The 2025 Men`s Frozen Four, which is the final stage of the NCAA hockey tournament, will feature two experienced teams and two newcomers. The semifinal games will pit familiar rivals against new opponents.
The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday at 5 PM and 8:30 PM ET at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The winners will compete for the championship on Saturday at 7:30 PM. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN2 and available for streaming on ESPN+.
The first semifinal on Thursday will see the reigning national champion Denver, aiming to defend their title, play against Western Michigan, a team from the same NCHC conference making their Frozen Four debut. These teams have played three times this season. Western Michigan defeated Denver in double overtime in the NCHC championship after they split their two regular-season games.
The other semifinal match will be between Boston University, in their third consecutive national semifinal appearance, and Penn State, who are making their Frozen Four debut. This will be the first time Boston University and Penn State have played against each other.
Western Michigan is the only top-four seed to reach the Frozen Four this year, marking the first time since 2011 that only one of the top seeds has advanced this far. Boston College, Michigan State, and Maine were all eliminated in the regional rounds.
In terms of NHL draft picks, the Frozen Four teams have a total of 38 players drafted. Boston University leads with 14, Denver has 13, Western Michigan has 8, and Penn State has 3.
Below is an analysis of what each of the four teams needs to do to win the national championship. This includes insights from ESPN college hockey experts Colby Cohen and Andrew Raycroft, as well as key statistics from ESPN research and players to watch.
Denver (31-11-1)
How Denver Got Here: As the No. 3 seed in the Manchester Regional, Denver easily defeated Providence 5-1. They then defeated the No. 1 overall seed, Boston College, 3-1 in a rematch of the previous year`s national championship game. Denver took an early 2-0 lead in the second period before Boston College scored late in the period. However, Denver goalie Matt Davis made 15 saves in the third period before Zeev Buium secured the win with an empty-net goal.
Key Stats: A national championship would be Denver`s 11th, and it would be their fourth time winning back-to-back titles and their third title in four years. The Pioneers have achieved at least 30 wins for the fourth consecutive season. Jack Devine (13 goals, 44 assists) and Aidan Thompson (20 goals, 34 assists) are ranked first and second nationally in points, while Zeev Buium (13 goals, 35 assists) leads all defensemen in points.
Denver`s Path to Victory
Strong Backchecking: Denver`s forwards are excellent at tracking back through the middle of the ice. This puts significant pressure on opponents trying to transition through the neutral zone and attack off the rush. This allows Denver`s defense to maintain tight gaps and force turnovers. When Denver pressures the puck like they did in the regionals, they are very difficult to defeat.
Special Teams Excellence: Denver`s power play is operating at an impressive 30% success rate. In a single-elimination tournament with potentially low-scoring games, a power-play goal can be crucial. Denver`s power play is effective due to their great puck movement and numerous dangerous offensive options.
Player to Watch: Zeev Buium. This future NHL player can dominate the game both with and without the puck. His skating, puck-handling skills, and vision are exceptional. He can take over a game at any moment, as seen in Manchester. Also, Buium tends to perform even better in high-pressure situations. Expect him to play around 30 minutes per game in the Frozen Four. — Colby Cohen
Western Michigan (32-7-1)
How Western Michigan Got Here: As the top seed in the Fargo Regional, Western Michigan needed double overtime to defeat Minnesota State 2-1, with Grant Slukynsky scoring the winning goal. They then beat UMass 2-1, overcoming a 1-0 deficit with power-play goals from Liam Valente and Tim Washe during a single five-minute major penalty. The Broncos then successfully killed off a five-minute major penalty of their own to hold off UMass.
Key Stats: The Broncos have a team-record 32 wins and are currently on an eight-game winning streak, which is the longest active streak in the nation. Western Michigan is a well-balanced team, averaging 3.95 goals per game (second only to Denver`s 4.00) while allowing just 2.05 goals per game, which is the fourth-lowest in the nation. Broncos goalie Hampton Slukynsky has only allowed two goals in 147 minutes and 14 seconds, for a 0.82 goals-against average, the best among all tournament goalies.
Western Michigan`s Path to Victory
Forward Depth: Western Michigan has strong depth across all four forward lines. They will need to utilize all four lines to wear down their opponents, starting with Denver.
Hampton Slukynsky`s Goaltending: The freshman goalie was outstanding in Fargo, stopping 28 of 29 shots in both games. Slukynsky, a Los Angeles Kings draft pick with a 17-5-1 record, will need to be at his best for Western Michigan to win the championship.
Player to Watch: Liam Valente. This Swedish winger was involved in three of his team`s four goals in Fargo. He has a powerful shot and will need to find ways to use it against Denver and goalie Matt Davis. — Andrew Raycroft
Boston University (23-13-2)
How Boston University Got Here: As the No. 2 seed in the Toledo Regional, Boston University quickly overwhelmed Ohio State with six unanswered goals, winning 8-3. They then secured their third straight Frozen Four appearance with Quinn Hutson`s overtime goal, narrowly defeating No. 4 seed Cornell 3-2. Freshman goalie Mikhail Yegorov made 37 saves for Boston University in only his 16th career game.
Key Stats: Boston University coach Jay Pandolfo has a perfect 10-0 record in NCAA regional games as both a head coach and player, leading to seven Frozen Four appearances. Pandolfo is the third Division I men`s hockey coach to reach the Frozen Four in each of his first three seasons, joining Doug Woog (Minnesota) and Dave Hakstol (North Dakota). Despite their recent success, Boston University has not reached the national championship game since 2015. Brothers Quinn and Cole Hutson are Boston University`s top two scorers this season (Quinn 50 points, Cole 46), with Cole leading the NCAA tournament in points with two goals and four assists in Toledo.
Boston University`s Path to Victory
Offensive Rushes: Boston University is a dynamic offensive team that excels at creating plays on the rush. They are fast and transition quickly, which has been a key to their offensive success in the tournament.
Defensive Play: While not known for their defense, Boston University played strong defensively against Cornell, limiting second and third scoring chances. Goalie Mikhail Yegorov is usually reliable on the first shot, so if Boston University tightens up defensively, they have a good chance to compete for the championship.
Player to Watch: Cole Hutson. Cole is one of the most exciting players in college hockey. His poise and offensive instincts are comparable to his brother Lane Hutson, a Boston University alumnus, current Montreal Canadiens player, and Calder Trophy contender. Cole Hutson seems to thrive in big moments, such as the Beanpot, the World Juniors gold medal game, and the Toledo Regional. It will be exciting to see his performance in the Frozen Four. — Colby Cohen
Penn State (22-13-4)
How Penn State Got Here: After conceding an early goal to Maine, the top seed in Allentown, No. 4 seed Penn State responded strongly with three first-period goals, winning 5-1. Penn State then reached their first Frozen Four by defeating No. 2 seed UConn 3-2, with Matt DiMarsico scoring the overtime winner at 17:56. Goalie Arsenii Sergeev made an impressive 42 saves in the thrilling overtime game.
Key Stats: Penn State has only lost three games since January 11, with a record of 14-3-3 in that period. They are the first No. 4 regional seed to reach the Frozen Four since Providence in 2019. Sophomore Aiden Fink leads Penn State with 23 goals and 30 assists, the most points among underclassmen nationally, while Charlie Cerrato has 27 assists, just one short of the school freshman record set by Denis Smirnov in 2016-17.
Penn State`s Path to Victory
Maintain Momentum: Penn State is on a Cinderella run after a poor 0-8-1 start to their Big Ten season. The home crowd in Allentown Regional definitely gave them a boost. Can Penn State bring that energy to St. Louis as they aim to defeat their third consecutive Hockey East opponent?
Utilize Team Speed: Penn State started strong against both Maine and UConn in the regional games, using their speed to attack and create chaos in the neutral zone. Boston University will be aware of this, and it will be crucial to see if Penn State can outskate the Terriers.
Player to Watch: Charlie Cerrato. This freshman center had five assists in the two regional games. Cerrato, along with wingers Matt DiMarsico and fellow freshman JJ Wiebusch, has led Penn State`s offense on the second line, including the game-winning goal in overtime against UConn. — Raycroft
