2021 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament: Why Your Team Can Win It All (Loveland Regional)

Enough parity exists in the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament where at least one No. 4 seed has upset a No. 1 seed in every tournament played since 2005. The unexpected is more than expected. It is no surprise, in an era where the final at-large bid has won three of the last seven national titles, to see any of the 16 teams reach the Frozen Four.

Makes bracket challenges fun and impossible, even before playing in a global pandemic.

So with that in mind, I thought it would be best to preview the 2021 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament by showcasing two non-pandemic extremes. First, why each team can win the national championship. Second, why each team will be upset and lose in round 1. Add three players to watch and a "chip on their shoulders" ranking (1 being none and 10 being wanting to prove the world wrong) and there's a preview that covers the bases for your bracket challenge. 

This is the fourth and final regional preview. Wednesday featured the Fargo Regional. Yesterday (Thursday) featured both the Bridgeport Regional and Albany Regional.

Loveland Regional

No. 1 Seed: Minnesota

Why the Gophers will win it all: Minnesota (23-6-0) plays disciplined hockey and has several paths to victory in a testing tournament that culminates the Centennial Season of Gopher Hockey with a regional in the Centennial State.

Whether it is the goal-scoring consistency of Sampo Ranta, who has 18 goals, the depth of seven players with 20+ points, or goaltender Jack LaFontaine's Hobey Baker top-ten finalist performance this season (.936% save percentage and five shutouts), Minnesota makes itself a tough out. The Gophers continued last season's second-half push into a perfect 10-0-0 start before the rest of the conference made headway. 

The Gophers won three games in three days - including a pair of comeback OT wins - to take home the Big Ten conference tournament championship. Each game seemed to have a different hero - Bryce Brodzinski and Blake McLaughlin playing his best hockey are two examples - which speaks to the depth on Bob Motzko's team. A young blue line full of puck movers has played well above its age. Minnesota earned its No. 1 seed, playing like the team Motzko envisioned and recruited when taking over the program three years ago.

Why the Gophers will be upset in round 1: Minnesota gets better as the weekend goes on, which is both the sign of an elite team and a bad sign in a single-elimination tournament where it takes one bad night to end a season.

The Gophers lost four of its six games in the first game of a two-game series. In the Big Ten tournament, it was Michigan State who made Minnesota sweat in the opening game. Historically, Minnesota has struggled outside the state of Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament, having not won a regional game outside MN since 2007 (the last time the Gophers played in Colorado). While the Gophers are undefeated when scoring first, Omaha did defeat top-ranked North Dakota twice in six games. 

Chip on their shoulder ranking: 6. I'm sure Minnesota will have a chip on its shoulder after the way the Big Ten regular-season ended and returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. The Gophers play well when having one, but the team does not have the same argument as others in this region.

Three Players To Watch: #45 G- Jack LaFontaine (CAR), #58 F- Sampo Ranta, #9 F- Sammy Walker (TBL)

No. 2 Seed: Minnesota State 

Why the (Purple) Mavericks will win it all: No goaltender has shut teams down like Minnesota State (20-4-1) goalie Dryden McKay this season.

The junior leads the nation with nine shutouts - the gap between first and second would be tied for fourth - in 23 starts and a 1.40 GAA. His outstanding play is to be expected to the point where the few games teams have been able to score multiple goals stand out for the accomplishment.

It also helps the Mavericks control possession like no other team. On average, Minnesota State outshoots opponents by over 15 shots per game. (Second place is ~10 shots per game.) Mike Hastings continues to reload with diamonds in the rough, with Cade Borchardt, Nathan Smith and Akiro Hirose as underclassmen shining through. Another newbie is senior Todd Burgess, who transferred from RPI, to go with a large senior class that missed a chance at redemption last season. Minnesota State's consistency is on a level few can match recently. It would be fitting for the Mavericks to end with a reward.

Why the Mavericks will be upset in round 1: Do you know the history of Minnesota State in the NCAA Tournament? If yes, just skip to the next section.

If not, well...the Mavericks remain looking for an elusive NCAA Tournament win. The past two attempts saw Minnesota State with multi-goal leads early before eventually losing. Again, this is a new year and one that does not see Providence in Providence, but the legend of the first win grows bigger with each passing tournament. Maybe that game already happened after Northern Michigan jumped out to a 5-0 lead within two periods in the WCHA conference tournament semifinal. Maybe it was just a sign to come.

Chip on their shoulder ranking: 10. Easy 10. The history, the seeing last season's tournament canceled, the not being a No. 1 seed this year despite running through the WCHA and having the best record nationally, easterners questioning the WCHA, the fact it's been 20 years and Mankato State still slips through...all of it is enough to place the Mavericks at the maximum chip on their shoulders. You've earned it.

Three Players To Watch: #8 F- Nathan Smith (WPG), #5 F- Jake Jaremko (Undrafted), #29 G- Dryden McKay (Undrafted)

No. 3 Seed: Quinnipiac

Why the Bobcats will win it all: Perhaps because Quinnipiac (17-7-4) spent the season playing in a 4...then 3...then 2 team league, several QU players seem to be flying under the radar. Rand Pecknold continues to recruit well. The team is fourth in goal margin. Ty Smilanic had one of the best rookie seasons nationally, scoring 14 goals in 28 games. Peter DiLiberatore returned, being an all-around top D, while Wyatt Bongiovanni returns after missing much of the season. He has 5 goals in 8 games played.

The most underrated player nationally might be senior Odeen Tufto, who sits second in points with 45. The Mat Barzal of New Haven County creates plays from the tiniest of openings. Then there's Zach Metsa, whose 26 points leads all blueliners nationally, and Keith Petruzzelli having a Mike Richter Award finalist season.

There was a lot to like about this year's Quinnipiac team when it was March 2020. Weird year aside, there is still a lot to like about this year's Quinnipiac team's chances.

Why the Bobcats will lose in round 1: A combination of the unknown and known.

Quinnipiac enters the NCAA Tournament coming off its most embarrassing loss of the season, losing the ECAC championship in OT to St. Lawrence. Almost every team has a bad loss, however, and QU is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games. Still, with the limited and strange schedule the Bobcats played - QU went 2-2-2 against Clarkson - it's tough to know where Quinnipiac stacks up against the rest of the country.

For the known, this upcoming game features the only two teams sharing a common opponent. Both Minnesota State and Quinnipiac faced Bowling Green. While the Mavericks made quick work of the Falcons, sweeping the WCHA foe, BGSU swept Quinnipiac. If that is any indication, then it might be an easy night for the Mavericks.

Chip on their shoulder ranking: 7.5. Shouldering the weight of the ECAC and wanting to prove QU belongs is enough of a chip on their shoulder to push Quinnipiac into the upper tier.

Three Players To Watch: #29 F- Odeen Tufto (undrafted), #96 F- Ty Smilanic (FLA), #3 D- Peter DiLiberatore (VGK)

No. 4 Seed: Omaha

Why the (Red) Mavericks will win it all: In the words of the great Mike Eidelbess, "And then there's Omaha..."

The 16th and final profile comes from a team whose last NCAA Tournament appearance (2015) resulted in an unexpected Frozen Four run. Don't count Omaha (14-10-1) this time around either. The Mavericks own a pair of wins over North Dakota and have been a tough out for any opponent. The team is 11-1-0 when scoring first this season.

Omaha's run to the 2021 NCAA Tournament comes from a consistent season, beating the teams it should. Isaiah Saville has been the goaltender Omaha expected when he came on campus as the USHL Goaltender of the Year. The junior line of Tyler Weiss-Chase Primeau-Taylor Ward leads the way offensively although Mike Gabinet's group is more than a one-line team. Five different players have eight or more goals.

Why the Mavericks will lose in round 1: Of the teams still playing, no one has struggled of late quite like the Mavericks. 

Omaha, who went 3-6-1 against the other three remaining NCHC teams, enters the NCAA Tournament having lost four of its last five games, including an NCHC Quarterfinal appearance against Denver. In fairness, the other four games came against No. 1 overall seed North Dakota, but it's not the bit of confidence any team would like when it comes to the biggest stage of the year.

Including Notre Dame, 15 of the top 16 teams in goal margin over the past 10 games made the NCAA Tournament. The lone tournament team not among the top 16? Omaha, who sits tied for 31st (-4). The Mavericks are also one of three teams still playing with a negative shot margin and the one with the worst. Facing a Minnesota team who picks up momentum the longer it plays, that might be a sign of trouble.

Chip on their shoulder ranking: 7. Being the fourth seed can be enough reason to have a chip on your shoulder and wanting to prove teams wrong. Entering the NCAA Tournament the way the Mavericks did up the factor to at least a 7.

Three Players to Watch: #40 F- Tyler Weiss (COL), #31 G- Isaiah Saville (VGK), #17 F- Taylor Ward (undrafted)

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Bracketology: Why Your Team Deserves To Make The 2021 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament (Or Not)

For the first time in a generation, NCAA hockey teams need to showcase their body of work and sell accomplishments to the selection committee. 

It's new. It's different. College hockey coaches on the NCAA Tournament bubble have stopped being polite and started using postgame pressers to stump for why their team is worthy and their opponents should be sitting at home eating popcorn and watching TV. 

And honestly? Not every team knows how to do it.

Take this attempt by Bowling Green, one of several WCHA teams fighting for 1-2 NCAA Tournament spots.

𝙉𝘾𝘼𝘼 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚

🏒Bowling Green rosters four of the nation's top-12 active scorers and are the only team in the country with four 100-point scorers (Kruse, 142 - Johnson, 122 - Ford, 114 - Wright, 101)! #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/9kM9KZEjEj

— Bowling Green Hockey (@BGFalconHockey) March 17, 2021

Active scorers? The NCAA Tournament does not constitute a lifetime achievement award. This isn't the Hobey Baker. 

C'mon Bowling Green, lead with the fact the Falcons beat Quinnipiac twice at Quinnipiac! Lead with the 20 wins, or the 10-4-1 road record, or the sweep over Michigan Tech, or the 3.48 goals per game and +10.03 shot differential that is second in the WCHA behind Minnesota State! Don't bring up active scorers. It helps BGSU as much as bringing up the 6-8-1 finish, first-round series loss to Northern Michigan, and losses to nearly every WCHA team in the hunt. You need to sell yourself, Bowling Green. NCAA Tournament bids are not just handed out!

As a public service, I am going to help 14 other teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble with their resumes. Unlike the rest of these programs, I come with plenty of experience writing resumes. #HireNate

In alphabetical order:

Army: 

Point out: Atlantic Hockey has won three straight first-round series. In a year where there are few true non-conference games and a limited ECAC, why shouldn't Atlantic Hockey get a second bid? The league has proven itself in the NCAA Tournament. The Black Knights are 15-5-0 this season, a better win/loss record than many on the bubble, and help shore up the East-West split if the team beats Canisius and proves it is the second-best AHA team. (This blueprint can also be used for Canisius if the Golden Griffins beat Army Friday.)

Avoid: Discussing the 1-3 record against AIC, who hasn't played since January, or the loss to a first-year LIU. The Sharks did not exist this time last year. Maybe the committee does not know about Long Island in the way the Hobey committee (but not Toronto fans) do not about Colin Bilek.

Bemidji State:

Point out: Of all the WCHA teams fighting behind Minnesota State for a spot, Bemidji State has the best record. Of the Mavericks' three losses, two came against Bemidji, who also went 3-1-0 against Bowling Green. The win total is not boosted by Division III wins or four games against Ferris State and Alabama Huntsville. It is a legit WCHA strength of schedule. Maybe sweeten with Zach Driscoll's performance in the net or the fact that the state of Minnesota has never gotten all five schools in the men's NCAA hockey tournament.

Avoid: Being swept by Northern Michigan, or losing two of three in March to Lake Superior State if the Lakers go on to win Friday in the WCHA Conference Tournament semifinal. Or that one of those Minnesota State wins saw the Beavers outshot 36-10 and score 4 goals on 10 shots against not Dryden McKay.

Boston University: 

Point out: How the Terriers' lack of experience is not a detriment. Boston University only played 15 games this season and was without key players for several. Finishing 10-4-1 with wins over UMass and Boston College helps immensely. Plus with that record and results, which also includes a sweep of Providence, who else out East deserves a spot over Boston University? Hockey East is not getting only two teams.

Avoid: Discussing the Hockey East tournament loss to UMass-Lowell. Even though rival BC also lost, it's not a good look. Nor is the -7.47 shots on goal margin per game (43rd of 51 teams). BU has won yet those wins come at the expense of a possession stat that sees the Terriers surrounded by bottom feeders.

Connecticut:

Point Out: The better Hockey East record and wins in regulations. All 10 victories came in regulations. The Huskies have a 0-3-2 record in overtime and a 1-1-1 record against Boston College. Against Providence in the regular season, Connecticut went 2-1-0. Maybe also bring up the season Jonny Evans is having since it flew a little under the radar.

Avoid: Saying anything about the 6-1 Hockey East quarterfinal loss to Providence, who is in position with the Huskies to take a fourth Hockey East bid. Or how it dropped UConn below .500 this season while UMass Lowell sits above .500 even with a loss in the Hockey East championship game. 

Denver:

Point out: Head-to-head matchups. If the NCHC deserves four teams, and the argument comes down between Denver and Omaha for that fourth spot, well the Pioneers went 3-2-0 against Omaha. DU also won at the most important time, playing with 16 skaters in the NCHC Conference Tournament. Add two wins over North Dakota and no one being quite sure how overtime losses work - Denver is 0-3-1 with the extra period - and DU can punch above its weight to try and extend the nation's longest NCAA Tournament streak. It would not be the first time someone gets a job without the qualifications.

Avoid: Bringing up the full sub-.500 record or the bad with the good. Say nothing about how the two North Dakota wins can be contrasted with losses to the two worst NCHC teams, Colorado College and Miami. Same with the 0-4-0 record against Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. A lot of teams just missing the NCAA Tournament in a normal year look to be among the top-16 best teams while ending up on the outside, a bad loss or two away from being a No. 3 seed. That is exactly where Denver sits, but this is a year where Pairwise does not make the math rules.

Lake Superior State:

Point out: Play down the stretch. The Lakers are 11-1-0 in its last 12 games. While that is technically not a part of the criteria, the subjective human element seems to be a fan of how teams leave last impressions. Not only that, but the Lakers can avenge the one loss by defeating Bemidji State in the WCHA semifinals. Doing so might be enough to end one of the longest NCAA Tournament droughts, as Lake Superior State has not been in since 1996 when Jeff Jackson still coached.

Avoid: Discussing how the 17-6-3 record looks better on paper than in reality. Two of those wins come against Division III Adrian. Four came against Alabama Huntsville and three more were against Northern Michigan. The Lakers did not play Minnesota State on the road and went 1-2-1 against Bemidji State. LSSU did play well against Bowling Green, but so did several other teams. Not that Lake Superior State needs someone to tell the Lakers, but avoiding a loss Friday would help the resume stand out big time.

Massachusetts Lowell:

Point out: How things are coming up Milhouse for the RiverHawks. The new skill of upsetting Hockey East teams named Boston (University and College) when it matters makes UMass Lowell an at-large spoiler for a potential fourth Hockey East bid. One more win over Massachusetts and it's a guarantee. If last impressions make a difference, playing while Providence and Connecticut sit at home make a final statement.

Avoid: Making comparisons. No matter what happens Saturday night, UMass Lowell finishes above .500, doing so with a lineup without a double-digit goal scorer, and in a time where the options for Eastern teams are limited. If the RiverHawks lose, there are plenty of comparisons that put Providence ahead of UMass Lowell for a fourth Hockey East spot. Asking for a fifth might be a bridge too far for the RiverHawks.

Northern Michigan: 

Point Out: Multiple wins against Bowling Green, Bemidji State, and a win over Lake Superior State. Sing the praises of that 2021 WCHA conference tournament semifinalist appearance (at worst) in the "accomplishments" section.

Avoid: Losing? Honestly, the Wildcats sit in a spot where the team needs an automatic bid to get in the NCAA Tournament. Losing to either Minnesota State or the Bemidji State/Lake Superior State winner does very little to help those options. 11-17-1 will not put Northern Michigan in an at-large bid 

Notre Dame:

Point out: It's been a good year for the Big Ten and the Fighting Irish, with a 14-13-2 record, end the season with a good record. Notre Dame swept Minnesota and Michigan on the road. None of the wins in OT while several losses did. If finishing strong matters, Jeff Jackson's current team ended the year 4-1-1 with dominating wins. If location matters when deciding whether a fourth Big Ten team makes sense in an NCAA Tournament searching for eastern teams, Indiana is further east than Nebraska or Colorado.

Avoid: Bringing up why there is a mid-March gap in accomplishments, or why there is a gap in accomplishments at home. Minnesota ended up with as many wins (5) in Compton Family Ice Arena this season as Notre Dame. Luckily, there is no regional in South Bend. The 9-2-1 road record helps, however, an extra home win or two would make an easier argument for a fourth Big Ten team.

Omaha:

Point out: The record. The Mavericks sit above .500 and have a better record (14-10-1) than Denver and several teams on the bubble. Perception matters and it helps UNO. Outside of an early 1-0 loss to Miami, Omaha has a consistent season with only the one bad loss, going 6-0-0 against Colorado College. The Mavericks also took two wins against North Dakota, going 2-4-0 in six games against the Fighting Hawks. UNO also has a higher goal margin than DU. Many of the arguments for the Mavericks are also the same ones that the women's hockey committee saw in Minnesota Duluth's favor. Maybe bring that up?

Avoid: The record. The math is closer than it seems because four of the wins came in overtime (compared to zero OT losses), leaving Omaha with 10 regulation wins. Denver, as mentioned previously, has the better head-to-head record with the Mavericks. Conference tournaments continue to be a thorn in the Mavericks' side, as an NCAA Tournament bid would be the fourth for Omaha since its last conference semifinal appearance two conferences ago. Two players on this year's Omaha team were not even born when the streak began (s/t Chris Dilks for this tidbit).

Penn State:

Point out: The Big Ten conference tournament results like this week is the only thing that matters. Hammer that home. Say nothing else. Just point out that and how the Nittany Lions beat Wisconsin the time before losing in OT. That Notre Dame win showed Penn State can play when healthy and not missing a month of play. If you guilt the committee about 2020 and say the Big Ten deserves four teams, and that the Nittany Lions are the fourth-best, maybe it will work? Stranger things have happened.

Avoid: Mentioning the 0-5 start, being swept by a combined 12-3 score to Notre Dame the week prior to the Big Ten conference tournament, the sub-.500 record, the fifth-place finish, the six regulation victories, and...at this point I've said too much. Brevity is key.

Providence:

Point out: How head-to-head put the Friars ahead. Against UMass Lowell, Providence won the only game. That helps when the two teams are competing for what might be one at-large bid. PC would also have a better record and zero OT wins compared to the RiverHawks. Against UConn, the Friars split the series, but took the all-important Hockey East conference tournament game and finished with the better record. While it does not need to be pointed out, PC has made its brand on finding ways in the NCAA Hockey Tournament.

Avoid: Bringing up weaknesses like bad losses. Math and RPI only care whether a win or loss occurs, but a human selection committee might look at 9-0 and 8-1 losses to BC and UMass, respectively and ask a few extra questions. At the same time, it would help if Massachusetts wins the Hockey East championship after defeating PC in the semifinals. Not much the Friars can do there besides pray and hope an at-large spot remains for Providence. It's just best to avoid. 

Quinnipiac: 

Point out: Of the remaining ECAC teams, Quinnipiac is by far the most deserving to make the NCAA Tournament. Even without an automatic bid. QU's 17-6-4  record stands out in most conferences. Leaving the Bobcats out if St. Lawrence wins pushes the boundaries of how many Eastern teams can make the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

Avoid: Mentioning that Bowling Green sweep. Yes, it keeps coming up, but the Bobcats are one of the few teams who played a true non-conference schedule, which includes a two-game sweep over three-loss AIC. Normally, that would be a good thing. This year? Take the gift and discuss the ECAC.

St. Lawrence:

Point out: A top-two ECAC conference tournament finish for future generations. The ECAC automatic bid if the Saints defeat Quinnipiac for its fifth win of the season. 

Avoid: Failing to win the ECAC automatic bid. Yes, it's a weird year. No, it's not that weird.

Related: 

2021 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament Bracket 3.0

Bracketology 101: Five More Selection Questions + NCAA Tournament Locks & Bubble Teams

Bracketology 101: How Many Teams From Each Conference Make The Men's NCAA Hockey Tournament?

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Feature: Sleeping Giant (Minnesota Hockey Magazine)

For the March 2020 edition of Minnesota Hockey Magazine, I wrote about Quinnipiac junior forward Odeen Tufto, the best Minnesotan playing college hockey you likely don't know.

The Chaska, MN native left high school at St. Thomas Academy without a single Division 1 offer. After going to the BCHL and three different USHL stops, Tufto made his way to Connecticut where he's been among the nation's best playmakers. The past two seasons saw Tufto crack the top-10 among top assists. The feature goes into Tufto's path to Quinnipiac, the challenges of being a smaller player, why Matthew Barzal and Mitch Marner are his favorite players and much more.

This edition of MHM was sold at the Minnesota Boys HS State Tournament. Coincidentally, St. Thomas Academy made it there as well. Still, you can find it online and read just as easily.

Online magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/aotas/pqpw/#p=58

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BLOG: Why The First Half Pairwise Predicts The NCAA Tournament Field

There's an old saying to not look at the Pairwise rankings until the holiday break. By then, the rankings settle down. Teams do not move around.

However, that does not feel like the case this year. It seems like 2020 has been one where several high-profile teams have made giant leaps into the bracket.

Each week a new school hops into contention making the jump on the heels of a hot weekend or month. Maine. Minnesota. Bemidji State. New Hampshire. Michigan. All have made noise in the last six weeks.

Still, for all the noise being made, is this year vastly different? Turns out, not as much as one would think.

Feature: The Future Was On Display At Inaugural Connecticut Ice Tournament

Bridgeport served as host to the inaugural Connecticut Ice festival. Webster Bank Arena, next door to P.T. Barnum's museum, brought out the three-ring circus with a weekend fully dedicated to hockey in the Nutmeg State. A new in-season tournament 15 years into the making featuring the four Division 1 men's hockey teams in the state of Connecticut saw Sacred Heart taking home the crystal trophy Sunday night.

"This would be right up near the top, if not the top," Sacred Heart head coach C.J. Marottolo said about where the weekend personally ranked for him. "Playing in an environment where you have four Connecticut schools, it's the first so that probably puts it over the top."

Photo Credit: Gregory Vasil/SNY

Connecticut Ice was the latest attempt at in-state bragging rights. Just as it exists in Boston each February. Just as it exists in Michigan in December. Just as Minnesota attempted to do for four years on the same weekend Connecticut is currently.

As those states celebrate history alongside trophies, inside Bridgeport, the future was on display. Almost out of necessity. Quinnipiac's rivalry with Yale - one showcased nationally in the 2013 national championship game - is well known. However, Sunday only marked the third time the Bobcats faced Sacred Heart since leaving Atlantic Hockey in 2005. The two schools sit 25 miles apart from one another.

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Quinnipiac

Quinnipiac

2018-19 Record: 26-10-2 (14-6-2, T-1st in ECAC)
Head Coach: Rand Pecknold, 26th Year
Top returning scorer: Odeen Tufto (15G-27A)
Top returning goaltender: Keith Petruzzelli (Jr.)

Since discovering the nickname of Quinnipiac's home Hamden, CT is the "Land of the Sleeping Giant," I've unsuccessfully tried to get the factoid in stories. But this is my series. So, for better or worse, it's staying.

In the "Land of the Sleeping Giant," Quinnipiac has awoken once more.

The Bobcats returned to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence, winning at least a share of the ECAC title for the fourth time in seven seasons. Picked to finish eighth, Quinnipiac came within a game of advancing to its third Frozen Four of the 2010s. Andrew Shortridge had a season for the ages, finishing with an NCAA-leading .940% save percentage and 1.51 GAA. Chase Priskie led all defenders in goals (17). QU survived a season-ending injury to Brandon Fortunato.

None return. Priskie and Fortunato graduate. Shortridge, after his junior year, signed as an undrafted free agent with San Jose. Defender Brogan Rafferty also departed early, signing with Vancouver.

What's New: Not new to this series but new to Quinnipiac, the Connecticut Ice Festival will be contested for the first time January 25-26.

The Bobcats travel to Tempe to rematch the team QU defeated in the NCAA Tournament, Arizona State. Non-conference also includes a home-and-home series against both Massachusetts and AIC. In one of the ECAC's matchups, Quinnipiac hosts Yale to end the regular season on February 29 (QU makes the long, 10-mile drive to New Haven earlier in the month).

Following a 12-man rookie class in 2018-19, Pecknold's team features 10 freshmen plus a redshirt. Among the BCHL-heavy group are Logan Britt, who won a Clark Cup with Sioux Falls (USHL), and Skyler Brind'amour, son of Carolina (and Priskie's new) head coach Ron.

Closing Thoughts: At one time Quinnipiac was a nice surprise. Now, after the past decade, the Bobcats are a team not surprised to be in the conversation as a program most likely to win its first NCAA title, even if QU isn't the first program to come to mind. (At least out West. I wonder if the same can be said for a western team in a similar position, like a St. Cloud State, out East.)

However, there has to be a twinge of "what if" for Quinnipiac's title hopes last season. In range for a No. 1 seed, the team was different after Fortunato's February injury, missing a key component.

As much as QU will miss its seniors and early departures - when playing without Fortunato and Priskie on defense, the Bobcats were swept by Brown - a reason for the team's success has to do with the young underclassmen stepping up. The entire top line features underclassmen. Wyatt Bonglavanni had 14 goals as a freshman. Odeen Tufto put up 40+ points for a second straight season. Keith Petruzzelli, entering his junior season, in 12 starts last season finished with a .904% save percentage. There's also incoming freshman Evan Fear.

Amidst low expectations, the sleeping giants can rise up and take home a Cleary Cup and more. In another year of losses and a young team, it might depend whether someone like Peter DiLiberatore or one of the freshmen D can join Karlis Cukste and keep the blue line a team strength.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Cornell
Notre Dame
AIC
St. Cloud State
Every Team So Far

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College Hockey Stock Report (May 2019)

Yes, it's the offseason. October continues to be months away from even asking whether it is October yet. That doesn't stop news from happening, however.

Plenty happened in the six weeks since Minnesota Duluth became the first school in 14 years to repeat as men's hockey national champions and two months since Wisconsin defeated Minnesota to win the 2018-19 women's hockey national championship. Even though it's the offseason.

So with it being the end of May, here's a look at what's trending up and what's trending down in college hockey nationally since mid-April in Buffalo.