NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament


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 to determine the top men's team in Division I. 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.
Since 1999, the semifinals 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.
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. 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.
The 2020 championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tournament format history

;1948–1976
;1977–1980
;1981–1987
;1988
;1989–1991
;1992–2002
;2003–present

At-large bids

Up until 1976, the NCAA tournament invited two teams from each of the two major regions: East and West. Initially, all teams were invited based upon their regular season performance with the NCAA selection committee occasionally deferring to an in-season or unofficial tournament to make their selection easier. Over time, as each of the two regions became dominated by single conferences, the selection committee would just choose the top two teams from each of the two leagues or, when held, the champion and runners-up of the conference tournaments. During the first three decades of the national tournament other conferences did exist, however, most of these were either unofficial or contained teams that were largely regarded as inferior and were ignored by the selection committee. Things began to change in the 70s when several new programs joined the top level of play. With the new clubs being unable to join the existing programs, a new conference, the CCHA was formed.
For the first half of the decade, the NCAA tournament continued its recent pattern of only inviting two teams from both ECAC Hockey and the WCHA. However, after several years of petitioning by the new league, the selection committee finally changed the tournament format for the 1976 series. While it could continue to invite two teams from the more established leagues, the committee gave itself the ability to invite up to 4 additional teams to the tournament as it saw fit. Under this policy, the CCHA tournament champion was given a de facto automatic bid but the committee was reticent to include any additional teams in the field. Over a 4-year span, only once did the committee invite any other team, doing so in 1978 when the #1 ranked team in the nation, Boston University, lost in their conference semifinals and would not have been included in the tournament otherwise.
After failing to use most of the additional slots made available by the rule chance, the NCAA tournament was expanded into three full rounds in 1981. At the time, with just one large conference comprising all eastern teams, the ECAC subdivided itself into three regions. The conference's tournament champion as well as the two division champions from the other groups would receive automatic bids. For the west, the WCHA would continue to name two tournament co-champions who would each receive an automatic bid while the single CCHA champion would also receive an automatic bid. One at-large bid for each of the two regions was then available for the best remaining teams.
Within two years this cumbersome policy was abandoned and the NCAA tournament would only offer a single automatic bids to each of the three conferences with the rest of the field being made up of at-large bids. This policy had remained in effect since 1983 and has survived the addition of several other conferences thanks in part to the tournament expanding from eight to twelve to sixteen programs as of 2025.
Beginning in 1981, when at-large bids were first officially introduced, the selection of teams that were offered bids was based upon their national rankings in polls. These were primarily done by some combination of head coaches and sports writers and tended to favor more established programs. In the early 1990s, the selection committee began to try and compare teams objectively by instituting a new ranking system. Some of the initial rankings that resulted were decried as some of the tournament invitees possessed arguably subpar records and their inclusion pushed out teams that were widely regarded as superior, such as Brown in 1993. The system was constantly adjusted and modified and occasionally ignored until it became sole selection criteria around 2008.
Since then, at-large bids were offered to teams based upon their PairWise ranking which provided a single number for each program based upon several categories. The categories were altered and changed over time with each receiving different weights or priorities, however, by 2014 the system was largely seen by the committee as sufficient and went unchanged for several years afterwards. In 2024, the NCAA committee announced that it was abandoning the PairWise rankings for the Division III tournament in favor of the NCAA Power Index, the same system used for college basketball. A year later, the committee changed the selection process for the Division I tournament, fully adopting the NPI for all levels.

Results

Participation in the tournament vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

Team titles

Team#Years
[Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey|]101958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, 2024
[Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey|]91948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998
[North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey|]81959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016
[Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey|]61973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006
[Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey|]51949, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2012
[Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey|]51971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey|]51974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003
[Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey|]31988, 1992, 1994
[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|]31966, 1986, 2007
[Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey|]31962, 1965, 1975
[Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey|]32011, 2018, 2019
[Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey|]21950, 1957
[Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey|]21967, 1970
[Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey|]21993, 1999
[RPI Engineers men's ice hockey|]21954, 1985
[Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey|]11984
[Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey|]11989
[UMass Minutemen men's ice hockey|]12021
[Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey|]11991
[Providence Friars men's ice hockey|]12015
[Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey|]12023
[Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey|]12014
[Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey|]12025
[Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey|]12013

Performance by team

The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament:
  • First round
  • Quarterfinals
  • Frozen Four
  • Championship Game
  • National Champion
  • 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 four teams seeded No. 1 in the regions are shown with.
SchoolConference
as of 2025
#QFF4CGNC1948 NCAA men's [ice hockey tournament|][1949 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1950 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1951 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1952 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1953 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1954 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1955 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1956 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1957 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1958 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1959 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1960 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1961 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1962 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1963 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|][1964 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament|]1965 [NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1966 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1967 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1968 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1969 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1970 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1971 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1972 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|][1973 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey tournament|]1974 [NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1975 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1976 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1977 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1978 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1979 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1980 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1981 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1982 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1983 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1984 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1985 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1986 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1987 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1988 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1989 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1990 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1991 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1992 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1993 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1994 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1995 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1996 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1997 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1998 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][1999 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2000 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2001 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2002 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2003 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2004 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2005 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2006 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2007 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2008 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2009 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2010 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2011 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2012 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2013 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2014 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2015 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2016 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2017 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2018 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2019 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2022 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2023 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|][2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|]
SchoolConference
as of 2025

[Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey|]NCHC3426201310''''''''''
[Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey|]Big Ten413628129'''''''''
[North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey|]NCHC352822138''''''''
[Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey|]Big Ten27201186''''''
[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey|]Big Ten423523135'''''
[Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey|]Hockey East383426125'''''
[Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey|]Hockey East403425125'''''
[Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey|]CCHA16101073'''
[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|]Big Ten29201153'''
[Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey|]NCHC1515853'''
[Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey|]CCHA1110443'''
[Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey|]Hockey East20151152''
[Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey|]NCHC20181052''
[Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey|]ECAC2520842''
[RPI Engineers men's ice hockey|]ECAC96522''
[Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey|]ECAC27151331'
[Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey|]ECAC116331'
[Providence Friars men's ice hockey|]Hockey East1610521'
[Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey|]CCHA85321'
[UMass Minutemen ice hockey|]Hockey East64221'
[Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey|]CCHA107211'
[Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey|]ECAC84211'
[Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey|]ECAC53211'
[Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey|]NCHC103111
[Clarkson Golden Knights men's ice hockey|]ECAC221473-
[St. Lawrence Saints men's ice hockey|]ECAC161292-
[New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey|]Hockey East221472-
[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey|]Big Ten13742-
[Dartmouth Big Green men's ice hockey|]ECAC4442-
[Brown Bears men's ice hockey|]ECAC4331-
[St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey|]NCHC17721-
[Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey|]NCHC12521-
[Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey|]CCHA10221-
[Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey|]CCHA4411-
[Colgate Raiders men's ice hockey|]ECAC6211-
[Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey|]Big Ten1132--
[Vermont Catamounts men's ice hockey|]Hockey East622--
[UMass Lowell River Hawks men's ice hockey|]Hockey East971--
[Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey|]CCHA521--
[RIT Tigers men's ice hockey|]AHA421--
[Northeastern Huskies men's ice hockey|]Hockey East811--
[Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey|]NCHC511--
[Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey|]Big Ten431--
[Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey|]AHA73---
[Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey|]AHA41---
[Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey|]Hockey East31---
[Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey|]Independent31---
'NE-103'1---
[Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey|]AHA21---
[Connecticut Huskies men's ice hockey|]Hockey East11---
[Princeton Tigers men's ice hockey|]ECAC4----
[Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey|]AHA3----
[Alabama-Huntsville Chargers men's ice hockey|]on hiatus2----
[Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey|]AHA2----
[Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey|]defunct''1----
[Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey|]AHA1----
[Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey|]NCHC1----
[Bentley Falcons men's ice hockey|]AHA1----
[Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey|]Independent-----

Records

Championship hat tricks

  • Was not a member of the winning team.

† Natural hat-trick.

‡ Tournament participation later vacated.

Tournament winning percentage

Minimum 2 tournaments
PlayerSchoolYearsWinsLossesTiesWinning percentage
Hunter ShepardMinnesota-Duluth2018, 2019800'
Darren JensenNorth Dakota1980, 1982500'
Lorne HowesMichigan1955, 1956400'
George KirkwoodDenver1960, 1961400'
Gerry PowersDenver1968, 1969400'
Marc BehrendWisconsin1981, 1982, 1983701'
John MuseBoston College2008, 2010, 2011810'
Filip LindbergMassachusetts2019, 2021610'
Blaine LacherLake Superior State1992, 1993, 1994610'
Matt DavisDenver2024, 2025610'
Kenny ReiterMinnesota-Duluth2011, 2012510'
Jon GilliesProvidence2014, 2015510'
Marty TurcoMichigan1995, 1996, 1997, 1998920'
Willard IkolaMichigan1952, 1953, 1954410'
Bob EssensaMichigan State1984, 1985, 1986, 1987410'
Parker MilnerBoston College2012, 2013410'
Cam JohnsonNorth Dakota2016, 2017410'
Scott ClemmensenBoston College1998, 1999, 2000, 20011030'
Jeff LergMichigan State2006, 2007, 2008620'
Jack McDonaldMichigan1948, 1949310'
Bob FoxRensselaer1953, 1954310'
Gaye CooleyMichigan State1966, 1967310'
Jim CraigBoston University1977, 1978310'
Tanner JailletDenver2015, 2016, 2017, 2018830'
Duane DerksenWisconsin1990, 1991, 1992730'
Cory SchneiderBoston College2005, 2006, 2007730'

Tournament droughts

The following is a list of teams that have not made an NCAA tournament any time in the last 10 seasons.
SchoolAppearancesLast appearance
Alaska0 Never
Alaska Anchorage31992
Army0Never
Brown41993
Dartmouth41980
Holy Cross22006
Mercyhurst32005
Rensselaer92011
Sacred Heart0Never
St. Lawrence162007

† Alaska's only appearance in 2010 was later vacated due to NCAA rules violations.

‡ 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.

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.