The NCAA men’s hockey tournament is about to start with 16 teams competing for the National Championship at the Frozen Four in St. Louis on April 12th.
The University of Denver Pioneers, the current champions, are participating to defend their title after winning against Boston College in last year’s final. Denver will start their title defense against Providence.
Boston College, currently ranked number one nationally, might face Denver in a rematch of last year`s final if they win against Bentley University Falcons in their first tournament game.
Here’s a look at the brackets for the NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship:
Top Prospects
As in previous years, the teams in the tournament are full of NHL drafted prospects and free agents.
Here are some of the top prospects to watch in this year’s tournament:
Jacob Fowler, G, 6-foot-2 214 pounds
Draft: Third round, No. 69 (2023) by Canadiens
Club Team: Boston College Eagles
The Canadiens have a promising group of prospects, and Fowler is a notable one. Solid goaltending is essential for winning championships. Fowler, in his sophomore season with the Eagles, has impressive stats, especially for his college development stage. He is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award for top NCAA goalie.
Fowler is a large presence in the net and uses a hybrid style. He effectively follows the play, moves laterally, and positions himself to maximize his size against shooters in close. It`s hard to find weaknesses in his game or potential. He is a proven winner and has the potential to be a starting NHL goalie.
It will be interesting to see the Canadiens` plans for Fowler after the season, especially if Boston College wins the National Championship and Fowler feels ready to go pro.
Trey Augustine, G, 6-foot-1, 179 pounds
Draft: Second round, No. 42 (2023) by Red Wings
Club Team: Michigan State Spartans
Many are already familiar with Augustine, who helped Team USA win consecutive world junior gold medals (2024 and 2025). This Detroit Red Wings prospect is also a Richter Award finalist, boasting a 19-6-4 record, 2.01 goals-against average, and a .927 save percentage with the Spartans this season.
Augustine`s puck-stopping approach differs from Fowler`s. He is more of a butterfly goalie and, while not as tall as Fowler, has a sturdy build that covers significant net width. His efficiency in tracking the play and deflecting low shots with his pads is impressive.
The Red Wings are likely to sign Augustine after his college season concludes.
Ryan Leonard, RW, 6-foot, 192 pounds
Draft: First round, No. 8 (2023) by Capitals
Club Team: Michigan State Spartans
Leonard is a highly regarded prospect outside the NHL. A Hobey Baker finalist for top men’s college hockey player and captain of Team USA at the world juniors in Ottawa, he has amassed 60 goals and 47 assists in 76 college games.
He plays over 21 minutes per game in all situations. Leonard is a classic power forward, dangerous in open ice, with a strong shot, and combines skill with intense competitiveness. He`s always involved in tough areas and physically assertive.
The Capitals have a future top-six power forward. Leonard is expected to sign with Washington after the season and potentially join the NHL for the playoffs.
Aiden Fink, RW, 5-foot-10, 160 pounds
Draft: Seventh round, No. 218 (2023) by Predators
Club Team: Penn State Nittany Lions
It’s interesting to follow the progress of late-round NHL picks, and Nashville has a promising prospect in Fink. This freshman forward is second in the NCAA with 1.41 points per game, just behind Michigan State’s Isaac Howard at 1.42.
Fink has been productive offensively for Penn State in all situations. He is quick off the rush and shows excellent hand-eye coordination in traffic. He’s particularly effective shooting from the weak side on power plays.
Isaac Howard, LW, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds
Draft: First round, No. 31 (2022) by Lightning
Club Team: Michigan State Spartans
Speaking of Howard, his potential signing by the Lightning after his breakout year in East Lansing is noteworthy. His performance trajectory before this season is illustrated below:
Howard plays with speed, attacks the net without the puck, and competes hard in traffic. He`s always been confident, and this season it`s paid off. Howard has a key role for the Spartans, playing in all situations and averaging over 21 minutes per game. He is also a Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Quinn Hutson, RW, 5-foot-11, 176 pounds
Draft: Free Agent
Club Team: Boston University
The hockey world knows Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens and his younger brother Cole, a Washington Capitals pick. Quinn is the oldest Hutson brother, a forward in his junior year at Boston University.
Quinn Hutson is a highly sought-after free agent. He plays over 19 minutes a game, mostly at even strength and on the power play. While not as flashy as his brothers, he has excellent hockey sense and finds open ice to create plays. His hand-eye coordination is exceptional.
Here’s a video clip showing Quinn’s skills, followed by his college stats: