Here's how this year's NCAA Tournament would have looked under my proposed 24-team, "super regional" alignment
Last week at the annual American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Florida, there was inevitable discussion about the NCAA Tournament. We had details of what was discussed during the convention — from the tournament to potential rule changes — in a newsletter last week:
The idea of expanding the NCAA Tournament beyond its current 16-team bracket was discussed, and I’m told there are several coaches in favor of expanding. Multiple sources said that the idea of expanding the tournament had more support than the idea of going to on-campus sites for the first two rounds before advancing to a neutral-site Frozen Four.
There are still logistical hurdles to overcome. The NCAA typically has used a benchmark of 25 percent of participating teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Division I men’s hockey is already at that benchmark (currently 25.4 percent).
Today’s newsletter looks at my proposed 24-team tournament, and how it would have looked last season.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Future sites for the Frozen Four and Regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament are expected in the coming months, with locations for the 2029, 2030, and 2031 tournaments.
We have some notes on the requirements of NCAA regional hosts.
Stonehill is moving forward with its plans for an on-campus rink.
There were WHL teams who reportedly passed on players who were “too good” because they didn’t want to lose those players at 18 years old to the pros or NCAA.
Gavin McKenna’s mother was charged with furnishing liquor to minors the same night that Gavin McKenna was charged with assault.
This is issue #677 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.
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