The 2025 NCAA Tournament is here as 16 teams are vying for a national championship. Four different regionals will help shape this year’s Frozen Four, which will be held April 10-12 in St. Louis.

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FloHockey will be previewing each of the four regionals this week, beginning in Fargo.

Frozen Four: Fargo Regional Schedule

The Fargo Regional begins with a pair of games on Thursday at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. CDT. The winners will meet on Saturday with a Frozen Four berth on the line.

Thursday March 27

• Western Michigan vs. Minnesota State, 4 p.m. CDT, ESPNU
• Minnesota vs. UMass, 7:30 p.m. CDT, ESPN2

Saturday March 29

• Regional Final, 3 or 5:30 p.m. CDT, ESPNU

Fargo Regional Teams At A Glance

Western Michigan

Record: 30-7-1, 19-4-1 (NCHC)
Head coach: Pat Ferschweiler, 4th season
Leading scorer: Alex Bump, F, So. (23-23-46)
Between the pipes: Hampton Slukynsky, Fr. (15-5-1, .918 save percentage, 2.04 GAA)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10

Minnesota

Record: 25-10-4, 15-6-3 (Big Ten)
Head coach: Bob Motzko, 7th season
Leading scorer: Jimmy Snuggerud, F, Jr. (22-27-49)
Between the pipes: Liam Souliere, Gr. (13-7-2, .918 save percentage, 2.28 GAA)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 42

UMass

Record: 20-13-5, 10-9-5 (Hockey East)
Head coach: Greg Carvel, 9th season
Leading scorer: Cole O’Hara, F, Jr. (22-29-51)
Between the pipes: Michael Hrabal, So. (18-11-5, .926 save percentage, 2.33 GAA)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 6

Minnesota State

Record: 27-8-3, 18-5-3 (CCHA)
Head coach: Luke Strand, 2nd season
Leading scorer: Rhett Pitlick, F, Sr. (13-27-40)
Between the pipes: Alex Tracy, Jr. (26-8-3, .945 save percentage, 1.43 GAA)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10

Who are the top NHL prospects to watch in Fargo?

• Alex Bump, So., F, Western Michigan – Philadelphia (2022, 5th)
• Cole O’Hara, Jr., F, UMass – Nashville (2022, 4th)
• Sam Rinzel, So., D, Minnesota – Chicago (2022, 1st)
• Hampton Slukynsky, Fr., G, Western Michigan – Los Angeles (2023, 4th)
• Jimmy Snuggerud, Jr., F, Minnesota – St. Louis (2022, 1st)
• Michael Hrabal, So., G, UMass – Utah (2023, 2nd)

Fargo Regional Matchup Previews

Western Michigan vs. Minnesota State

It’s a battle of the nation’s highest-scoring roster and top defensive team. Western Michigan is averaging an NCAA-best 4.1 goals per game while Minnesota State has allowed just 56 goals over its 38 games.

The Mavericks have held their opponents to one goal or less in 22 of those 38 and junior Alex Tracy owns both the nation’s top save percentage (.945) and lowest GAA (1.43). Tracy was the only goalie among last week’s Hobey Baker Finalists and has led the Mavericks to five straight wins and a 10-0-1 stretch.

However, slowing down the Broncos will be quite the task. WMU is 19-3-0 since the new year and has just four regulation losses. Alex Bump is on fire and was just named the NCHC Frozen Faceoff MVP, and while the offense gets much of the attention, WMU has defended well too.

What a weekend it was for Bumper! #BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/Wptu13mEww

— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) March 23, 2025

The Broncos allow just 2.1 goals per game, which ranks fifth in the NCAA. Hampton Slukynsky and Cameron Rowe have combined for a .919 save percentage, good for 10th in the NCAA.

Western Michigan and Minnesota State were also the nation’s only teams to win both their regular-season and conference tournament crowns.

Minnesota vs. UMass

The Gophers are tournament-bound for the 42nd time, which leads the NCAA, and fifth consecutive year. However, UMass is also making its fifth tournament appearance since 2019 and its sixth in program history.

We've got a good thing going here in Amherst 😎#NewMass X #Flagship🚩 pic.twitter.com/C8vPO6WCPp

— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) March 23, 2025

There could be some early rust as both teams have been idle. UMass last played on March 15, falling to BU in overtime, while the Gophers last took the ice on March 9. Minnesota won a share of the Big Ten regular-season title but dropped its quarterfinal series to Notre Dame in three games.

Despite the layoff, it’s a matchup with plenty of skill and experience. Bob Motzko’s roster features 14 NHL draft picks while Greg Carvel’s club counters with nine.

Hobey Baker Finalist Jimmy Snuggerud has a team-leading 22 goals and 49 points and was an All-Big 10 First-Team selection, alongside Sam Rinzel. Rinzel was named the Big Ten Defenseman of the Year and Minnesota's 150  goals rank third in the country.

UMass forward Cole O’Hara is tied for fourth in points (51) and ranks ninth in goals (22) in the country. O’Hara has 24 points (13-11-24) over his past 16 games too.

How To Watch The Fargo Regional

Thursday’s first game and Saturday will both be televised on ESPNU. Thursday night’s battle between Minnesota and UMass will be available on ESPN2.

Where are the games played?

All three games will be played at Scheels Arena, the home of the USHL’s Fargo Force. The arena opened its doors in 2008 and seats just over 5,000 fans for hockey. The venue has previously hosted regionals in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and will do so again in 2027 and 2028.

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