Michigan vs. Colgate prediction and game preview - March 24, 2023 | NCAA Hockey

NCAA Hockey fans are close to getting their first look at NHL Draft hopeful Adam Fantilli’s first step into a real college hockey competition. Adam Fantilli’s Michigan Wolverines are set to take on the Cinderella story of college hockey in the Colgate Raiders tonight at 9:00 PM EST.

Michigan and Colgate set to face off in first round of the NCAA Allentown Regional

MIchigan is a powerhouse. The Wolverines won the Big 10 over another team in college hockey well stocked with NHL talent in the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Wolverines are positioned to seriously contend for a national championship for the first time since 2011 when they lost in overtime to Minnesota-Duluth.

On the complete polar opposite of the spectrum are the Colgate Raiders. The Raiders came into the ECAC tournament at exactly .500 at 15-15-5. The only chance the Raiders had to make the NCAA Hockey Tournament was to sweep the tournament, beat two of the best teams in college hockey, and get in as an automatic bid. So that’s what they did. The Raiders went 5-0 in the ECAC, beating Dartmouth, St. Lawrence, Quinnipiac, and Harvard in the championship game.

As far as NHL talent, Colgate has some. The Raiders forward Alex Young was taken in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. In 2019 Colgate goaltender Carter Gylander was taken in the seventh round by the Detroit Red Wings. Gylander has been the team’s workhorse goalie as well, with a .918 save percentage on the season.

For the Wolverines, the entire offense is driven by the man said to be the best, besides Bedard. Fanitlli has 61 points in 33 games this season. He is averaging about an assist per game, which will explain how well his linemates have been doing this season.

Aside from Adam Fantilli’s insane stats, there's plenty of NHL talent to go around in MIchigan. The third Hughes brother, Luke, has been lighting the lamp, as well as a defenseman taken in the first round by the New Jersey Devils. The Wolverines have three other players taken in the first round, Mackie Samoskevich, Frank Nazar III and Rutger McGroarty, taken by Florida, Chicago and Winnipeg respectively.

Prediction: Colgate will need a miracle to beat the loaded Michigan Wolverines. It’s practically a miracle that the Raiders even made the NCAA tournament. Their journey will end quickly. Michigan 7-1.

The winner of the game will face off in the NCAA Allentown regional final between Penn State and Michigan Tech.