By Ryan Stieg
It’s that magical time again. We’ve already had our eyes practically glued to our televisions or laptops watching the NCAA basketball tournaments and now, men’s hockey has joined in the fun.
After a strong season of making CCHA predictions, I’m feeling pretty good about my chances going into this weekend. I just missed going undefeated in the CCHA Mason Cup Tournament as I was 6-0 going into the championship game last Friday. However, St. Thomas came up just short against Minnesota State and I was dealt my first loss in three weeks. With the Tommies being ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to that dumb NCAA rule, the Mavericks got the CCHA’s automatic bid. The good thing is UST is eligible next season, so it’ll not only have league title aspirations, but national title ones too.
This year’s tournament slate is an interesting one as perennial power Michigan will not be competing. For Big Ten haters, this is a welcome sight, but ESPN probably isn’t pleased to have a team with a large fanbase not participating. Well, deal with it.
I’ll start off with the Thursday/Saturday brackets and then move on to the Friday/Sunday ones, so it flows with the ESPN TV schedule. The good thing for viewers is that only two of the games are exclusively on ESPN+. However, if you are a fan of those respective teams, you’ll have to upgrade your cable/streaming package. It’s usually all about the money, but in this case, it just might have to do with TV timing.
Anyway, that’s enough talk about all that. Let’s get to the real reason why you’re reading this post. Here we go. Let’s start with a regional in Toledo, Ohio. Yeah, you’ve got to love non-campus sites.
Toledo Regional
Boston University vs. Ohio State
Last year, the Terriers were a popular national champion pick and for good reason with Hobey Baker winner Macklin Celebrini and current Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson. This year, they took a small step back, but they have Lane’s younger brother Cole on the team and he’s had a great rookie season for BU. As far as the Buckeyes go, they’re just a solid team all around and also a star forward with an awesome name in Gunnerwolfe Fontaine. OSU made it all the way to the Big Ten championship before falling to Michigan State in double overtime. This is a tough one as they match up well, but I’m going with the Terriers. BU wins 4-3.
Michigan State vs. Cornell
Speaking of the Spartans, they’re the top seed in the regional and with good reason with Hobey Baker finalist Isaac Howard leading the offense and Matt Basgall anchoring the defense. They even have a great goalie in Trey Augustine, so they’re a popular Frozen Four pick. With the Big Red, they may not have MSU’s star power, but they are coming in hot after winning the ECAC Tournament in Lake Placid. I like picking first round upsets, but I don’t think it’ll happen here. The Spartans win 5-2.
Regional Final: Boston University vs. Michigan State
Can the Terriers keep up with the mighty Spartans? On paper, it’s a possibility. BU is obviously good and they’re in the tourney for a reason. However, after just missing the Frozen Four in St. Paul last year, I think Sparty finishes the job and make it to St. Louis. MSU wins 3-1.
Fargo Regional
Western Michigan vs. Minnesota State
I just watched both teams play in their respective conference finals, and both were fun to watch. The Broncos showed why they’re the NCHC champions after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Denver in double overtime to win the Frozen Faceoff for the first time. Western racked up 30 wins this year and are led by NCHC Forward of the Year Alex Bump, who scored the game-winner in the NCHC championship. Then there’s the Mavericks, who won the MacNaughton Cup rather easily and then outlasted St. Thomas to win the Mason Cup. Not only that, but Mankato swept the big three CCHA individual awards with goalie Alex Tracy winning CCHA Goaltender of the Year and Player of the Year. I think the Mavs will keep pace with Western, but they’ll ultimately come up short. The Broncos win 4-2.
Minnesota vs. UMass
What to make of the Golden Gophers? They’re skilled with Hobey Baker finalist Jimmy Snuggerud and defenseman Sam Rinzel leading the way and they know how to win tough games. At the same time, they’re coming to Fargo on a low note after getting upset in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament by Notre Dame. Not only that, but UM hasn’t played a game since March 9. That’s a long layoff. As far as the Minutemen go, they’re led by Hockey East First Teamer Cole O’Hara and they have a solid goalie in Michael Hrabel. UMass is also been off for a couple weeks, so it’s coming in a little rusty as well. If you asked me a few weeks ago about this possible matchup, I’d easily pick the Gophers, but now, I’m not as confident. I do think UM does just enough to get to Saturday though. The Gophers win 5-2.
Regional Final: Western Michigan vs. Minnesota
This has the potential to be a good one. The Gophers have the star power with Snuggerud, Rinzel and Matthew Wood. However, the Broncos are deeper, hotter and probably more confident as well. As a result, they earn their first Frozen Four berth. Western wins 4-3.
Manchester Regional
Boston College vs. Bentley
A couple weeks ago, I thought Holy Cross would end up being Atlantic Hockey’s representative this year, but the Falcons rallied to upset the Crusaders on the road and are now in the tourney for the first time. They have a very tall task though and that is dealing with overall top seed BC. The Eagles are stacked at every position with Hobey Baker finalist Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault standing out the most along with goalie Jacob Fowler. Will there be another Holy Cross over Minnesota or an American International over St. Cloud State caliber upset? Not this year. BC wins 6-2
Providence vs. Denver
The Friars are a sleeper team. They’re good and they’ve kept up with deeper and more talented teams. It’s also nice to see them back in the tourney as they haven’t been here since 2019. That’s a long drought for a solid program. With the Pioneers, they’re here again like they usually are. They have two Hobey finalist in Zeev Buium and Jack Devine and they have clutch goalie Matt Davis back as well. DU just gets the job done this time of year and although it’s great that the Friars are back, they won’t be staying long. The Pioneers win 4-2.
Regional Final: Boston College vs. Denver
This one should be a great one. The Eagles are so good, and at the same time, the Pioneers are just money at this time of year under head coach David Carle. Last year, DU was at its happy place, the Xcel Energy Center, where it usually does well after winning the Frozen Faceoff and national championship there last year. However, it just lost at the X to Western and it’s an odd-numbered year, which doesn’t bode well for the Pioneers. The Eagles move on 4-3.
Allentown Regional
UConn vs. Quinnipiac
Two Connecticut foes are doing battle here, so cue up Brass Bonanza! The Huskies are making their first tourney trip and they’re fun to watch. They have three good forwards in Joey Muldowney, Hudson Schandor and Jake Richard, so they’re obviously skilled offensively. On the other bench are the Bobcats, who are back yet again for the fifth year in a row. They’re good as always, but not as good as the last two years. I don’t like picking against a Rand Pecknold team in the tourney, but I just have a good feeling about UConn. The Huskies win 3-2.
Maine vs. Penn State
It’s nice to see the Black Bears back. When I was in college, they were a perennial power and then went through this down period before finally rising again last year. This year’s squad has one of the best defenses in the country, led by defenseman Brandon Holt and goalie Albin Boija, but they’re also good on offense. So, they’re going to be a tough out. With the Nittany Lions, they got in the tourney by the skin of their teeth. However, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be a pushover. Like most PSU teams, this one is great on offense with Hobey finalist Aiden Fink at the top, while Reese Laubach adds some extra punch. The Nittany Lions are entertaining for sure, but Maine is the better team. The Black Bears win 5-4.
Regional Final: UConn vs. Maine
So, who gets to Missouri? This is the Huskies’ first chance and they could make it there if they play well. Meanwhile, the Black Bears used to be a frequent guest and this is their best chance in almost 20 years of getting back. The last time the Frozen Four was in the Lou, the Black Bears were there and I think they’ll show up again. Maine wins 5-3.