10 Players to Watch as NCAA Hockey Tournament Approaches

Boston College's James Hagens and Michigan State's Porter Martone among top scorers heading into conference tournaments

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:00am

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As the stretch run to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament begins, several players have emerged as ones to watch, including Boston College sophomore James Hagens, who has points in 12 straight games, and Michigan State freshman Porter Martone, who is tied for fifth in scoring nationally. Other players highlighted include Bentley's Jake Black, Cornell's Jonathan Castagna, and UMass goaltender Michael Hrabal.

Why it matters

The conference tournaments will determine the automatic bids to the 16-team NCAA Tournament field, which will be announced on March 22. These players have been key contributors for their teams and could play a major role in their squads' postseason success and potential NCAA Tournament runs.

The details

The conference tournament champions will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, which will feature regional games in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Worcester, Massachusetts; Albany, New York; and Loveland, Colorado, before the Frozen Four takes place in Las Vegas on April 11 and 13. Several of the highlighted players, including Hagens, Martone, and Hrabal, were NHL draft picks, underscoring the high-level talent on display as teams vie for a spot in the national championship tournament.

  • The conference tournament games begin this week.
  • The 16-team NCAA Tournament field will be announced on March 22.
  • The NCAA regional games will take place on March 26-27.
  • The Frozen Four is scheduled for April 11 and 13 in Las Vegas.

The players

Jake Black

A senior forward at Bentley University who led the team to the regular season title in Atlantic Hockey. He had a two-goal, two-assist game that included the game-winning goal in triple overtime of the Atlantic Hockey tournament quarterfinals.

Jonathan Castagna

A junior forward at Cornell University who leads the team with 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) and a plus-25 rating in 29 games. He was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2023 NHL Draft and later traded to the Calgary Flames.

James Hagens

A 19-year-old sophomore forward at Boston College who has 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists) during a 12-game point streak, giving him a team-leading 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) in 32 games. He has played for the United States at the past two IIHF World Junior Championships and was a first-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Michael Hrabal

A 21-year-old junior goaltender at the University of Massachusetts who is 18-8-1 with a 2.02 goals-against average, .935 save percentage, and four shutouts in 27 games this season. He was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award as college hockey's top goaltender.

Porter Martone

A 19-year-old freshman forward at Michigan State University who leads the team and is tied for fifth nationally with 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) in 32 games. He was the captain for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

As the NCAA Tournament approaches, these players have emerged as key contributors for their teams, showcasing the high-level talent on display in college hockey. Their performances could play a pivotal role in determining which squads earn a spot in the national championship tournament.