College Hockey Conference Races Intensify in March

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As the college hockey regular season enters its final stretch, conference races are heating up across the country. Top leagues like the NCHC and Big Ten are poised to send multiple teams to the NCAA tournament, while other conferences are battling for limited at-large bids. Every weekend is starting to feel like postseason hockey as bubble teams fight for position and conference champions look to lock up automatic bids.

Why it matters

The final weeks of the regular season will be crucial in determining the NCAA tournament field. Conference races are tightening, with top teams jockeying for position and bubble squads trying to bolster their resumes. How teams perform down the stretch could significantly shape the tournament bracket.

The details

In the Big Ten, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State are virtual locks for the NCAA tournament, while Wisconsin is on the bubble. The NCHC has four top-10 teams, with North Dakota, Denver, Western Michigan, and Minnesota Duluth all likely tournament bound. The CCHA is incredibly competitive, with five teams on the bubble, while Hockey East is led by Providence but has other bubble teams in UConn and Boston College. In the ECAC, Quinnipiac is tied for the most wins in the country and will likely earn an at-large bid, while Cornell and Dartmouth will need strong finishes.

• The college hockey regular season is entering its final stretch, with just a few weeks remaining.
• Conference tournaments will take place in the coming weeks, determining automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.

What’s next

Conference tournaments will take place in the coming weeks, determining the automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. Teams on the bubble will need strong finishes to the regular season and deep runs in their conference tournaments to secure at-large bids.