The 2022 NCHC Tournament was the ninth tournament in league history. It was played between March 11 and 19, 2022. Quarterfinal games were played at home team campus sites, while the final four matches were held at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. As the tournament winner, Minnesota Duluth earned the NCHC's automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Format

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The first round of the postseason tournament featured a best-of-three games format. All eight conference teams participated in the tournament. Teams were seeded No. 1 through No. 8 according to their final conference standing, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with an identical number of points accumulated. The top four seeded teams each earn home ice and host one of the lower seeded teams.

The winners of the first round series advanced to the Xcel Energy Center for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. The Frozen Faceoff used a single-elimination format. Teams were re-seeded No. 1 through No. 4 according to the final regular season conference standings.[1]

Standings

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Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL 3/SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#1 Denver 24 18 6 0 1 0 0 53 98 55 41 31 9 1 175 93
#9 North Dakota 24 17 6 1 1 1 1 53 78 58 39 24 14 1 119 99
#6 Western Michigan 24 14 9 1 1 0 1 43 84 68 39 26 12 1 138 101
#11 St. Cloud State 24 10 10 4 1 2 1 36 84 69 37 18 15 4 133 97
#5 Minnesota Duluth * 24 10 10 4 1 1 2 36 61 56 42 22 16 4 109 93
Omaha 24 11 13 0 2 1 0 32 65 74 38 21 17 0 123 102
Colorado College 24 6 17 1 2 1 0 18 48 87 36 9 24 3 79 116
Miami 24 4 19 1 0 3 1 17 54 105 36 7 27 2 94 153
Championship: March 19, 2022
† indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup)
* indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll

Bracket

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Teams are reseeded for the Semifinals

Quarterfinals
March 11–13
Semifinals
March 18
Championship
March 19
           
1 Denver 5 5 -
8 Miami 2 1 -
1 Denver 0
5 Minnesota Duluth 2
2 North Dakota 2 2 -
7 Colorado College 1 1 -
5 Minnesota Duluth 3
(Pairings are reseeded after the first round)
3 Western Michigan 0
3 Western Michigan 4 5* -
6 Omaha 2 4 -
2 North Dakota 2
3 Western Michigan 4
4 St. Cloud State 2 3 -
5 Minnesota Duluth 5 4* -

* denotes overtime periods

Results

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Quarterfinals

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(1) Denver vs. (8) Miami

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March 11, 2022
7:07 PM
Denver5 – 2
(1–1, 2–0, 2–1)
MiamiMagness Arena
Attendance: 4,255
Game reference
Magnus ChronaGoaliesLudvig PerssonReferees:
Mike Sheehan
Sterling Egan
Linesmen:
John Grandt
Erik Contino
0–103:19 – PPChase Pletzke (7) (Savage, Gresock)
(Brink, Benning) Cole Guttman (16) – PP – 07:251–1
(Wright, Webster) Jack Devine (3) – 22:052–1
(Lee, Mazur) McKade Webster (6) – GW – 22:363–1
(Rizzo, Benning) Brett Stapley (15) – PP – 47:374–1
4–251:11 – Chase Gresock (9) (Capstick, Barry)
(Stapley) Shai Buium (3) – EN – 59:075–2
18 minPenalties20 min
38Shots22
March 12, 2022
6:07 PM
Denver5 – 1
(1–0, 2–0, 2–1)
MiamiMagness Arena
Attendance: 5,210
Game reference
Magnus ChronaGoaliesLudvig PerssonReferees:
Mike Sheehan
Sterling Egan
Linesmen:
John Grandt
Erik Contino
(Guttman, Savoie) Mike Benning (14) – 09:161–0
(Mazur, Buium) Massimo Rizzo (11) – GW – 21:112–0
(Brink, Savoie) Cole Guttman (17) – PP – 24:363–0
(Guttman, Benning) Carter Mazur (14) – PP – 51:054–0
4–154:34 – Derek Daschke (9) (Fletcher, Clement)
(Barrow, Behrens) Cole Guttman (18) – SH – 55:475–1
19 minPenalties24 min
44Shots25
Denver Won Series 2–0

(2) North Dakota vs. (7) Colorado College

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March 11, 2022
7:07 PM
North Dakota2 – 1
(0–0, 2–1, 0–0)
Colorado CollegeRalph Engelstad Arena
Attendance: 10,475
Game reference
Zach DriscollGoaliesMatt VernonReferees:
Brandon Schmitt
Timm Walsh
Linesmen:
Justin Hills
Tyler Liffrig
(Caulfield, Schmaltz) Jake Sanderson (8) – 22:251–0
1–123:37 – Jordan Biro (6) (Cooley, McKown)
(Jandric, Schmaltz) Tyler Kleven (7) – GW – 32:542–1
2 minPenalties2 min
23Shots16
March 12, 2022
6:07 PM
North Dakota2 – 1
(0–0, 2–1, 0–0)
Colorado CollegeRalph Engelstad Arena
Attendance: 10,095
Game reference
Zach DriscollGoaliesMatt VernonReferees:
Brandon Schmitt
Timm Walsh
Linesmen:
Justin Hills
Tyler Liffrig
(Albrecht, Moore) Matteo Costantini (8) – 21:281–0
1–123:10 – PPStanley Cooley (6) (Andrews, Gleason)
(Sanderson, Caulfield) Riese Gaber (15) – GW PP – 34:572–1
19 minPenalties8 min
22Shots30
North Dakota Won Series 2–0

(3) Western Michigan vs. (6) Omaha

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March 11, 2022
7:05 PM
Western Michigan4 – 2
(1–2, 0–0, 3–0)
OmahaLawson Arena
Attendance: 3,107
Game reference
Brandon BussiGoaliesIsaiah SavilleReferees:
Nick Krebsbach
Joe Sullivan
Linesmen:
Dan Cohen
Eric Frank
(Hillebrand, Passolt) Luke Grainger (5) – 03:451–0
1–116:08 – PPMatt Miller (10) (Berg)
1–218:01 – Taylor Ward (19) (Primeau, McManus)
(Passolt) Luke Grainger (6) – 47:572–2
(Glover, Fulp) Luke Grainger (7) – GW – 55:383–2
(Gallant, Bussi) Ethen Frank (26) – 58:364–2
6 minPenalties8 min
28Shots31
March 12, 2022
7:05 PM
Western Michigan5 – 4 (OT)
(1–2, 3–1, 0–1, 1–0)
OmahaLawson Arena
Attendance: 3,669
Game reference
Brandon BussiGoaliesIsaiah SavilleReferees:
Nick Krebsbach
Joe Sullivan
Linesmen:
Dan Cohen
Eric Frank
0–110:05 – PPKevin Conley (10) (Tychonick, Weiss)
(Passolt, Attard) Max Sasson (8) – PP – 16:171–1
1–217:36 – PPJonny Tychonick (2) (Conley, Weiss)
1–324:48 – Nolan Sullivan (19) (Bremer, Knoepke)
(Sasson, Glover) Jason Polin (16) – 33:202–3
(Glover, Fulp) Ronnie Attard (13) – 33:543–3
(Attard, Frank) Drew Worrad (8) – 38:074–3
4–450:47 – Jack Randl (9) (Miller)
(Frank) Drew Worrad (9) – GW – 64:425–4
6 minPenalties6 min
34Shots22
Western Michigan Won Series 2–0

(4) St. Cloud State vs. (5) Minnesota Duluth

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March 11, 2022
7:07 PM
St. Cloud State2 – 5
(1–1, 1–4, 0–0)
Minnesota DuluthHerb Brooks National Hockey Center
Attendance: 2,594
Game reference
Jaxon CastorGoaliesRyan FantiReferees:
Ryan Hersey
Dan Dreger
Linesmen:
Jeff Schultz
Dana Penkivech
0–114:07 – Noah Cates (5) (Bender, Gallatin)
(Miller, Peart) Kevin Fitzgerald (17) – 19:221–1
(Perbix, Brodzinski) Nolan Walker (9) – PP – 21:362–1
2–229:09 – Koby Bender (5) (Gotz, Gallatin)
2–329:39 – GW PPKoby Bender (6) (Cates, Kaiser)
2–436:44 – Koby Bender (7) (Cates)
2–537:18 – Blake Biondi (16) (James, Olson)
11 minPenalties8 min
23Shots38
March 12, 2022
6:07 PM
St. Cloud State3 – 4 (OT)
(1–0, 1–0, 1–3, 0–1)
Minnesota DuluthHerb Brooks National Hockey Center
Attendance: 3,227
Game reference
Jaxon CastorGoaliesRyan FantiReferees:
Ryan Hersey
Dan Dreger
Linesmen:
Jeff Schultz
Dana Penkivech
(Okabe, Trejbal) Nick Perbix (17) – 05:091–0
(Okabe, Bushy) Jami Krannila (15) – 21:382–0
2–140:56 – PPNoah Cates (10) (Bender, Kaiser)
2–243:30 – PPDominic James (5) (Biondi, Kelley)
(Kupka, Trejbal) Nick Perbix (6) – 43:413–2
3–357:03 – Tanner Laderoute (10) (Anderson, Jacques)
3–470:58 – GWNoah Cates (11) (Roth, Gilling)
6 minPenalties10 min
41Shots41
Minnesota Duluth Won Series 2–0

Semifinals

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(1) Denver vs. (5) Minnesota Duluth

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March 18, 2022
4:00 PM
Denver0 – 2
(0-1, 0–0, 0-1)
Minnesota DuluthXcel Energy Center
Attendance: 10,253
Game reference
Magnus ChronaGoaliesRyan FantiReferees:
Nathan Wieler
Joe Sullivan
Linesmen:
Justin Hills
Erik Contino
0–114:47 – GWBlake Biondi (17) (Jacques)
0–259:40 – ENKobe Roth (16) (unassisted)
6 minPenalties8 min
30Shots31

(2) North Dakota vs. (3) Western Michigan

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March 18, 2022
7:30 PM
North Dakota2 – 4
(1–1, 1-2, 0-1)
Western MichiganXcel Energy Center
Attendance: 10,253
Game reference
Zach DriscollGoaliesBrandon BussiReferees:
Timm Walsh
Dan Dreger
Linesmen:
Jeff Schultz
Dana Penkivech
(Gaber, Ford) Judd Caulfield (11) – 11:451–0
1–113:38 – Ty Glover (7) (Sasson, Attard)
1–233:34 – PPTy Glover (8) (Joyaux, Worrad)
1–339:29 – GWHugh Larkin (3) (Worrad)
(Senden) Nick Portz (2) – 39:532–3
2–458:27 – ENMax Sasson (6) (unassisted)
11 minPenalties12 min
23Shots26

Championship

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(3) Western Michigan vs. (5) Minnesota Duluth

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March 19, 2022
7:30 PM
Western Michigan0 - 3
(0-1, 0-1, 0-1)
Minnesota DuluthXcel Energy Center
Attendance: 7,814
Game reference
Brandon BussiGoaliesRyan FantiReferees:
Nick Krebsbach
Ryan Hersey
Linesmen:
John Grandt
Tyler Liffrig
0-105:26 - GW - Dominic James (6) (unassisted)
0-225:59 - PP - Casey Gilling (8) (Kaiser, Bender)
0-349:12 - Wyatt Kaiser (2) (unassisted)
6 minPenalties6 min
19Shots25

Tournament awards

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* Most Valuable Player(s)

[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Format". Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "UMD Blanks WMU to Capture 2022 Frozen Faceoff Title". NCHC. March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.