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UND Men's Hockey Earns No. 2 Seed in NCAA Tournament
Fighting Hawks to Face Merrimack in Opening Round
Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:28am
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The University of North Dakota men's hockey team earned a No. 2 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will face Merrimack in the opening round on March 26 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. UND is making its 36th tournament appearance and will look to add to its 22 Frozen Four appearances and 8 national championships.
Why it matters
UND is one of the most successful college hockey programs in the country, having won 7 conference regular season titles and making the NCAA Tournament over 30 times. Their deep tournament run would be a major point of pride for the school and the state of North Dakota.
The details
The Fighting Hawks finished the regular season with a 27-9-1 record and won the NCHC regular season championship, earning them the No. 2 overall seed and the top seed in the Sioux Falls regional. They will face off against Merrimack, the No. 4 seed in the regional, in the opening round on March 26.
- The NCAA Tournament field was announced on March 22, 2026.
- The UND vs. Merrimack game will be played on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 7:30 PM.
The players
University of North Dakota
A public research university located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, known for its successful men's ice hockey program which has won 8 national championships.
Merrimack College
A private Catholic university located in North Andover, Massachusetts, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in men's ice hockey.
What’s next
The winner of the UND-Merrimack game will advance to the regional final on March 28 to face the winner of the other first round matchup in the Sioux Falls regional.
The takeaway
UND's consistent excellence in men's hockey has earned them another high seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they will look to add to their storied postseason history and compete for another national championship.
