The journey to the 2026 men’s Frozen Four intensifies as the sport’s six divisions commence their league championships.
The six divisional victors will automatically secure spots in the 16-team NCAA competition, with the remaining 10 places allocated to the top teams in the NPI rankings. The NCAA tournament bracket will be unveiled on March 22 at 3 p.m. on ESPNU and the ESPN App.
Regional matches in the NCAA tournament kick off on March 26 and culminate with the Frozen Four in Las Vegas on April 9 and 11. All contests will be broadcast on the ESPN networks and streamed via the ESPN App.
Presented below are the schedules for each conference tournament, which will be updated with outcomes as the competitions unfold.
All times are Eastern.
Atlantic
After the four lowest-ranked teams compete in the initial round, the Atlantic tournament proceeds to best-of-three series in the quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by a single-game championship. Bentley clinched its inaugural regular-season title, but the Falcons must triumph in the conference contest to advance to the NCAAs. No Atlantic squads are currently considered for an at-large bid.
First round, Tuesday
No. 9 Army at No. 8 Niagara
No. 10 Mercyhurst at No. 7 Canisius
Quarterfinals, Friday-Sunday
(best of three)
Lowest remaining seed at No. 1 Bentley
No. 5 RIT at No. 4 Holy Cross
No. 6 Air Force at No. 3 Robert Morris
Second-lowest remaining seed at No. 2 Sacred Heart
Semifinals, March 13-15
Best-of-three series at two highest remaining seeds
Final, March 21
at higher remaining seed
Big Ten
The entire tournament consists of single matches held at campus venues. Michigan and Michigan State have been fiercely contending for the Big Ten regular-season championship and the nation’s top ranking for most of the season. Penn State is also securely positioned in the NCAA field, with Wisconsin appearing well-placed for an at-large spot as well.
Quarterfinals, March 11
No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed
No. 6 seed at No. 3 seed
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 2 seed
Semifinals, March 14
at two highest remaining seeds
Final, March 21
at higher remaining seed
CCHA
The CCHA championship takes place at campus locations, featuring best-of-three quarterfinals followed by individual games in the semifinals and final. Top seed Minnesota State emerged from a recent congestion to claim its eighth regular-season title in the past nine seasons. As the tournament commences, Augustana is the sole conference team favorably positioned on the NCAA bubble – and even its standing is uncertain. Minnesota State, St. Thomas, and Bowling Green are close but currently outside contention. These outcomes will be closely observed by all at-large hopefuls.
Quarterfinals, Friday-Sunday
(best of three)
No. 8 Ferris State at No. 1 Minnesota State
No. 5 Bowling Green at No. 4 Michigan Tech
No. 6 Bemidji State at No. 3 Augustana
No. 7 Lake Superior State at No. 2 St. Thomas
Semifinals, March 14
at two highest remaining seeds
Final, March 20
at higher remaining seed
ECAC
The top four seeds receive first-round exemptions and host the best-of-three quarterfinals. Winners progress to the single-game semifinals and final. Cornell, Dartmouth, and Quinnipiac, which secured its sixth consecutive regular-season ECAC title, are almost guaranteed to earn at-large NCAA bids.
All games are accessible on the ESPN App.
First round
Friday
No. 11 St. Lawrence at No. 6 Harvard
No. 9 RPI at No. 8 Clarkson
Saturday
No. 12 Brown at No. 5 Union
No. 10 Yale at No. 7 Colgate
Quarterfinals, March 13-15
(best of three)
First-round winner at No. 1 Quinnipiac
First-round winner at No. 2 Dartmouth
First-round winner at No. 3 Cornell
First-round winner at No. 4 Princeton
Semifinals, March 20
at Lake Placid, New York
Final, March 21
at Lake Placid, New York
Hockey East
This tournament features single-elimination throughout. The top five seeds are granted first-round byes directly into the quarterfinals, which are conducted at campus venues. Providence, having secured the No. 1 seed with the first regular-season Hockey East title in program history, has also locked up an at-large NCAA berth. Among the other at-large contenders, Boston College is in the most favorable position, with UConn hovering right at the cutoff line entering the final weekend of the regular season, and UMass and Maine clinging to slender at-large prospects.
All games are accessible on the ESPN App.
First round, March 11
No. 9 seed at No. 8 seed
No. 10 seed at No. 7 seed
No. 11 Vermont at No. 6 seed
Quarterfinals
March 14
No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed
First-round winner at No. 1 Providence
First-round winner at No. 2 seed
First-round winner at No. 3 seed
Semifinals, March 20
at Boston
Finals, March 21
at Boston
NCHC
The NCHC tournament entirely shifts to campus sites this year. The top four seeds – North Dakota, Denver, Western Michigan, and Minnesota Duluth – are safely secured in the NCAA tournament field.
Quarterfinals, Friday-Sunday
(best of three)
No. 8 Omaha at No. 1 North Dakota
No. 7 Miami (Ohio) at No. 2 Denver
No. 6 Colorado College at No. 3 Western Michigan
No. 5 St. Cloud State at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth
Semifinals, March 14
at two highest remaining seeds
Final, March 21
at higher remaining seed