The 2016 NCAA men’s Division I hockey tournament features familiar names, fresh faces and top teams with question marks.
NCAA hockey tournament 2016: Bracket, schedule and scores
An even playing field awaits.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
But the biggest feature might be one of absence; the lack of a truly dominant team is glaring, but should make for a better overall tournament. Top-seed Quinnipiac is even missing their star forward Sam Anas, who may miss the tournament after sustaining an injury a few weeks ago. And no team boasts the kind of star power Boston University brought with phenom freshman Jack Eichel last year.
Other teams face questions about experience. None of the Michigan Wolverines have played a single NCAA tournament game before. Notre Dame relies on a sophomore goaltender. Boston College won the Beanpot but have looked lethargic since.
That leaves us with a NCAA tournament full of question marks and unknowns. Which means this could be awesome.
The format
The tournament consists of 16 qualified teams in four groups across four regions. The winner of each regional will advance to the Frozen Four, and the winners in the Frozen Four will advance to the championship game at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay.
ESPNU, ESPN2 and ESPN3 will share most of the tournament’s early games, while the Frozen Four will be on ESPN2 and the championship game will feature on ESPN. Every game will be available online on WatchESPN.com.
The teams
Midwest Regional
- North Dakota Fighting Hawks
Michigan WolverinesNotre Dame Fighting IrishNortheastern Huskies
Northeast Regional
Providence FriarsBoston College EaglesHarvard CrimsonMinnesota Duluth Bulldogs
West Regional
St. Cloud State HuskiesDenver PioneersBoston University TerriersFerris State Bulldogs
East Regional
- Quinnipiac Bobcats
University of Massachusetts-Lowell River HawksYale BulldogsRochester Institute of Technology Tigers
Bracket
Source: NCAA.com
Schedule and Results (All Times Eastern)
Friday, March 25 (First Round)
No. 1 North Dakota def. No. 4 Northeastern, 6-2
No. 4 Minnesota Duluth def. No 1 Providence, 2-1 (2OT)
No. 2 Michigan def. No. 3 Notre Dame, 3-2 (OT)
No. 2 Boston College def. No. 3 Harvard, 4-1
Saturday, March 26 (First Round/Quarterfinals)
No. 4 Ferris State def. No. 1 St. Cloud State, 5-4 (OT)
No. 1 Quinnipiac def. No. 4 RIT, 4-0
No. 1 North Dakota def. No. 2 Michigan, 5-2
No. 2 Denver def. No. 3 Boston U., 7-2
No. 2 Massachusetts Lowell def.No. 3 Yale, 3-2 (OT)
No. 2 Boston College def. No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth, 3-2
Sunday, March 27 (Quarterfinals)
No. 2 Denver def. No. 4 Ferris State, 6-3
No. 1 Quinnipiac def. No. 2 UMass-Lowell, 4-1
Thursday, April 7 (Frozen Four)
No. 1 Quinnipiac def. No. 2. Boston College, 3-2
No. 1 North Dakota def. No 2. Denver, 4-2
Saturday, April 11 (Championship)
No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. No. 1 North Dakota
When/How to watch: 8 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN/WatchESPN
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