BIG TEN HOCKEY
• The Big Ten Conference will send four teams to the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship after crowning its tournament champion on March 22. No. 1 seed Michigan State produced a 4-3 double overtime win over No. 3 seed Ohio State before a sold out crowd of 6,555 at Munn Ice Arena in the longest game in Big Ten Tournament history. The No. 1/1-ranked Spartans received the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament and are joined by No. 5/5 Minnesota, No. 9/9 Ohio State and No. 12/13 Penn State, which received at-large berths. Michigan State is the No. 1 seed in the Toledo Regional and the No. 2 seed overall in the 16-team field. The four teams selected matches a league record set in 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024. The 77th NCAA Tournament begins this week with regional semifinals followed by regional finals. A look at the participating Big Ten teams:
USCHO Poll 3.25
• Thursday (2 p.m. ET) | Toledo Regional | Huntington Center
No. 3 seed Ohio State (23-12-4) vs. No. 2 seed Boston University (21-13-2)
Ohio State is making its 11th trip to the NCAAs, having last appeared in the 2023 Regional Finals. Goaltender Logan Terness set a Big Ten Tournament record with 168 saves in five postseason starts. Steve Rohlik was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading the Buckeyes to a third-place finish and appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game. OSU is 0-3 all-time versus Boston University, having played the Terriers in the 2009 NCAA First Round. The Buckeyes last advanced to the Frozen Four in 2018.
• Thursday (5:30 p.m. ET) | Toledo Regional | Huntington Center
No. 3 seed Cornell (18-10-6) vs. No. 1 seed Michigan State (26-6-4)
Michigan State captured the Big Ten “Double” — regular season and tournament titles — for the second year in a row. Hobey Baker finalist Isaac Howard scored the overtime game-winner in the tournament final and leads the country with a 1.42 points per game average. MSU sports a 6-4-1 record all-time versus Cornell. MSU is making its 29th NCAA appearance and looking to qualify for the Frozen Four for the first time since 2007, when it became the last Big Ten team to capture a national championship.
• Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET) | Fargo Regional | Scheels Arena
No. 3 seed Massachusetts (20-13-5) vs. No. 2 seed Minnesota (25-10-4)
Minnesota is making its NCAA-record 42nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with its 62 wins being the most by any school. Hobey Baker finalist Jimmy Snuggerud leads the Gophers with 22 goals, 27 assists and 49 points. His 1.26 points per game average ranks 11th nationally. Minnesota last saw action on March 9 in the Big Ten Quarterfinals. Minnesota is 5-0-0 all-time versus Massachusetts, having defeated the Minutemen, 4-3, in overtime in a 2022 First Round game.
• Friday (8:30 p.m. ET) | Allentown Regional | PPL Center
No. 4 seed Penn State (20-13-4) vs. No. 1 seed Maine (24-7-6)
Penn State is the host institution for the Allentown Regional (for the second time) as the Nittany Lions make their fourth tournament appearance. Hobey Baker finalist Aiden Fink stands second in NCAA scoring (1.41), having compiled 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points in 37 contests. PSU reached the Big Ten Semifinals and have posted a 13-4-4 record since Jan. 1. Penn State is meeting Maine for the first time and is seeking its first Frozen Four berth.
