UMD Men's Hockey to Face Penn State in Regional Semifinal

Bulldogs earn two seed, look to continue NCAA Tournament success

Mar. 23, 2026 at 2:04am

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The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team has earned the two seed in their region and will face off against the three seed Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament. The other matchup in the region is between top-seeded Michigan and Bentley.

Why it matters

UMD has a strong history of success in the NCAA Tournament, having never lost a first round game since the tournament switched to a regional format in 1987-88. The Bulldogs are looking to make another deep run after losing in the second round last season.

The details

After a tough overtime loss to Denver in the NCHC Championship game, the Bulldogs will now prepare to face off against Penn State in the regional semifinal. Puck drop from Albany, New York is set for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

  • The last time UMD was in the tournament was in the 2021-22 season, when they beat Michigan Tech in the first round and lost to Denver in the second.
  • Puck drop from Albany, New York is set for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

The players

University of Minnesota Duluth

The UMD men's hockey team, who earned the two seed in their region for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Penn State

The three seed in the regional, who will face off against UMD in the first round.

Michigan

The top seed in the regional, who will face off against Bentley in the other first round matchup.

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The takeaway

UMD's men's hockey team has a strong history of success in the NCAA Tournament, and they will look to continue that tradition as they face off against Penn State in the regional semifinal. The Bulldogs are aiming to make another deep run in the tournament after falling short in the second round last season.