GRAND FORKS — In a selection show yesterday afternoon, it was announced that UND will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to take on Merrimack College. Besides the first-round matchup North Dakota fans will be tuning in for, plenty of games hold promise around the nation this week.
The Bracket
At the beginning of the broadcast, the ESPN team announced the first four seeds, which determined the four regional first-seeds. Michigan held onto the first-overall seed and was sent to Albany, N.Y. North Dakota — after coming up short in its pursuit of the one-seed — took the two seed and the first Sioux Falls berth. Michigan State grabbed the three seed and will pack its bags for Worcester, Mass. Western Michigan rounded out the top four as the third team hailing from the Great Lakes State, destined for Loveland, Colo.
To kick off the first round, eight teams will face off on Thursday across two regionals, with the other half competing on Friday to decide the remaining quarterfinal berths.
The first round matchups are as follows:
Albany Regional, Mar. 27-29
- No. 1 Michigan (29-7-1) vs. No. 4 Bentley (23-11-5)
- Friday, Mar. 27, 4:00 p.m. CT, ESPNU.
- No. 2 Minn. Duluth (23-14-1) vs. No. 3 Penn State (21-13-2)
- Friday, Mar. 27, 8:00 p.m. CT, TBA.
Loveland Regional, Mar. 27-29
- No. 1 Western Michigan (26-10-1) vs. No. 4 Minnesota State (22-10-7)
- Friday, Mar. 27, 1:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU.
- No. 2 Denver (25-11-3) vs. No. 3 Cornell (22-10-1)
- Friday, Mar. 27, 5:00 p.m. CT, ESPN+.
Sioux Falls Regional, Mar. 26-28
- No. 1 North Dakota (27-9-1) vs. No. 4 Merrimack (21-15-2)
- Thursday, Mar. 26, 7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2.
- No. 2 Providence (23-10-2) vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac (26-9-3)
- Thursday, Mar. 26, 4:00 CT, ESPN+.
Worcester Regional, Mar. 26-28
- No. 1 Michigan St. (25-8-2) vs. No. 4 UConn (20-12-5)
- Thursday, Mar. 26, 12:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2.
- No. 2 Dartmouth (23-7-4) vs. No. 3 Wisconsin (21-12-2)
- Thursday, Mar. 26, 4:00 p.m. CT, ESPNU.
On Saturday and Sunday, the remaining eight teams will face off in the quarterfinal round to decide who will travel to Vegas for the Frozen Four.
Albany Regional Championship
- Sunday, Mar. 29, 2:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. CT, TBA.
Loveland Regional Championship
- Sunday, Mar. 29, 2:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. CT, TBA.
Sioux Falls Regional Championship
- Saturday, Mar. 28, 3:32 p.m. or 7:32 p.m. CT, ESPN2.
Worcester Regional Championship
- Saturday, Mar. 28, 3:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. CT, ESPN2.
Three Matchups to Watch
No. 2 Providence vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac
For North Dakota fans, the most important game of the first round will occur between the Friars and the Bobcats a few hours before UND’s puck drop. If the Fighting Hawks can beat Merrimack, they will know what lies ahead.
The two sides faced off in an early-season exhibition, with the Friars winning 2-1. Providence went on to play a solid regular season, clinching a program-first Hockey East regular-season title.
Quinnipiac ran the ECAC this season, clinching its sixth consecutive Cleary Cup. The Bobcats fell to Clarkson in the ECAC quarterfinals, unable to withstand a three-goal period from the Golden Knights in game two of the best-of-three round.
No. 2 Minn. Duluth vs. No. 3 Penn State
One of the highest-profile matchups of the first round will be the late game in Albany on Friday, between the Bulldogs and Nittany Lions. Hobey Baker Candidates Gavin McKenna (Fr.) and Max Plante (So.) will face off in a game that could prove to be one of the most entertaining of this year’s postseason.
Penn State has been highly rated after its run in the NCAA Championship last year, making it to the Frozen Four for the first time in program history. This year, the Nittany Lions finished third in the Big Ten, trailing Michigan and Michigan State. PSU exited the Big Ten tournament at the hands of Michigan, failing to close in on a second playoff title.
The Bulldogs defeated North Dakota in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff but fell to Denver after forcing a second overtime at the Magness Arena. Scott Sandelin’s men finished fourth in the NCHC this season, kept out of the top three by the dominant trio of Western Michigan, Denver, and North Dakota.
No. 1 Western Michigan vs. No. 4 Minnesota State
Western Michigan and Minnesota State are set for a rematch of last year’s playoff opener. Last year, the two sides took the game to a second overtime in Fargo, with the Mavericks threatening to end Western’s run early.
Despite the resistance, the Broncos went on to win the National Championship against Boston University, taking down UMass and facing another double overtime against Denver along the way.
This year, WMU failed to defend the Penrose and National Cups, losing the regular season title to North Dakota and falling short of Denver in the NCHC semifinals.
Minnesota State made a dominant run for the Mason Cup, hoisting the CCHA playoff title after a 4-2 win over future-NCHC side St. Thomas last week. The Mavericks made their playoff run on the back of winning their tenth MacNaughton Cup in program history, defending their title in a hotly-contested race.
Live on Thursday Night…
The Hawks will begin their NCAA Championship campaign on Thursday in Sioux Falls, S.D. The single-elimination faceoff with Merrimack will be North Dakota’s first since 2009, when the Warriors visited Grand Forks in the sole meeting between the two sides.
Puck-drop at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center will be at 7:30 p.m. The game will be featured on ESPN2, putting the Hawks back in the spotlight at primetime. Audio listeners can tune in to the Fighting Hawks Radio Network via iHeart Radio, the Fighting Hawks website, or on 96.1 FM (The Fox) for local listeners.
Anthony Dillett is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and on X @adillettgf.