Michigan Earns No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament, to Face Colgate

Michigan Earns No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament, to Face Colgate

• NCAA Bracket

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan ice hockey team is a No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament as announced Sunday (March 19) on the NCAA Selection Show. Michigan (24-11-3) will take on No. 4 seed Colgate (19-15-5) in the Allentown, Pa., Regional at 8:30 p.m., Friday (March 24) at PPL Center and on ESPNU.

No. 2 seed and host Penn State and No. 3 seed Michigan Tech will meet in the other regional semifinal. The Allentown Regional’s two semifinal winners will play on Sunday (March 26) for a spot in the Frozen Four, scheduled for April 6-8 in Tampa, Fla.

This is the second consecutive season and fifth time overall that Michigan has been a one seed since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2003.

An automatic NCAA entry by virtue of winning the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan earns the program’s 40th bid to the NCAA Tournament, the most in NCAA history. The Wolverines boast a 55-31 record in the NCAA Tournament, including a record nine national championships.

Michigan has been ranked in the top 10 all season, and in the top five since Feb. 6. The Wolverines finished second in the Big Ten Conference standings and earned the No. 2 seed in the league tournament. En route to its third Big Ten Tournament title, Michigan swept Wisconsin in its quarterfinal series, defeated Ohio State 7-3 in the semifinal round and won 4-3 at Minnesota in the championship game Saturday (March 18).

Michigan NCAA Tournament Notes

• This is Michigan’s 40th NCAA Tournament appearance, tied for the most with Minnesota.

• Michigan has a 55-31 (.640) all-time record in the NCAA Tournament.

• Michigan was the No. 1 overall seed in 2022 and 2008 and was the fourth No. 1 seed in 2009 and 2012. Michigan has been a No. 2 seed in 2004, ’05, ’07, ’11, ’16, ’18 and ’21.

• U-M has 26 Frozen Four appearances, the most in college hockey. That includes a stretch of 10 consecutive appearances from 1948-57.

• Michigan owns nine national championships, most in Division I ice hockey (1948, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’55, ’56, ’64, ’96, ’98). The last national title came in 1998 when U-M defeated Boston College 3-2 in overtime.

• The Wolverines have made 12…