Logan Cooley, Luke Hughes, Lane Hutson and more are set to do battle as just 16 teams remain.
Michigan defenseman Luke Hughes is defended by Denver defenseman Justin Lee during the first period of the Frozen Four semifinal at the TD Garden in Boston, Mass. on Thursday, April 7, 2022.The NCAA’s Division I men’s hockey championship teams have been selected, with 16 teams looking to become the national champions. This weekend, the teams will be split up into four groups, with the winner of each individual regional moving on to the Frozen Four in Tampa Bay next month.
And while the team’s forward core has been downright dangerous, there’s a reason why Minnesota has the fewest goals allowed in the Big Ten. Mike Koster and Brock Faber have made up a fantastic pairing, while Jackson LaCombe has been excellent at a near-point-per-game pace. Koster and Faber are a bit more own-zone focused but are solid puck movers and can shut things down. Faber might be one of the best blueliners in the tournament, period.
Quinnipiac has had a near flawless run as of late, but compared to teams like Minnesota or Michigan, they haven’t had that tough of a road to this point. Still, Graf is excellent, Yaniv Perets is one of the best Division I goaltenders, and they’re more than capable of hanging with the best teams in the tournament. But from an NHL prospect perspective, there isn’t much to see here.
Up front, Fantilli is the obvious eye candy given his projection as the second-best prospect for 2023. But Mackie Samoskevich, a Panthers prospect, has been an excellent linemate, while Rutger McGroarty, a Winnipeg Jets forward, is an all-around threat. If you’re a Tampa Bay Lightning fan, watch Dylan Duke, who loves to create havoc around the crease. At times, it can feel like this team is built around Fantilli and everything he brings.
On the blueline, Michael Benning has been an absolute rock once again this year and will be counted on from a power-play and shutdown perspective. Benning is quick, smart, and has pro pedigree. A lot of the team’s scoring chances start with Benning, and they’ll need him to be sharp. Perhaps the guy with the most experience watching Hutson is Drew Commesso, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. The third-year goaltender has had an outstanding college career and has one of the brightest futures of any crease king in the tournament. He’ll have Domenick Fensore and Ty Gallagher to help out in front, but it’s worth noting that Boston’s 77 goals against were more than most other Hockey East contenders.
Adam Ingram had some growing pains as a freshman, but 21 points isn’t too shabby on a team carried more by juniors and seniors. He has decent size, is always looking to make a high-IQ play and he has some impressive hands, too. All eyes will be on Montreal Canadiens prospect Sean Farrell, one of the highest-scoring forwards with 52 points this year. The small, but skilled forward has been one of the best college players over the past two seasons after the Habs managed to steal him in the fourth round in 2020. His 5-foot-9 frame is a big reason why, but his success at the Olympics, men’s World Championship and NCAA level has lifted him high up Montreal’s depth chart.
Mason Lohrei surprised some scouts when he went to Boston with the 58th pick in 2020. He led all USHL defenders with 29 assists that year but wasn’t really ranked anywhere publicly. Clearly, the Bruins liked what they saw, and he won the USHL’s top defenseman honors the following season. The big offensive defenseman has put up consecutive 29-point seasons while also displaying his physical roots. Bruins fans, keep a close eye on him.
If MTU is going to advance, it’ll likely require some huge performances from senior goaltender Blake Pietila. The fourth-year netminder has turned heads thanks to his 10 shutouts in 36 outings this year and could even earn an NHL contract once the season concludes. They’ll have a tough first game against Penn State, but it’s one MTU could definitely win. After that, though, will likely be a meeting with their friends, the Michigan Wolverines. Now that would be interesting.
And then there’s Demin, a fifth-year NCAA defender currently with his third team. His senior season has been his best, and he’ll need to keep that momentum alive in these single-game eliminations.Western Michigan has never made it to the Frozen Four, and they’re coming off a loss to Colorado College during the NCHC quarterfinals. History suggests that luck isn’t on WMU’s side, but don’t count them out yet.
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