St Cloud State is favored to win the NCAA men’s hockey title
The top-three seeds are all from the state of Minnesota
Defending champion Minnesota-Duluth is the 2-seed
Minnesota is living up to its moniker as the State of Hockey this year. St Cloud State is not just the top seed in the West Region, it’s also the #1-overall seed and the heavy favorite to win the 2019 NCAA men’s hockey tournament.
The Huskies are followed in the odds-list by the #1 seed in the Midwest (and #2-overall seed) Minnesota-Duluth.
Who Will Win 2019 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament?
| School | Seed (Overall Rank) | NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament Odds (Mar. 29) |
|---|---|---|
| St Cloud State | 1 (1) | +333 |
| Minnesota-Duluth | 1 (2) | +600 |
| Massachusetts | 1 (4) | +650 |
| Quinnipiac | 2 | +650 |
| Minnesota State | 1 (3) | +1200 |
| Denver | 2 | +1200 |
| Clarkson | 2 | +1200 |
| Northeastern | 2 | +1200 |
| Ohio State | 3 | +1400 |
| Notre Dame | 3 | +1400 |
| Cornell | 3 | +1400 |
| Providence | 4 | +1600 |
| Harvard | 4 | +2000 |
| Arizona State | 3 | +2000 |
| Bowling Green | 4 | +2200 |
| American International | 4 | +6500 |
Minnesota State, which grabbed the top seed in the East and #3-overall seed, gives the state of Minnesota a clean sweep of the top-three seeds in the tournament. However, the Mavericks only have the fifth-best odds, behind both Massachusetts (#1 seed in the Northeast) and Quinnipiac (#2 seed in the Midwest).
2019 NCAA Hockey Tournament Bracket
2019 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament bracket.
No. 1 With A Bullet?
For the second straight year, the Huskies enter the NCAA Tournament as the top-seeded team. It didn’t work out for them last season. The Air Force Falcons stunned the Huskies 4-1 in the opening round.
Will it be better the second time around? St Cloud State is in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in seven years, but they haven’t reached the Frozen Four since 2013.
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Again, they open with another unlikely hockey power in American International College. Not only are the Yellow Jackets in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, they’ve posted their first winning season since 1992-93.
At 30-5-3, only Minnesota State (32-7-2) has won more games this season than the Huskies.
St Cloud State is loaded with talent. They even have their own version of the Hanson Brothers in the Poehling brothers, Jack, Nick and Ryan, who skate together as a potent forward unit. They’ve combined for 24 goals and 66 points this season.
Ryan is the key to the Huskies. The 6-2, 200-pound junior is a 2017 first-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens. He was MVP of this year’s World Junior Championship playing for Team USA.
Beware The Bulldogs’ Bite
A 1-seed has won just one of the past six NCAA tournaments. Minnesota-Duluth won last season as a #2 seed and also in 2011.
This season, the Bulldogs are fresh off a 3-2 NCHC title victory over the Huskies.
The Bulldogs have played in the past two NCAA Championship games, losing to Denver in the 2017 final. Goalie Hunter Shepherd can steal games, and that’s key in a one-and-done format.
Minnesota-Duluth is 3-3 against St. Cloud State this season and are the only team to beat the Huskies in the past month.
The Bulldogs open against Bowling Green. The Falcons are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years.
There have been eight repeat champions in NCAA men’s hockey history, most recently Denver in 2004-05. Minnesota-Duluth has a decent chance to make it nine by beating St Cloud State in the final.