Bracketology: The Herald's final predicted NCAA hockey bracket
Grand Forks Herald • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 NCAA men's hockey tournament bracket projection includes matchups such as Michigan vs. Bentley and North Dakota vs. Merrimack, with the full bracket divided among Albany, Sioux Falls, Worcester, and Loveland sites.
- A key decision for the NCAA Committee will be whether to prioritize seeding integrity or reduce travel costs when determining North Dakota's first-round opponent, potentially choosing between Merrimack (No. 15 seed) and Minnesota State (No. 13 seed).
- Historically, the Committee favors maintaining proper seeding over travel considerations, making a switch from Merrimack to Minnesota State unlikely despite travel benefits.
- Several other sources, including College Hockey News, USCHO, Duluth News Tribune, and
