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NCAA Hockey Bracket Predictions: Road to Frozen Four

By Ryan Ritchie

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 29: Cutler Martin #4 of the Michigan Wolverines (hidden) celebrates a goal with teammates JT Compher #7, Kyle Connor #18 and Joseph Cecconi #3 against the Northern Michigan Wildcats during game two of the Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament at Joe Louis Arena on December 29, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Wildcats 3-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 29: Cutler Martin #4 of the Michigan Wolverines (hidden) celebrates a goal with teammates JT Compher #7, Kyle Connor #18 and Joseph Cecconi #3 against the Northern Michigan Wildcats during game two of the Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament at Joe Louis Arena on December 29, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Wildcats 3-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Hockey Bracket Predictions: Road to Frozen Four

Junior hockey is beginning to wrap-up around North America. The Canadian Hockey League is set to start its playoffs shortly, while the NCAA bracket was recently determined – which will lead to the Frozen Four in Tampa Bay, Florida in April.

Winners from each CHL league (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) will compete in the Memorial Cup with host Red Deer Rebels (WHL) on May 19th to 29th.

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In a four-part series dedicated to Junior Hockey’s postseason, we wrap things up with NCAA hockey bracket predictions.

*Notable players from each team (plus goaltenders) are included with their season point total and NHL status is brackets – NHL team or year of eligibility.

NCAA Hockey Bracket Predictions: Tournament Preview

East Region

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1 Quinnipiac
RIT

Notable Players:

Devon Toews (D), Qunnipiac – 27pts (NYI)
Connor Clifton (D), Qunnipiac – 26pts (ARZ)

Goalies:

Michael Garteig, Quinnipiac – 29-3-7 1.90GAA .923 save pct

Mike Rotolo, RIT – 8-7-2 2.69GAA .908 save pct
Christian Short, RIT – 8-6-3 2.76GAA .889 save pct
Nick Amato, RIT – 2-1-1 3.24 GAA .847 save pct

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Yale
UMass-Lowell

Notable Players:

John Hayden, Yale – 23pts (CHI)
Rob O’Gara (D), Yale – 12pts (BOS)
Ryan Dmowski, UMass-Lowell – 13pts (2016 Draft)
Evan Campbell, UMass-Lowell – 12pts (EDM)

More puck prose: Top 10 Prospects on the Planet

Goalies:

Alex Lyon, Yale – 19-7-4 1.59GAA .938 save pct
Patrick Spano, Yale – 0-1-0 3.04GAA .900 save pct

Kevin Boyle, UMass-Lowell – 23-9-5 1.77GAA .935 save pct
Christoffer Hernberg, UMass-Lowell – 1-0-0 1.21GAA .941 save pct

Northeast Region

Apr 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The tournament
Apr 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The tournament /

4 Providence
Minnesota-Duluth

Notable Players:

Mark Jankowski, Providence – 40pts (CGY)
Tony Cameranesi, Minnesota-Duluth – 36pts (TOR)
Jake Walman (D), Providence – 28pts (STL)
Brian Pinho, Providence – 25pts (WSH)
John Gilmour (D), Providence – 23pts (CGY)
Dominic Toninato, Minnesota-Duluth – 21pts (TOR)
Andy Welinski (D), Minnesota-Duluth – 19pts (ANA)
Erik Foley, Providence – 19pts (WPG)
Carson Soucy, Minnesota-Duluth – 12pts (MIN)
Anthony Florentino, Providence – 12pts (BUF)
Steven Ruggiero (D), Providence – 1pt (ANA)

Goalies:

Nick Ellis, Providence – 25-6-4 1.82GAA .935 save pct
Hayden Hawkey, Providence – 2-0-0 1.67GAA .940 save pct (MTL)

Kasimir Kaskisuo, Minnesota-Duluth – 18-14-5 1.93GAA .922 save pct
Matt McNeely, Minnesota-Duluth – 0-1-0 3.03GAA .907 save pct

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Boston College
Harvard

Notable Players:

Jimmy Vesey, Harvard – 46pts (NSH)
Ryan Fitzgerald, Boston College – 44pts (BOS)
Colin White, Boston College – 41pts (OTT)
Zach Sanford, Boston College – 38pts (WSH)
Alexander Kerfoot, Harvard – 34pts (NJ)
Miles Wood, Boston College – 34pts (NJ)
Alex Tuch, Boston College – 31pts (MIN)
Adam Gilmour, Boston College – 25pts (MIN)
Casey Fitzgerald (D), Boston College – 24pts (2016 Draft)
Ryan Donato, Harvard – 21pts (BOS)
Ian McCoshen (D), Boston College – 20pts (FLA)
Sean Malone, Harvard – 19pts (BUF)
Colin Blackwell, Harvard – 19pts (SJ)
Tyler Moy, Harvard – 19pts (NSH)
Steve Santini (D), Boston College – 19pts (NJ)
Chris Brown, Boston College – 11pts (BUF)
Wiley Sherman, Harvard – 10pts (BOS)
Chris Calnan, Boston College – 9pts (CHI)
J.D. Dudek, Boston College – 3pts (NJ)

More puck prose: NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Rounds 1-7

Goalies:

Thatcher Demko, Boston College – 25-7-4 1.87GAA .935 save pct (VAN)
Ian Milosz, Boston College – 1-0-1 3.37GAA .899 save pct

Merrick Madsen, Harvard – 18-6-3 1.96GAA .933 save pct (PHI)
Michael Lackey, Harvard – 1-4-1 3.58GAA .876 save pct

Midwest Region

Apr 9, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; University of North Dakota forward Connor Gaarder (13) skates past the bench after scoring against the Boston University Terriers during the third period in a semifinal game in the men
Apr 9, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; University of North Dakota forward Connor Gaarder (13) skates past the bench after scoring against the Boston University Terriers during the third period in a semifinal game in the men /

3 North Dakota
Northeastern

Notable Players:

Brock Boeser, North Dakota – 51pts (VAN)
Nick Schmaltz, North Dakota – 42pts (CHI)
Adam Gaudette, Northeastern – 30pts (VAN)
Dylan Sikura, Northeastern – 28pts (CHI)
Kevin Roy, Northeastern – 25pts (ANA)
Austin Poganski, North Dakota – 23pts (STL)
Tucker Poolman (D), North Dakota – 22pts (WPG)
Luke Johnson, North Dakota – 19pts (CHI)
Sam Kurker, Northeastern – 18pts (STL)
Paul LaDue (D), North Dakota – 16pts (LA)
Christian Wolanin (D), North Dakota – 15pts (OTT)
Keaton Thompson (D), North Dakota – 15pts (ANA)
Brendan Collier, Northeastern – 13pts (CAR)
Shane Gersich, North Dakota – 10pts (WSH)
Chris Wilkie, North Dakota – 9pts (FLA)
Gage Ausmus (D), North Dakota – 9pts (SJ)

Goalies:

Cam Johnson, North Dakota – 20-4-2 1.64GAA .935 save pct
Matt Hrynkiw, North Dakota – 10-2-2 2.13GAA .910 save pct

Ryan Ruck, Northeastern – 20-10-4 2.26GAA .912 save pct
Derick Roy, Northeastern – 2-3-1 2.94GAA .840 save pct

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Michigan
Notre Dame

Notable Players:

Kyle Connor, Michigan – 69pts (WPG)
J.T. Compher, Michigan – 60pts (COL)
Tyler Motte, Michigan – 54pts (CHI)
Zach Werenski (D), Michigan – 34pts (CLB)
Anders Bjork, Notre Dame – 33pts (BOS)
Jake Evans, Notre Dame – 33pts (MTL)
Thomas DiPauli, Notre Dame – 31pts (WSH)
Cristoval Nieves, Michigan – 30pts (NYR)
Mario Lucia, Notre Dame – 24pts (MIN)
Cooper Marody, Michigan – 24pts (PHI)
Michael Downing (D), Michigan – 19pts (FLA)
Connor Hurley, Notre Dame – 18pts (BUF)
Brendan Warren, Michigan – 17pts (ARZ)
Nolan De Jong (D), Michigan – 11pts (MIN)
Dennis Gilbert (D), Notre Dame – 10pts (CHI)
Nicholas Boka (D), Michigan – 9pts (MIN)
Joseph Cecconi (D), Michigan – 7pts (DAL)
Joe Wegwerth, Notre Dame – 4pts (FLA)

More puck prose: Top 20 Goaltenders Under 25 Years Old

Goalies:

Steve Racine, Michigan – 19-5-3 2.89GAA .913 save pct
Zach Nagelvoort, Michigan – 5-2-1 2.99GAA .893 save pct (EDM)

Cal Petersen, Notre Dame – 19-10-7 2.19GAA .928 save pct (BUF)

West Region

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2 St.Cloud State
Ferris State

Notable Players:

Kyle Schempp, Ferris State – 23pts (NYI)
Judd Peterson, St.Cloud – 23pts (BUF)
Robby Jackson, St.Cloud – 17pts (2016 Draft)
Ben Storm, St.Cloud – 7pts (COL)

Goalies:

Charlie Lindgren, St.Cloud – 30-8-1 2.05GAA .927 save pct
Rasmus Reijola, St.Cloud – 1-0-0 2.77GAA .878 save pct

Darren Smith, Ferris State – 16-9-5 2.15GAA .923 save pct
Charles Williams, Ferris State – 3-5-1 3.48GAA .888 save pct

Apr 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston University Terriers surround forward Cason Hohmann (7) after his goal against the Providence College Friars during the second period in the championship game of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston University Terriers surround forward Cason Hohmann (7) after his goal against the Providence College Friars during the second period in the championship game of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver
Boston University

Notable Players:

Danny O’Regan, Boston – 43pts (SJ)
Danton Heinen, Denver – 42pts (BOS)
Jakub Forsbacka Karlsson, Boston – 29pts (BOS)
Will Butcher (D), Denver – 29pts (COL)
Jordan Greenway, Boston – 25pts (MIN)
Charlie McAvoy (D), Boston – 24pts (2016 Draft)
Quentin Shore, Denver – 23pts (OTT)
Matt Grzelcyk (D), Boston – 22pts (BOS)
Troy Terry, Denver – 17pts (ANA)
Doyle Somerby, Boston – 13pts (NYI)
Robbie Baillargeon, Boston – 12pts (OTT)
Brandon Hickey (D), Boston – 8pts (CGY)
John MacLeod (D), Boston – 2pts (TB)

Goalies:

Evan Cowley, Denver – 8-5-1 2.07GAA .929 save pct (FLA)
Tanner Jaillet, Denver – 15-4-5 2.23GAA .925 save pct

Sean Maguire, Boston – 13-8-1 2.27GAA .924 save pct (PIT)
Connor LaCouvee, Boston – 8-4-4 2.84GAA .901 save pct

More puck prose: OHL Playoffs: Round 1 Preview, Predictions


NCAA Hockey Bracket Predictions: Road to Frozen Four

*projected winner in bold

First Round

East

1 Qunnipiac
RIT (Rochester Inst.)

Yale
UMass-Lowell

Northeast

4 Providence
Minnesota-Duluth

Harvard
Boston College

Midwest

3 North Dakota
Northeastern

Notre Dame
Michigan

West

2 St.Cloud State
Ferris State

Boston University
Denver

More puck prose: QMJHL Playoffs: Round 1 Preview, Predictions


Quarter-Finals

East

1 Quinnipiac
UMass-Lowell

4 Providence
Boston College

West

3 North Dakota
Michigan

2 St.Cloud State
Denver

Frozen Four

1 Quinnipiac
Boston College

Michigan
2 St.Cloud State

Next: WHL Playoffs: Round 1 Preview, Predictions

Frozen Four Championship

1 Quinnipiac
Michigan

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