NCAA Frozen Four Hockey 2023: Schedule, Bracket, Odds, Live Stream, Predictions
The 2023 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament has seen some exciting action so far, and it's all led to an intriguing slate of Frozen Four matchups.
This year's Frozen Four will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The only No. 1 seed to advance to the national semifinal is Minnesota, and it is joined by No. 2 Quinnipiac, No. 3 Michigan and un-seeded Boston University.
None of the teams in this year's Frozen Four have won a national championship in the last decade, increasing the already sky-high motivation for each program.
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Here's the essential information you need to know heading into the 2023 Frozen Four.
Frozen Four Schedule, Odds
Schedule
Thursday, April 6
No. 1 Minnesota (-1.5) vs. Boston University, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
No. 3 Michigan (-1.5) vs. No. 2 Quinnipiac, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Saturday, April 8
Championship game, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Games can be streamed live on the ESPN app
Odds to Win Championship
Minnesota: +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
Michigan: +255
Quinnipiac: +390
Boston University: +390
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
No. 1 Minnesota vs. Boston University
One of college hockey's longtime rivalries is set to be reignited once again, this time on the national stage.
Minnesota and Boston University have played each other just 26 times over the years, with both teams holding 12 wins each and two games ending in ties. The two programs were involved in one of the most infamous brawls in the history of college hockey during the 1976 national semifinal.
When the two teams meet this time around, it will be a clash of two of the hottest squads in the nation. The top-seeded Golden Gophers cruised through the regionals with a 9-2 win over Canisius and a 4-1 win over St. Cloud State to reach their second straight Frozen Four. The unranked Terriers are back in the national semifinal for the first time since 2015 after defeating Western Michigan 5-1 and surprisingly edging Cornell 2-1.
Minnesota boasts two of the three Hobey Baker Award finalists in Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies. Along with Jimmy Snuggerud, they make up arguably the best first line in the nation. The Golden Gophers have exceptional depth with Jaxon Nelson, Bryce Brodzinski and Rhett Pitlick. The team's defense is just as strong, led by goalie Justen Close and defensemen Brock Faber, Jackson LaCombe and Mike Koster.
Minnesota's 4.2 goals per game is tied with Michigan for most in the nation, and its 2.2 goals allowed is the second-lowest mark out of the Frozen Four teams.
While the Terriers may not boast the same star power as the Golden Gophers, they have a well-balanced team that is playing its best hockey at the perfect time. Freshman defenseman Lane Hutson is the face of the team, and he headlines a unit that includes stout goaltender Drew Commesso and defenders Dom Fensore, Ty Gallagher and Cade Webber.
Still, this tournament feels like it's Minnesota's to lose. The Golden Gophers are on a mission to avenge last year's Frozen Four loss and win their first national title since 2003.
Prediction: Minnesota wins
No. 2 Quinnipiac vs. No. 3 Michigan
The second semifinal pits an unstoppable force against an immovable object.
The second-seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats are the best defensive team remaining in the tournament, allowing the fewest goals per game (1.5) while also killing 86.1 percent of penalties. The Bobcats reached their first Frozen Four since 2016 thanks to a 5-0 win over Merrimack and a 4-1 win over Ohio State.
On the other side, the third-seeded Michigan Wolverines are an offensive powerhouse with an experienced group playing in its second straight Frozen Four. Michigan notched an 11-1 win over Colgate and a 2-1 overtime victory over Penn State.
Quinnipiac is led by Collin Graf, one of the top freshman forwards in the nation, and a strong forward group that includes Ethan De Jong, Samuel Lipkin and Jacob Quillan. The defense is spearheaded by sophomore goaltender Yaniv Perets, who is a top-three finalist for the Mike Richter Award for the second straight season.
However, Perets still has the memory of Michigan putting up seven goals on him and the Bobcats in last year's regional round. This time, the Wolverines are even more loaded thanks to star freshman Adam Fantilli, who is the third finalist for the Hobey Baker Award after leading the nation in scoring. With top-notch defenseman Luke Hughes anchoring the back line, the Wolverines are a balanced squad that is motivated to make it to the national championship for the first time since 2011.
While Quinnipiac's defense has stifled the competition so far, the team has yet to face an offensive unit of Michigan's caliber. The Wolverines have already proved to have the blueprint to defeat the Bobcats, and there will likely be a similar outcome this year.
Prediction: Michigan wins
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