforniaArrowhead Pond of Anaheim
2000North Dakota (7)Dean BlaisBoston College (4)Jerry York4-2Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence Civic Center
2001Boston College (2)Jerry YorkNorth Dakota (4)Dean Blais3-2 (OT)Albany, New YorkPepsi Arena
2002Minnesota (4)Don LuciaMaine (2)Tim Whitehead4-3 (OT)Saint Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2003Minnesota (5)Don LuciaNew Hampshire (2)Dick Umile5-1Buffalo, New YorkHSBC Arena
2004Denver (6)George GwozdeckyMaine (3)Tim Whitehead1-0Boston, MassachusettsFleetCenter
2005Denver (7)George GwozdeckyNorth Dakota (5)Dave Hakstol4-1Columbus, OhioValue City Arena
2006Wisconsin (6)Mike EavesBoston College (5)Jerry York2-1Milwaukee, WisconsinBradley Center
2007Michigan State (3)Rick ComleyBoston College (6)Jerry York3-1St. Louis, MissouriScottrade Center
2008Boston College (3)Jerry YorkNotre DameJeff Jackson4-1Denver, ColoradoPepsi Center
2009Boston University (5)Jack ParkerMiamiEnrico Blasi4-3 (OT)Washington, D.C.Verizon Center
2010Boston College (4)Jerry YorkWisconsin (3)Mike Eaves5-0Detroit, MichiganFord Field
2011Minnesota-DuluthScott SandelinMichigan (3)Red Berenson3-2 (OT)Saint Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2012Boston College (5)Jerry YorkFerris StateBob Daniels4-1Tampa, FloridaTampa Bay Times Forum
2013YaleKeith AllainQuinnipiacRand Pecknold4-0Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaConsol Energy Center
2014UnionRick BennettMinnesota (7)Don Lucia7-4Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWells Fargo Center
2015ProvidenceNate LeamanBoston University (6)David Quinn4-3Boston, MassachusettsTD 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
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^1 Participation in the tournament vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

Team titles

Thumb
Michigan
Michigan
NorthDakota
North
Dakota
Denver
Denver
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Minnesota
LakeSuperior State
Lake
Superior State
MichiganState
Michigan
State
MichiganTech
Michigan
Tech
MinnesotaDuluth
Minnesota
Duluth
ColoradoCollege
Colorado
College
Cornell
Cornell
Maine
Maine
RPI
RPI
BowlingGreen
Bowling
Green
NorthernMichigan
Northern
Michigan
Union
Union
Schools with D1 Mens Ice Hockey championships
– 10 championships, – 9 championships, – 8 championships, – 6 championships, – 5 championships, – 3 championships, – 2 championships, – 1 championship
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BostonCollege
Boston
College
BostonUniversity
Boston
University
UMass
UMass
Harvard
Harvard
Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac
Yale
Yale
Providence
Providence
Schools with D1 Mens Ice Hockey championships
– 5 championships, – 1 championship

Performance by team

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.

More information School, Conference as of 2024 ...
School Conference
as of 2024
# QF F4 CG CH 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24

DenverNCHC3325191110CHCHCHRURUF4CHCHF4F4RUF4QFQFQFCHCHQFQFF4CHQFF4CHCH
MichiganBig Ten413628129CHF4F4CHCHCHF4CHCHRUF4CHRUQFF4F4QFF4CHF4CHQFQFF4F4F4QFQFF4QFRUQFF4F4F4F4
North DakotaNCHC352822138RUCHCHF4F4RURUCHCHF4CHCHQFQFCHRUQFRUF4F4F4F4QFQFF4F4CHQF
WisconsinBig Ten27201186F4F4CHCHF4CHRUCHQFQFCHRUQFQFQFQFQFQFCHQFRU
MinnesotaBig Ten413523135RURUF4RUCHRUCHCHQFRUF4QFF4F4F4RUQFQFQFQFF4F4QFQFCHCHQFF4QFF4RUQFF4RUQF
Boston CollegeHockey East373326125F4CHF4F4F4F4F4RUF4F4RUQFF4QFQFQFF4RUF4RUCHQFF4QFRURUCHCHCHF4F4QFRU
Boston UniversityHockey East393324115RUF4F4F4F4RUCHCHF4F4F4F4CHQFQFF4RUF4RUCHF4RUQFQFQFQFQFCHRUQFQFF4F4
Michigan TechCCHA16101073RURUCHCHF4F4RUCHRUF4
Michigan StateBig Ten28201153RUCHF4QFQFF4QFCHRUQFF4QFF4QFF4F4QFCHQFQF
Minnesota DuluthNCHC1515853QFRUF4QFF4QFCHQFQFQFRUCHCHF4QF
Lake Superior StateCCHA1110443QFCHQFQFQFCHRUCHQFQF
MaineHockey East19151152QFF4F4QFF4QFCHRUCHF4QFRURUF4F4
Colorado CollegeNCHC20181052F4F4CHF4RURUCHQFQFRUF4QFQFQFQFQFF4QF
CornellECAC2419842CHF4RUCHRUF4F4QFQFQFQFF4QFQFQFQFQFQFQF
RensselaerECAC96522F4CHF4F4QFCH
HarvardECAC27151331F4F4F4F4F4F4F4QFRUQFRUF4CHF4F4
QuinnipiacECAC106331RURUQFQFCHQF
ProvidenceHockey East1510521F4QFQFF4RUQFQFCHQFF4
Northern MichiganCCHA85321RUF4CHQFQF
MassachusettsHockey East53221QFRUCH
Bowling GreenCCHA107211QFF4QFQFCHQFQF
YaleECAC84211F4QFQFCH
UnionECAC53211F4QFCH
ClarksonECAC221473-F4F4RUF4RURUQFQFQFF4QFQFQFQF
St. LawrenceECAC161292-F4F4F4F4F4RUF4QFQFRUQFF4
New HampshireHockey East221472-F4F4F4QFQFF4RUF4RUQFQFQFQFQF
Notre DameBig Ten13742-QFRUF4F4RUQFQF
DartmouthECAC4442-RURUF4F4
BrownECAC4331-RUF4F4
St. Cloud StateNCHC17721-QFQFF4QFQFRUQF
MiamiNCHC12521-QFQFRUF4QF
Minnesota StateCCHA9221-F4RU
Ferris StateCCHA4411-QFRUQFQF
ColgateECAC6211-QFRU
Ohio StateBig Ten1032--F4F4QF
VermontHockey East622--F4F4
UMass LowellHockey East971--QFQFQFF4QFQFQF
Bemidji StateCCHA521--F4QF
RITAHA421--F4QF
NortheasternHockey East811--F4
OmahaNCHC511--F4
Air ForceAHA73---QFQFQF
Western MichiganNCHC92---QFQF
Penn StateBig Ten32---QFQF
NiagaraAHA41---QF
MerrimackHockey East31---QF
Alaska AnchorageIndependent31---QF
American InternationalAHA31---QF
Holy CrossAHA21---QF
PrincetonECAC4----
MercyhurstAHA3----
Alabama–Huntsvilleon hiatus[8]2----
CanisiusAHA2----
Wayne Statedefunct [9]1----
Robert MorrisAHA1----
Arizona StateIndependent[lower-alpha 1]1----
AlaskaIndependent-----
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  1. Arizona State will join the NCHC for the 2024–25 season.

Records

Points in Multiple Championships

More information Player, School ...
Player School Games Goals Assists Points
Phil SykesNorth Dakota2459
Neil McDonaldMichigan2437
Pat PhippenMinnesota3257
Wally GacekMichigan1336
Chris RayColorado College1426
Bob McCuskerColorado College1426
Bill MastertonDenver2336
Jerry WalkerDenver2246
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Championship Hat Tricks

* Was not a member of the winning team.
† Natural hat-trick.
‡ Tournament participation later vacated.

Tournament Winning Percentage

Minimum 2 tournaments

Tournament Droughts

The following is a list of teams that have not made an NCAA tournament anytime in the last 10 seasons.

More information School, Appearances ...
School Appearances Last Appearance
Alaska0 Never
Alaska Anchorage31992
Army0Never
Bentley0Never
Brown41993
Connecticut0Never
Dartmouth41980
Holy Cross22006
Mercyhurst32005
Rensselaer92011
Sacred Heart0Never
St. Lawrence162007
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† 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

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