The 2026 Men’s Frozen Four field is officially set, and the road to college hockey’s ultimate prize now leads to the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Following a high-stakes Sunday that saw Denver dominate the Loveland Regional and Michigan survive a difficult matchup in Albany, the four regional champions are officially booked for their debut at T-Mobile Arena. With a powerhouse lineup featuring North Dakota, Wisconsin, Denver, and Michigan, the 2026 tournament has delivered a “Blue Blood” final four that pits the NCHC against the Big Ten for national supremacy. Whether you are tracking the brackets or booking a last-minute flight to “The Fortress,” here is everything you need to know about the matchups, TV schedules, and betting favorites for the first-ever Frozen Four in Sin City.
2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Overview
The 2026 NCAA men’s hockey championship features a 16-team single-elimination bracket:
- 6 automatic qualifiers (conference tournament champions from Hockey East, ECAC, Big Ten, NCHC, CCHA, and Atlantic Hockey America).
- 10 at-large bids selected by the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee based on PairWise Rankings and overall performance.
Teams are seeded and placed into four regional sites (no longer strictly geographic). Winners from each regional advance to the Frozen Four semifinals and championship.
2026 Frozen Four Matchups (Las Vegas)
The national semifinals will take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
All games broadcast on ESPN2 / ESPN+
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Thursday, April 9 | National Semifinal 1: North Dakota vs. Wisconsin | 5:00 PM |
| Thursday, April 9 | National Semifinal 2: Michigan vs. Denver | 8:30 PM |
| Saturday, April 11 | National Championship Game | 5:30 PM |
Regional Finals Results & Sunday Schedule
Saturday, March 28 Results (Finals)
- Sioux Falls Regional: (1) North Dakota 5, (3) Quinnipiac 0
- Worcester Regional: (2) Wisconsin 4, (1) Michigan State 3 (OT)
Sunday, March 29 Schedule (Finals)
- Loveland Regional: (1) Western Michigan vs. (2) Denver | 3:00 PM ET (ESPN2)
- Albany Regional: (1) Michigan vs. (2) Minnesota Duluth | 5:30 PM ET (ESPN)
Today’s Regional Final Results (Sunday, March 29)
Loveland Regional Final
- (2) Denver 6, (4) Western Michigan 2
- The Story: The Pioneers left no doubt in the Mile High City. After the Broncos stunned the field to reach the final, Denver’s high-powered offense took over in the second period to secure their return to the Frozen Four.
Albany Regional Final
- (1) Michigan 4, (3) Minn. Duluth 3
- The Story: In a heavyweight battle of traditional powers, the Wolverines survived a late surge from the Bulldogs. Michigan becomes the only school in the country this year to reach both the Final Four in basketball and the Frozen Four in hockey in the same season.
2026 NCAA Hockey Tournament Recap (First Round)
- Michigan 5, Bentley 1
- Minnesota Duluth 3, Penn State 1
- Denver 5, Cornell 0
- Western Michigan 3, Minnesota State 1
- Michigan State 2, UConn 1
- Wisconsin 5, Dartmouth 1
- North Dakota 3, Merrimack 0
- Quinnipiac 5, Providence 2
2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule
| Round | Dates | Location |
| Regionals (Round 1 & 2) | March 26–29, 2026 | Various (See Below) |
| Frozen Four (Semifinals) | Thursday, April 9, 2026 | T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV) |
| National Championship | Saturday, April 11, 2026 | T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV) |
2026 NCAA Frozen Four Schedule Key Dates and Venues (2026)
Here is the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four schedule, key dates, and more for you below.
- Midwest Regional (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center): Sioux Falls, SD | March 26 & 28
- East Regional (DCU Center): Worcester, MA | March 26 & 28
- Northeast Regional (MVP Arena): Albany, NY | March 27 & 29
- West Regional (Blue Federal Credit Union Arena): Loveland, CO | March 27 & 29
Automatic Qualifiers (Conference Champions)
CCHA: Minnesota State
Big Ten: Michigan
NCHC: Denver
Hockey East: Merrimack
ECAC: Dartmouth
Atlantic Hockey: Bentley
Historical Records by Seed (Modern 16-Team Era)
When filling out your 2026 Frozen Four bracket, remember that parity in college hockey is at an all-time high. While the top four #1 seeds have a historical advantage, the “upset factor” is massive.
| Seed | Best Finish | Win % | Notes |
| #1 | Champion | ~75% (Round 1) | The top overall seed usually wins their regional. |
| #2 | Champion | ~60% (Round 1) | These teams are effectively interchangeable with #1 seeds. |
| #3 | Champion | ~40% (Round 1) | Quinnipiac (2023 Champion) was a #3 regional seed. |
| #4 | Champion | ~25% (Round 1) | Union (2014 Champion) and UMass (2021 Champion) were #4 regional seeds. |
Printable 2026 NCAA Frozen Four Bracket
Once it is released, you will be able to download our free printable 2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Blank Bracket (PDF) to fill in teams as the bracket is revealed. Perfect for office pools, watch parties, or tracking your predictions. The blank, 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey bracket is out ahead of Selection Sunday. The NCAA is updating the bracket here for you. You can save or print the blank bracket to PDF format from your computer or mobile device until updated. Bracket is updated heading into games on March 29th, 2026.
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