Michigan State hockey head coach Adam Nightingale reacts to the double-overtime winning goal against Ohio State for the Big Ten Hockey Championship at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan on March 22, 2025.
With regions locked and teams finalized, the NCAA Hockey Regionals are set to begin.
The Michigan State University hockey team is securely locked in as the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament, claiming the No. 1 seed in its Toledo, Ohio region. They’ll face off in game one on Thursday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m.
Alongside the Spartans are three other tough teams eager to end each other’s seasons. MSU will face Cornell University, while Ohio State takes on Boston University on Thursday, March 27.
The winners of both games will advance to the regional finals on Saturday, March 29, where they’ll compete for a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO.
No. 1 Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans enter the region as the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season, after receiving the same ranking in Maryland Heights, MO, during the 2023-2024 tournament.
Last season’s tournament ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Spartans, who were defeated by in-state rival Michigan in a 5-2 loss during the quarterfinals, after MSU defeated Western Michigan 6-5 in an overtime thriller.
With a 31-30-1 all-time record in the NCAA tournament, the Spartans are coming off one of their best seasons in the last 25 years, dating back to 2000-2001. With a 24-6-4 regular season record and a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten postseason, MSU is led by junior forward Isaac Howard, the team’s double-overtime hero in the Big Ten championship game, where MSU defeated the Buckeyes 4-3 in the longest tournament game in Big Ten history.
Howard has been the story of the season, recording 51 points — the first Spartan to reach that mark since Taro Hirose. The forward has led the team throughout the season and remains a national point scorer. Announced as Big Ten Player of the Year and a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial, the first-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning has continued to shine in both the regular season and postseason.
No. 4 Cornell University Big Red Bears
With an 18-10-6 regular season, the Big Red finished the ECAC season with a trophy after defeating Clarkson University 3-1 in the ECAC Championship, earning an automatic bid and a shot at upsetting MSU.
For the third consecutive year, Cornell will appear in the NCAA tournament — the first time the team has done so since 2017-2019. Last season, the Big Red defeated the Maine Black Bears before losing 2-1 to the reigning national champions, Denver University.
Ryan Walsh has been the key producer for Cornell throughout the 2024-2025 season, with 14 goals and 14 assists. The team’s depth is evident, with five players tallying 20 or more points and 10 others reaching double digits.
No. 2 Boston University Terriers
The Terriers have been on the rise in recent seasons, producing NHL rookies and Calder Trophy contenders like Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens.
BU reached the Frozen Four semifinals during the 2023-2024 season after defeating RIT and Minnesota in regional play. The Terriers were then defeated by the Denver Pioneers, who went on to beat Boston College 2-0 in the national championship game.
BU finished with a 21-13-2 regular-season record and advanced to the Hockey East semifinals, where they were defeated 5-2 by the UConn Huskies, who are making their first tournament appearance in school history.
The Terriers’ roster is impressive, with Quinn Hutson and Cole Hutson both reaching the 40-point mark, and 12 other players reaching double digits. Quinn Hutson has been the top scorer, with 21 goals and 26 assists, good for a 47-point junior campaign.
No. 3 The Ohio State University Buckeyes
The Buckeyes were a surprise at the end of the 2023-2024 season, making the semifinals after sitting near the bottom of the league for most of the year. Heading into the 2024-2025 season, OSU was ranked seventh in preseason polls — matching their finish from the previous year. However, Ohio State exceeded expectations, finishing third in the conference and reaching the Big Ten championship game, where they ultimately fell to the Spartans in overtime after tying the game with two third-period goals.
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Under Big Ten Coach of the Year Steve Rohlik, the Buckeyes finished the regular season 24-13-2 and ranked in the top 20 nationally in offensive production, averaging 3.18 goals per game while allowing 2.51 goals per game.
Logan Terness has been the go-to goaltender with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. The team also made a key offseason addition, bringing in former Northeastern forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, who has led the Buckeyes offensively with a team-high 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists).
The tournament kicks off on Thursday, March 27, with Ohio State vs. Boston University at 2 p.m., available on ESPNU. The Spartans vs. Big Red will follow with a 5:30 p.m. puck drop, streamed on ESPN+.
