NCAA Ice Hockey Regional's recap

The 2025 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament regionals have concluded, with Penn State, Boston University, Denver and Western Michigan advancing to the Frozen Four in St. Louis.

The matchups provided high-intensity action and some surprising outcomes as teams fought for a spot in college hockey’s biggest event.

Denver Prevails in Manchester
Defending national champion Denver (29-11-1) secured its return to the Frozen Four with a dominant performance in the Manchester Region.

The third-seeded Pioneers defeated Providence in their opening matchup before dispatching top-seeded Boston College in a hard-fought contest.

Despite entering the tournament as a No. 3 seed, Denver’s experience and depth shone through as they booked their ticket to St. Louis.

Penn State’s Upset Run in Allentown
Penn State delivered one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by emerging from the Allentown Region. The Nittany Lions, an at-large bid, stunned No. 1 seed Maine in the opening round before securing their first-ever Frozen Four appearance with a overtime thriller win against UConn.

Boston University Battles Through Toledo
Boston University demonstrated its championship pedigree by advancing from the Toledo Region. The Terriers faced Ohio State in the opening round, grinding out a win before taking down No. 4 overall seed Cornell in a thrilling regional final.

BU, led by strong goaltending and opportunistic scoring, now looks ahead to the Frozen Four, where they aim to capture their first national title since 2009.

Western Michigan Claims Fargo
Western Michigan, the No. 1 seed in the Fargo Region, validated its top billing by emerging victorious. The Broncos, fresh off their first-ever NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship, edged Minnesota State before eliminating Minnesota to claim their spot in St. Louis.

With momentum on their side, Western Michigan remains a formidable opponent heading into the national semifinals.

With four teams set for the Frozen Four, the stage is now set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament. Denver, Penn State, Boston University and Western Michigan will battle it out for college hockey’s ultimate prize in St. Louis.

Brooke Casey is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact her please email bec5457@psu.edu