Boston University Faces Ohio State in NCAA Hockey Tournament Opener

TOLEDO, Ohio — Boston University will look to move past a disappointing performance in the Hockey East semifinals as it faces Ohio State in the opening game of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament on Thursday at 2 p.m.

This matchup marks the fourth meeting between the two teams, with Boston University winning the previous encounter 8-3 in the first round of the 2009 tournament, the last time the Terriers captured the national championship. BU, the No. 2 seed in the regional, makes its 40th tournament appearance, aiming to reclaim its title.

Leading the Terriers is junior Quinn Hutson, who boasts 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) this season, ranking third nationally with an average of 1.38 points per game. His younger brother, Cole, has also made a significant impact, leading NCAA freshmen with 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists) and earning the title of Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Notably, Cole Eiserman leads NCAA freshmen with 21 goals.

In goal, Mikhail Yegorov has made his mark as well, sitting in the top 10 for goals-against average at 1.99 and a save percentage of .931.

On the opposite bench, Ohio State poses a formidable challenge led by forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, a transfer from Northeastern who leads the Buckeyes with 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists). Fontaine delivered clutch performances in the Big Ten tournament, including an overtime winner against Penn State.

Logan Terness, a former UConn goalie, has started the last five games for the Buckeyes and has a goals-against average of 2.27 with a .925 save percentage. Ohio State enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed.

The stakes are high, as the winner will advance to face either top-seeded Michigan State or No. 4 Cornell on Saturday. Cornell, which finished sixth in the ECAC, secured a spot in the tournament by winning the conference title under head coach Mike Schafer, who is set to retire after next season.

In another regional matchup also taking place later, UMass will go head-to-head with Minnesota at 8:30 p.m. in Fargo, North Dakota. This game marks the Minutemen’s return to play after a break since March 15, allowing players time to recover from injuries.

UMass features dynamic players like Cole O’Hara, who, despite being left off the Hobey Baker Award candidate list, leads the team with 51 points. UMass is entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed after qualifying for five of the last six NCAA tournaments.

The Gophers, co-champions of the Big Ten alongside Michigan State, face a two-week gap since their last game, leaving speculation about their readiness. Minnesota enters the tournament as the second seed and boasts a storied program with a record 42 NCAA tournament appearances.

As Thursday’s matchups unfold, expectations and rivalries will be at the forefront of the tournament, especially with teams like Boston College receiving the top overall seed following their strong performance in the Hockey East Championship.

This year’s Frozen Four will occur at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, marking a return to the city for the championship after a long hiatus since 2007.