March Madness isn’t just for basketball—college hockey fans are getting a full dose of drama and excitement in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with Western Michigan and Michigan both making headlines for their performances and prospects. As the tournament heats up, all eyes are on the nation’s top teams, standout players, and a few surprises shaking up the traditional pecking order.
Michigan’s hockey program, boasting a 29-7-1 record, enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. The Wolverines are fresh off a commanding 7-3 victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament championship, further cementing their status as the country’s top-scoring team with a defense ranked in the top 15 nationally. This combination of firepower and defensive grit has many believing that Michigan could finally end its 27-year national title drought. As MLive’s Ryan Zuke put it on the “Wolverine Confidential” podcast, “Michigan has all the ingredients of going on a deep run. High-end talent with the likes of TJ Hughes, who I think is probably the frontrunner to win the Hobey Baker Award. Michael Hage, a first round pick – they have some others too, but they’re deep, especially up front. They can roll all four lines. They have a true No. 1 goalie in Jack Ivankovic, which goaltending has been an issue for them in the tournament in the past.”
The Wolverines open their tournament journey against No. 16 seed Bentley, the Atlantic Hockey champion. Bentley, ranked No. 23 in the NPI, would not have qualified for the tournament without their league title. While upsets are always a threat in March, history is on Michigan’s side—since the current format began in 2003, only three 16 seeds have toppled a No. 1 seed in the first round. Zuke described the matchup as “essentially a ‘bye’ for the Wolverines,” but in college hockey, nothing is ever truly guaranteed.
What makes Michigan’s path even more intriguing is the absence of several NCAA hockey bluebloods. For the first time in years, Boston College, Boston University, and Minnesota—all of whom began the season as top-10 teams—missed the tournament entirely. It’s a rare window of opportunity for the Wolverines, as Zuke noted: “It’s like, man, if you want to end this drought, this is the year to do it.”
Meanwhile, Western Michigan is scripting its own compelling narrative. The defending national champions advanced to the NCAA Regional Final with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Minnesota State in Loveland, Colorado. Friday’s win marked the Broncos’ 27th of the season and set up a regional final showdown with No. 2 seed Denver, who dispatched Cornell 5-0 in their own semifinal.
Against Minnesota State, Western Michigan found its stride in the second period. Zaccharya Wisdom broke the deadlock just over two minutes in, deflecting a hard shot from distance for his 17th goal of the season. Six minutes later, Zach Bookman fired home his fourth goal of the year from the blue line, doubling the Broncos’ lead. Goalie Hampton Slukynsky was a rock all game, making 23 saves and coming up especially big in the first period with a highlight-reel stop late in the frame. As Owen Michaels said postgame on ESPNU, “He means everything. He gives us so much. I wouldn’t rather have any other guy in those pipes than him. He’s so good, he’s so cool, calm and collected. Like I said, just gives us so much confidence playing in front of him.”
Despite Minnesota State’s best efforts, including a goal from Alex Zetterberg early in the third to cut the deficit to 2-1, Western Michigan’s defense held firm. The Mavericks kept the pressure on, especially during a tense power play midway through the third, but Slukynsky and his defensemen weathered the storm. With just six seconds left, Owen Michaels sealed the win with an empty-netter—his 13th goal of the season—sending the Broncos to Sunday’s regional final against Denver.
Western Michigan’s players and coaches know the road only gets tougher from here. “We got it done,” Michaels reflected. “We knew what to expect. It wasn’t going to be easy. There wasn’t a lot of space out there. They play the game so hard, they got a great goaltender, great D. Two good teams going at it, that’s what you get this time of year, it was a lot of fun.” The Broncos are now just one win away from a second straight Frozen Four appearance—a feat that would further solidify their status among college hockey’s elite.
Denver, their next opponent, is no slouch. With a 26-11-3 record and a convincing 5-0 win over Cornell, the Pioneers are hungry for another deep tournament run. The regional final is set for Sunday, March 29, at the Blue Arena in Loveland, with the exact time still to be determined. The winner will punch their ticket to the Frozen Four, keeping championship dreams alive for at least one more week.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament has already delivered its share of storylines. Michigan’s quest to recapture the glory of 1998, powered by stars like TJ Hughes and Michael Hage, is one of the most closely watched in the country. The Wolverines’ ability to roll four deep lines and rely on a top-tier goalie in Jack Ivankovic gives them an edge, but as history has shown, nothing comes easy in March.
Western Michigan, on the other hand, is proving that last year’s championship was no fluke. With clutch performances from Wisdom, Bookman, and Slukynsky, the Broncos are showing the kind of resilience and poise that makes champions. The locker room is focused, with Michaels noting, “We’ve gotta worry about ourselves first. Make sure we’re taking care of our bodies, make sure we’re ready to go on Sunday.”
It’s not just hockey where Michigan is making waves. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams have reached the Sweet 16 in their respective NCAA Tournaments, adding to the buzz around Ann Arbor and energizing the fanbase. The Wolverines are enjoying a banner year across multiple sports, and the excitement is palpable on campus and beyond.
As the weekend approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling set of regional finals. Will Michigan capitalize on its favorable bracket and end nearly three decades of frustration? Can Western Michigan continue its title defense and return to the Frozen Four? With so much on the line, fans won’t want to miss a minute of the action.
For now, both teams are exactly where they want to be—alive in the chase for college hockey’s ultimate prize, with everything still to play for.