UPDATE: Just six weeks remain in the 2025-26 NCAA Division I women’s hockey regular season, and both the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s and women’s teams are in critical positions for NCAA tournament bids. With the playoffs fast approaching, every game counts for the Bulldogs as they aim to secure their spots.
The Bulldogs women’s team, currently facing an uphill battle, ended their nonconference schedule with a 4-2 record. Their losses to Harvard and Quinnipiac in Northern Ireland have put them on the tournament bubble, needing strong performances in the second half of the season to clinch a sixth consecutive NCAA tournament berth. As of now, teams ranked between No. 8-10 are in position to qualify, but surprises from conference tournaments could derail their hopes.
Meanwhile, the UMD men’s team is in a much stronger position, boasting a 9-1 nonconference record with their only loss coming against a potential NCAA tournament team, Augustana. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) is once again leading the way, with four teams in the top 11 and three in the top five, all competing for No. 1 seeds.
As teams prepare for the final stretch, here’s a look at the projected brackets for both the men’s and women’s tournaments:
Women’s Tournament Projections:
– **Madison, Wisconsin Regional**
– 1. Wisconsin*
– 8. Princeton* vs. 9. Minnesota Duluth
– **Columbus, Ohio Regional**
– 2. Ohio State
– 7. Northeastern* vs. 10. Cornell
– **Minneapolis, Minnesota Regional**
– 3. Minnesota
– 6. Quinnipiac vs. 11. Saint Anselm
– **University Park, Pennsylvania Regional**
– 5. UConn vs. 4. Penn State*
Men’s Tournament Projections:
– **Albany, New York Regional**
– 1. Michigan* vs. 16. Bentley*
– 8. Penn State vs. 9. Cornell
– **Loveland, Colorado Regional**
– 2. North Dakota* vs. 15. UConn*
– 7. Dartmouth vs. 11. Denver
– **Worcester, Massachusetts Regional**
– 3. Wisconsin vs. 14. St. Thomas*
– 6. Michigan State vs. 10. Quinnipiac*
– **Sioux Falls, South Dakota Regional**
– 4. Minnesota Duluth vs. 13. Providence
– 5. Western Michigan vs. 12. Augustana
As the regular season enters its final phase, every match will be crucial for both teams. The Bulldogs will need to capitalize on their upcoming games to boost their rankings and secure a favorable position in the NCAA tournaments.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on UMD’s journey as momentum builds in the college hockey landscape. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely—this season is shaping up to be one for the history books!
