UPDATE: The NCAA tournament outlook for the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is becoming critical as the women’s and men’s hockey seasons progress. With just six weeks remaining in the 2025-26 NCAA Division I women’s hockey regular season and only seven weeks left for the NCHC men’s league, the urgency is palpable for both teams.
Current standings confirm that the Bulldogs are precariously positioned in their quest for NCAA tournament berths. The women’s team, having finished their nonconference schedule with a 4-2 record, faces a tough road ahead after suffering losses to Harvard and Quinnipiac. These defeats have left them on the tournament bubble, needing significant wins in the upcoming weeks to secure a sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) continues to showcase its strength, with teams posting a remarkable 40-6-2 record in nonconference play against established leagues like ECAC and Hockey East. However, the Bulldogs’ journey is jeopardized unless they can capitalize on remaining opportunities.
Next up: The women’s tournament bracket is shaping up, with teams ranked between No. 8-10 currently in contention for the 11-team field. The Bulldogs must secure wins to fend off potential upsets from conference tournament Cinderella stories. Here’s the latest projection for the women’s bracket:
Madison, Wisconsin Regional: 1. Wisconsin* vs. 8. Princeton* vs. 9. Minnesota Duluth
Meanwhile, the men’s team is in a stronger position, with a stellar 9-1 record in nonconference play. Their only loss came against a likely NCAA tournament contender, Augustana. The NCHC once again dominates the landscape, positioning four teams in the top 11 and three in the top five.
Officials emphasize that the complexity of the men’s tournament bracket adds to the excitement. Teams must navigate rankings and potential host placements, as No. 11 Denver is locked into its location due to hosting duties in Loveland, Colorado. This adds layers of strategy as the selection committee prepares to finalize the field.
As it stands, the latest men’s bracket looks like this:
Albany, New York Regional: 1. Michigan* vs. 16. Bentley* vs. 8. Penn State vs. 9. Cornell
With the stakes higher than ever, both UMD teams need to focus on their upcoming matches to ensure their NCAA tournament aspirations do not slip away. The season is heating up, and fans are eagerly anticipating what is next for the Bulldogs.
What’s next: Keep an eye on UMD’s performance as they head into the final stretch of the season. Every game counts, and the race for the NCAA tournament is officially on. Will the Bulldogs rise to the occasion?
