2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament

Last updated

2021 NCAA Division I men's
ice hockey tournament
NCAA 2021 Men's Frozen Four logo.svg
Teams16
Finals site
Champions Massachusetts Minutemen  (1st title)
Runner-up St. Cloud State Huskies  (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coach Greg Carvel  (1st title)
MOP Bobby Trivigno (Massachusetts)
Attendance3,963 (Championship)
11,283 (Frozen Four)
16,985 (Tournament)

The 2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament was the national championship tournament for men's college ice hockey in the United States. It took place between March 26 and April 10, 2021. The tournament involved 16 teams in single-elimination play to determine the national champion at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the highest level of competition in college hockey. The tournament's Frozen Four – the semifinals and finals – was hosted by Robert Morris University at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh from April 8 to 10. [1]

Contents

The SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, was selected to host the Northeast Region, but pulled out on January 26, 2021, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] The Times Union Center in Albany, New York, was selected as a replacement site. [3]

This year's tournament featured, as of 2024, the longest game in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament history, when the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs defeated the North Dakota Fighting Hawks by a score of 3–2 in five overtimes, totaling 142:13 minutes of play, in the West Regional Final.

This tournament's Frozen Four teams were also notable for a number of reasons. First, it was just the second time in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament history in which three of the final four teams came from one state. This first occurred in 1992, when the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, and Lake Superior State Lakers, all from Michigan, made the Frozen Four. In this year’s tournament, three teams came from Minnesota, these teams being the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, St. Cloud State Huskies, and Minnesota State Mavericks. Also, this year's tournament was only the third time since 1992, when Regional Tournaments were first conducted, that no teams ranked no. 1 in their respective Regional Tournament advanced to the Frozen Four. This also occurred in the 1998 and 2007 tournaments.

Tournament procedure

Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Pittsburgh
Blue pog.svg
Bridgeport
Blue pog.svg
Albany
Blue pog.svg
Fargo
Blue pog.svg
Loveland
2021 Regionals (blue) and Frozen Four (red)

The tournament is composed of four groups of four teams in regional brackets. The four regionals are officially named after their geographic areas. [4]

Regional semifinals and finals

East Regional, Webster Bank ArenaBridgeport, Connecticut (Hosts: Sacred Heart and Yale)
Midwest Regional, Scheels ArenaFargo, North Dakota (Host: North Dakota)
Northeast Regional, Times Union CenterAlbany, New York (Hosts: ECAC)
West Regional, Budweiser Events CenterLoveland, Colorado (Host: Denver)

National semifinals and championship (Frozen Four and championship)

PPG Paints ArenaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Host: Robert Morris University)

Qualifying teams

The at-large bids and seeding for each team in the tournament were announced on March 21, 2021. [5]

Typically, teams are seeded according to their PairWise rankings (PWR); however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a severe lack of inter-conference games among the league, using the PWR would not be a reliable representation of overall NCAA standings. As a result, the NCAA Selection Committee awarded seeds manually based on varying factors, including perceived strength of conference and performance against the best teams in conference. Once seeds were determined, matchups were adjusted to prevent teams from the same conference meeting in the first round, as well as minimize the amount of traveling required due to the pandemic.

The NCHC and Big Ten each had four teams receive a berth in the tournament, Hockey East and WCHA each had three teams receive a berth, and one team from Atlantic Hockey and the ECAC each received a berth.

ECAC Tournament champions St. Lawrence earned an autobid but were forced to withdraw from the tournament as a result of a positive COVID-19 test among the team's coaching staff. [6] Quinnipiac was selected to replace St. Lawrence as ECAC's autobid. [7]

On March 25, it was announced that Notre Dame would be forced to withdraw from the tournament due to COVID protocols. [8] As a result, their matchup with Boston College was ruled a no-contest and the Eagles automatically advanced to the Northeast Regional Final. Similarly, on March 26, the NCAA announced Michigan was forced to withdraw as well due to COVID protocols. [9] As a result, Minnesota–Duluth automatically advanced to the Midwest Regional Final.

Midwest Regional – FargoEast Regional – Bridgeport
SeedSchoolConferenceRecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bidSeedSchoolConferenceRecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bid
1 North Dakota (1)NCHC21–5–1 Tournament champion 33rd20171 Wisconsin (4)Big Ten20–9–1At-Large bid26th2014
2 Michigan Big Ten15–10–1At-Large bid38th20182 Massachusetts Hockey East16–5–4 Tournament champion 3rd2019
3 Minnesota Duluth NCHC14–10–2At-Large bid14th20193 Lake Superior State WCHA19–6–3 Tournament champion 11th1996
4 American International Atlantic Hockey15–3–0 Tournament champion 2nd20194 Bemidji State WCHA15–9–3At-Large bid5th2010
West Regional – LovelandNortheast Regional – Albany
SeedSchoolConferenceRecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bidSeedSchoolConferenceRecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bid
1 Minnesota (3)Big Ten23–6–0 Tournament champion 38th20171 Boston College (2)Hockey East17–5–1At-Large bid36th2016
2 Minnesota State WCHA20–4–1At-Large bid7th20192 St. Cloud State NCHC17–10–0At-Large bid15th2019
3 Quinnipiac ECAC17–7–4Replacement Autobid7th20193 Boston University Hockey East10–4–1At-Large bid37th2018
4 Omaha NCHC14–10–1At-Large bid4th20154 Notre Dame Big Ten14–13–2At-Large bid12th2019

Number in parentheses denotes overall seed in the tournament.

Tournament bracket

Regional semifinals
March 26–27
Regional Finals
March 27–28
Semifinals
April 8
Championship
April 10
            
1 North Dakota (1) 5
4 American International 1
1 North Dakota (1) 2
Midwest Fargo – Fri/Sat
3 Minnesota–Duluth 3*****
2 Michigan
3Minnesota–Duluth
MW3 Minnesota–Duluth 2
E2 Massachusetts 3*
1 Wisconsin (4) 3
4 Bemidji State 6
4 Bemidji State 0
East Bridgeport – Fri/Sat
2 Massachusetts 4
2 Massachusetts 5
3 Lake Superior State 1
E2 Massachusetts 5
NE2 St. Cloud State 0
1 Minnesota (3) 7
4 Omaha 2
1 Minnesota (3) 0
West Loveland – Sat/Sun
2 Minnesota State 4
2 Minnesota State 4*
3 Quinnipiac 3
W2 Minnesota State 4
NE2 St. Cloud State 5
1Boston College (2)
4 Notre Dame
1 Boston College (2) 1
Northeast Albany – Sat/Sun
2 St. Cloud State 4
2 St. Cloud State 6
3 Boston University 2

* denotes overtime period
† Michigan and Notre Dame were removed from the tournament due to positive COVID-19 test results. [10] [11]

Results

Midwest Region – Fargo, North Dakota

Regional semifinals

March 26, 2021
7:30 PM
(1) North Dakota5 – 1
(4–0, 0–0, 1–1)
(4) American International Scheels Arena, Fargo, North Dakota
Attendance: 1,435
Game reference
Adam Scheel Goalies Stefano Durante (20 min)
Jake Kucharski (40 min)
Referees:
Robert Lukkason
Brady Johnson
Linesmen:
Tyler Landman
Nathan Voll
(Bernard-Docker, Sanderson) Jasper Weatherby (13) – 08:581–0
(unassisted) Jasper Weatherby (14) – GW – 11:542–0
(Kleven, Caulfield) Grant Mismash (10) – 14:163–0
(Gaber, Bast) Collin Adams (12) – 16:224–0
4–157:46 – Tobias Fladeby (10) (Theodore, Callahan)
(Kawaguchi) Collin Adams (13) – 58:085–1
12 minPenalties12 min
33Shots25
March 26, 2021(2) MichiganNo contest(3) Minnesota–Duluth

Regional Final

March 27, 2021
6:30 PM
(1) North Dakota2 – 3 (5OT)
(0–0, 0–0, 2–2, 0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–1)
(3) Minnesota–DuluthScheels Arena, Fargo, North Dakota
Attendance: 1,494
Game reference
Adam Scheel Goalies Zach Stejskal (124:37)
Ryan Fanti (17:36)
Referees:
Joe Carusone
C. J. Hanifin
Linesmen:
Ryan Knapp
Brian Oliver
0–143:21 – Jackson Cates (11) (Lellig, Bender)
0–244:41 – Cole Koepke (14) (unassisted)
(Weatherby, Pinto) Collin Adams (14) – EA – 58:191–2
(Pinto, Kiersted) Jordan Kawaguchi (10) – EA – 59:032–2
2–3142:13 – GWLuke Mylymok (2) (unassisted)
6 minPenalties6 min
65Shots54

Northeast Region – Albany, New York

Regional semifinals

March 27, 2021(1) Boston CollegeNo contest(4) Notre Dame
March 27, 2021
1:00 PM
(2) St. Cloud State6 – 2
(0–0, 3–2, 3–0)
(3) Boston University Times Union Center, Albany, New York
Attendance: 1,136
Game reference
Dávid Hrenák Goalies Drew Commesso Referees:
Colin Kronfrost
Brett DesRosiers
Linesmen:
Sam Shikowsky
Nick Bradshaw
0–120:08 – Wilmer Skoog (4) (Cockerill)
(Walker, Trejbal) Micah Miller (2) – 32:141–1
(Hammer, Kupka) Nick Perbix (7) – 33:292–1
2–235:28 – PPJake Wise (9) (Tuch)
(Walker) Easton Brodzinski (12) – GW – 36:003–2
(unassisted) Jami Krannila (11) – SH PS – 44:174–2
(Walker) Easton Brodzinski (13) – 50:045–2
(Bushy, Krannila) Veeti Miettinen (11) – 55:026–2
23 minPenalties21 min
38Shots36

Regional Final

March 28, 2021
5:30
(1) Boston College1 – 4
(1–0, 0–3, 0–1)
(2) St. Cloud StateTimes Union Center, Albany, New York
Attendance: 1,136
Game reference
Spencer Knight Goalies Dávid Hrenák Referees:
Ryan Sweeney
Mike Schubert
Linesmen:
Joe Sherman
Anthony Valley
(Newhook, Hardman) Matt Boldy (11) – 14:231–0
1–129:21 – Luke Jaycox (1) (Okabe, Krannila)
1–235:15 – GWWill Hammer (2) (Perbix, Cockrell)
1–339:15 – Nolan Walker (9) (Perbix)
1–459:15 – ENMicah Miller (3) (Bushy)
2 minPenalties4 min
27Shots36

West Region – Loveland, Colorado

Regional semifinals

March 27, 2021
8:00 PM
(1) Minnesota7 – 2
(3–1, 3–0, 1–1)
(4) Omaha Budweiser Events Center, Loveland, Colorado
Attendance: 125
Game reference
Jack LaFontaine Goalies Isaiah Saville (27:13)
Austin Roden (32:47)
Referees:
Scott Hansen
Walker Holton
Linesmen:
Kevin Briganti
Kyle Richetelle
(Munson, Faber) Mason Nevers (1) – 05:481–0
(Faber, Johnson) Jack Perbix (4) – 15:352–0
(McLaughlin, Walker) Scott Reedy (11) – GW – 17:363–0
3–118:04 – Taylor Ward (12) (Weiss, Scanlin)
(Faber, Meyers) Ryan Johnson (2) – 20:414–1
(LaCombe, Brodzinski) Ben Meyers (12) – 27:135–1
(Ranta, Faber) Mason Nevers (2) – 36:136–1
6–243:05 – Taylor Ward (13) (Weiss, Proctor)
(Nelson, Faber) Sampo Ranta (19) – 44:177–2
2 minPenalties4 min
30Shots28
March 27, 2021
2:00 PM
(2) Minnesota State4 – 3 (OT)
(0–2, 1–0, 2–1, 1–0)
(3) Quinnipiac Budweiser Events Center, Loveland, Colorado
Attendance: 101
Game reference
Dryden McKay Goalies Keith Petruzzelli Referees:
Tony Czech
Brett Sheva
Linesmen:
Justin Cornell
Pat Richardson
0–103:00 – Odeen Tufto (8) (Räsänen)
0–215:35 – Peter DiLiberatore (5) (van Nes, Fillion)
(Napravnik) Jake Jaremko (4) – PP – 38:091–2
1–348:54 – C. J. McGee (1) (Miller, Harris)
(Gerads, Aamodt) Nathan Smith (6) – 54:542–3
(Livingstone) Cade Borchardt (9) – EA – 58:583–3
(Furry, Lutz) Ryan Sandelin (6) – GW – 71:134–3
6 minPenalties4 min
38Shots30

Regional Final

March 28, 2021
6:00
(1) Minnesota0 – 4
(0–2, 0–0, 0–2)
(2) Minnesota StateBudweiser Events Center, Loveland, Colorado
Attendance: 175
Game reference
Jack LaFontaine Goalies Dryden McKay Referees:
Peter Schlittenhardt
Jeremy Tufts
Linesmen:
William Kingdom
Nicholas Briganti
0–110:23 – GWSam Morton (5) (Sandelin, Zmolek)
0–212:30 – Ryan Sandelin (7) (McNeely, Furry)
0–349:50 – Nathan Smith (7) (Borchardt, Napravnik)
0–457:41 – ENDallas Gerads (8) (Aamodt)
6 minPenalties8 min
22Shots27

East Region – Bridgeport, Connecticut

Regional semifinals

March 26, 2021
1:00 PM
(1) Wisconsin3 – 6
(0–2, 1–2, 2–2)
(4) Bemidji State Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Attendance: 0
Game reference
Robbie Beydoun (40 min)
Cameron Rowe (20 min)
Goalies Zach Driscoll Referees:
Brendan Blanchard
Chris Leavitt
Linesmen:
Bob Griffin
Brendan Lewis
0–106:33 – Ross Armour (5) (Rosén)
0–219:44 – Elias Rosén (5) (unassisted)
(C. Caufield, Pelton-Byce) Linus Weissbach (12) – PP – 22:381–2
1–334:42 – Ethan Somoza (3) (Miller, Harris)
1–438:39 – SH GWOwen Sillinger (10) (unassisted)
1–546:08 – Ethan Somoza (3) (Harris)
(Holloway, Pelton-Byce) Cole Caufield (29) – PP – 48:192–5
(Ahcan, Vorlicky) Cole Caufield (30) – 54:563–5
3–659:58 – ENBrendan Harris (9) (Somoza)
6 minPenalties12 min
33Shots40
March 26, 2021
6:30 PM
(2) Massachusetts5 – 1
(1–1, 2–0, 2–0)
(3) Lake Superior State Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Attendance: 100
Game reference
Filip Lindberg Goalies Mareks Mitens Referees:
Dan Dreger
Joseph Sullivan
Linesmen:
Tony Anderson
Dana Penkivech
(Harding, Jones) Jake Gaudet (4) – 10:071–0
1–117:14 – Ashton Calder (16) (Veillette, Nordqvist)
(Trivigno) Josh Lopina (9) – GW – 31:032–1
(Farmer, Chau) Carson Gicewicz (14) – 33:003–1
(Chau, Jones) Jake Gaudet (5) – 50:494–1
(Jones) Anthony Del Gaizo (1) – 55:475–1
12 minPenalties8 min
37Shots31

Regional Final

March 27, 2021
4:00 PM
(2) Massachusetts4 – 0
(2–0, 1–0, 1–0)
(4) Bemidji StateWebster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Attendance: 0
Game reference
Filip Lindberg Goalies Zach Driscoll Referees:
Nick Krebsbach
Ryan Hersey
Linesmen:
Tyler Liffrig
Justin Hills
(Chau, Bohlinger) Carson Gicewicz (15) – SH GW – 14:241–0
(Kessel) Carson Gicewicz (16) – 19:082–0
(Gaudet, M. Del Gaizo) Carson Gicewicz (17) – 26:343–0
(M. Del Gaizo) Oliver Chau (5) – EN – 56:564–0
23 minPenalties6 min
28Shots18

Frozen Four – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

National semifinal

April 8, 2021
5:00 PM
(W2) Minnesota State4 – 5
(1–2, 2–1, 1–2)
(NE2) St. Cloud State PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 3,660
Game reference
Dryden McKay Goalies Dávid Hrenák Referees:
Peter Schlittenhardt
Jeremy Tufts
Linesmen:
Nicholas Briganti
William Kingdon
0–103:18 – PPSpencer Meier (4) (Okabe, Fitzgerald)
(Hirose, Napravnik) Nathan Smith (8) – PP – 16:091–1
1–216:19 – Kyler Kupka (3) (Walker, Hentges)
1–322:40 – Will Hammer (3) (unassisted)
(Gerads, Carroll) Walker Duehr (10) – 32:072–3
(Morton, Hirose) Nathan Smith (9) – PP – 34:243–3
(Duehr) Dallas Gerads (9) – 44:184–3
4–450:14 – Joe Molenaar (1) (Hammer, Meier)
4–559:06 – GWNolan Walker (4) (Donohue, Kupka)
2 minPenalties4 min
29Shots22
April 8, 2021
9:00 PM
(E2) Massachusetts3 – 2 (OT)
(1–1, 0–1, 1–0, 1–0)
(MW3) Minnesota Duluth PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 3,660
Game reference
Matt Murray Goalies Zach Stejskal Referees:
Brett DesRosiers
Brett Sheva
Linesmen:
Justin Cornell
Pat Richardson
(Kessel, Chau) Zac Jones (9) – PP – 15:331–0
1–117:50 – Tanner Laderoute (3) (Olson, Kelley)
1–231:01 – Cole Koepke (15) (Cates, Swaney)
(Lopina, Trivigno) Anthony Del Gaizo (2) – 48:252–2
(Trivigno, Lopina) Garrett Wait (9) – GW – 74:303–2
2 minPenalties4 min
28Shots38

2021 National Championship

(E2) Massachusetts vs. (NE2) St. Cloud State

April 10, 2021
7:00 PM
(E2) Massachusetts5 – 0(NE2) St. Cloud State PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 3,963
Game reference
Scoring summary
PeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore
1stUMA Aaron Bohlinger (1) – GWSullivan and Farmer7:261–0 UMA
UMA Reed Lebster (2)Kiefiuk18:562–0 UMA
2ndUMA Philip Lagunov (6) – SHunassisted25:103–0 UMA
UMA Matthew Kessel (10) – PPChau and Gaudet33:454–0 UMA
3rdUMA Bobby Trivigno (11)Lebster46:005–0 UMA
Penalty summary
PeriodTeamPlayer Penalty TimePIM
1stUMA Anthony Del Gaizo Slashing15:272:00
2ndSTC Seamus Donohue Tripping20:242:00
UMA Ryan Sullivan Tripping23:572:00
UMA Jake Gaudet Elbowing30:312:00
STCBench (served by Zach Okabe)Too many men on the ice32:352:00
3rdNone

All-Tournament team

* Most Outstanding Player(s)

Record by conference

ConferenceBidsRecordWin %Regional FinalsFrozen FourChampionship GameChampions
NCHC 45–4.556321
Big Ten 41–2.3331
Hockey East 34–2.6672111
WCHA 33–3.50021
Atlantic Hockey 10–1.000
ECAC Hockey 10–1.000

Note: Two regional semifinal games were declared 'No Contest' and the four teams involved were not credited with a win or a loss in those games.

Media

Television

ESPN had US television rights to all games during the tournament for the sixteenth consecutive year. [12] ESPN aired every game, beginning with the regionals, on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, and ESPN3, which were streamed online via WatchESPN.

Broadcast assignments

Regionals

Frozen Four

  • John Buccigross, Barry Melrose, Colby Cohen, and Quint Kessenich – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Radio

Westwood One had exclusive radio rights to the Frozen Four and broadcast both the semifinals and the championship. [13]

References

  1. "2019–22 NCAA Championship Sites". NCAA.com.
  2. "New Hampshire, SNHU Arena withdraw from hosting 2021 Northeast Regional championship". College Hockey. January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  3. Myers, Jess (February 22, 2021). "NCAA hockey chair: regional and Frozen Four attendance capped at 25% of building capacity". Brainerd Dispatch. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  4. "NCAA announces DI men's ice hockey regional sites for 2020 and 2021". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  5. "2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey championship selections announced". NCAA.com. March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  6. "St. Lawrence Withdraws From NCAAs Over Positive COVID-19 Test". College Hockey News. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  7. "2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey championship selections announced". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  8. "BC advances in NCAA men's hockey tournament as Notre Dame has to forfeit Saturday's game - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  9. Paul, Tony; Bianchi, Nolan. "UM hockey forced out of NCAA Tournament because of positive tests". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  10. "Notre Dame Hockey Removed from NCAA Tournament". Notre Dame Athletics. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  11. "Ice Hockey Removed from NCAA Tournament Due to COVID Protocols". Michigan Athletics. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  12. Margolis, Rachel (December 15, 2011). "ESPN and NCAA® Extend Rights Agreement through 2023-24". ESPN. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  13. "NCAA, Westwood One extend deal". NCAA. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.