The annual NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is a college ice hockey tournament held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the top men's team in Division I. Like other Division I championships, it is the highest level of NCAA men's hockey competition. This tournament is somewhat unique among NCAA sports as many schools which otherwise compete in Division II or Division III compete in Division I for hockey.

Since 1999, the semi-finals and championship game of the tournament have been branded as the "Frozen Four"—a reference to the NCAA's long-time branding of its basketball semi-finals as the "Final Four".

History

The NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championship is a single elimination competition that has determined the collegiate national champion since the inaugural 1948 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament. The tournament features 16 teams representing all six Division I conferences in the nation. The Championship Committee seeds the entire field from 1 to 16 within four regionals of 4 teams. The winners of the six Division I conference championships receive automatic bids to participate in the NCAA Championship. The tournament begins with initial games played at four regional sites culminating with the semi-finals and finals played at a single site.

In setting up the tournament, the Championship Committee seeks to ensure "competitive equity, financial success and likelihood of playoff-type atmosphere at each regional site." A team serving as the host of a regional is placed within that regional. The top four teams are assigned overall seeds and placed within the bracket such that the national semifinals will feature the No. 1 seed versus the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed versus the No. 3 seed should the top four teams win their respective regional finals. Number 1 seeds are also placed as close to their home site as possible, with the No. 1 seed receiving first preference. Conference matchups are avoided in the first round; should five or more teams from one conference make the tournament, this guideline may be disregarded in favor of preserving the bracket's integrity.

Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado hosted the tournament for the first ten years and has hosted eleven times overall, the most of any venue. Michigan and Denver Pioneers had won the most tournaments with nine, while Vic Heyliger has coached the most championship teams, winning six times with Michigan between 1948 and 1956.

The 2020 championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tournament format history

1948–1976
4 teams (1 game series)
1977–1980
5–6 teams (1 game series)
1981–1987
8 teams (2 game, total goals first round at higher seed)
1988
12 teams (2 game, total goals first two rounds at higher seed)
1989–1991
12 teams (best of 3 games first two rounds series at higher seed)
1992–2002
12 teams (divided into 2 regionals, East Regional and West Regional; 6 teams each)
2003–present
16 teams (divided into 4 regionals: Northeast, East, Midwest, and West Regionals: 4 teams each)
アメリカのアイスホッケー大会「NCAAH」は、全米大学体育協会(NCAA)によって主催されるエキサイティングなイベントです。このトーナメントは、アメリカの大学チームが参加し、優勝を目指して競い合います。

NCAAHは、アメリカのアイスホッケー界で最も権威のある大会の一つとして知られており、毎年多くの観客を魅了しています。トーナメントは、数週間にわたって行われ、各チームは地域予選を勝ち抜いて進出します。

NCAAHでは、アメリカのトップ大学チームが一堂に会し、熱い戦いを繰り広げます。選手たちは高い技術とスキルを持ちながら、チームワークと戦略を駆使して試合に臨みます。激しいスケーティング、正確なパス、鋭いシュートが繰り広げられ、観客はその迫力に圧倒されます。

NCAAHは、アイスホッケーファンにとっては見逃せない大会であり、将来のNHLスター選手の発掘の場でもあります。多くの試合がテレビ中継され、全米各地から観客が集まります。

アメリカのアイスホッケーの未来を担う若き選手たちが、NCAAHで熱い戦いを繰り広げる様子は、スポーツの魅力と情熱を感じさせてくれます。NCAAHは、アイスホッケーファンにとっては絶対に見逃せない大会です。