Ice Level Episode 44 - Weekend Recap 3/7-3/8
Welcome to a rare print edition of the Ice Level Weekend Recap. As always, I am your host James Blennau. Since I'm currently on a mountain parkway just outside Red River Gorge, Kentucky, you're stuck with a print edition this week. Despite the briefness, I still have everything you need to catch up with all six conference tournaments (thanks Lucas). (Editors Note: You’re welcome!)
2026 AHA Semi-Final Tournament Bracket
Atlantic Hockey America
The second round saw some interesting matchups as bottom-seeded Bentley took on reigning champions Bentley after beating Canisius, but fell to the Falcons 2-0 in Waltham to seal the deal in game two after a triple-overtime thriller in game one. Sacred Heart, Robert Morris and Holy Cross will each move on to the semifinals as last year’s conference tournament and regular season champs can meet in the final.
2026 Big 10 Quarterfinals Tournament Bracket
Big Ten
Michigan State takes the regular-season crown by only two points over rivals Michigan, earning a bye in the first round of the tournament. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has the opportunity to make another major upset in the tournament after taking down Minnesota last year at Mariucci as they take on Michigan this year. Penn State hosts the Gophers while Wisconsin hosts Ohio State in what is all but guaranteed to be a bloodbath first round.
2026 CCHA Semi-Final Tournament Bracket
CCHA
The Mason Cup playoffs roll on this week as eight-seeded Ferris State took MacNaughton Cup champions Minnesota State to three games in Mankato. The Mavericks won the third game 2-0, but were taken to the ropes nonetheless. Each home team won its series meaning Minnesota State meets Michigan Tech in Mankato while Augustana meets St. Thomas in the Twin Cities. The Mason Cup never seems to disappoint, and it certainly won't this coming round.
2026 ECAC Quarterfinals Tournament Bracket
ECAC Hockey
One weekend remains until four teams head to Lake Placid as the top four teams have found their opponents. St. Lawrence nearly pulled off the upset of the tournament, taking Harvard to overtime in Cambridge but eventually falling 4-3 to Mick Thompson's game-winner. Clarkson heads to Hamden to take on perennial Clearly Cup winners Quinnipiac, taking the Bobcats to a shootout in their last matchup. Cornell and Harvard also will renew their Ivy League rivalry with a three-game series in Ithaca that could go any which way.
Hockey East
The chase to Boston begins with the opening round on Wednesday. Vermont highlights the round with a chance to upset Boston University at Agganis Arena. Reigning champions Maine and Boston College meet at Conte Forum for the quarterfinals in the only set matchup. Saturday sees Providence, UMass and UConn taking on the lowest, second and third-lowest seeds respectively on Saturday. The back-to-back semifinal and final rounds at TD Garden happen next weekend with teams set to meet Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
NCHC
Four home-team sweeps in the Frozen Faceoff set us with the top four seeds in the conference meeting at campus sites. St. Cloud State gave the most trouble to in-state rivals Minnesota Duluth, but the Bulldogs held on for one-goal wins in both games. We'll see a Frozen Four rematch as Denver hosts Western Michigan at Magness Arena this weekend. The winners of both semifinals will have a rare full week to prepare for the final, played at the highest remaining seed.
