What is the format of the Frozen Four?

The 2025 NCAA Men's Frozen Four will take place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The event begins on Wednesday, April 9, with open team practices from 11:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. On Thursday, April 10, the semifinals will be held, featuring Denver vs. Western Michigan at 4:00 p.m. and Penn State vs. Boston University at 7:30 p.m. Fans can also enjoy Frozen Fest at Union Station, which opens at 2:00 p.m.

The Hobey Baker Award ceremony will be held on Friday, April 11, at 5:00 p.m. at the Stifel Theatre. On Saturday, April 12, the championship game will begin at 6:30 p.m., following team welcomes and fan events earlier in the day. The winning team will receive the national championship trophy after the match concludes. All events are scheduled in Central Time.

Frozen Four Format

The 2025 Frozen Four follows a single-elimination format with 16 teams competing for the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship, as per the NCAA. Out of 41 eligible schools, six teams earn automatic bids by winning their conference championships, while the remaining ten are selected at-large by the NCAA committee, as per the NCAA.

Four teams are seeded, and each is placed in a separate regional bracket. The regional rounds will take place from March 27 to 30, where four teams at each site play semifinal and final games to determine the regional champion. The four winners move on to the Frozen Four in St. Louis, Missouri. The national semifinals will be held on April 10, followed by the national championship game on April 12, 2025, at the Enterprise Center, as per the NCAA.

What are the rules of the Frozen Four?

The Frozen Four follows NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship rules. It is a single-elimination tournament, meaning each game is a do-or-die matchup. Games consist of three 20-minute periods. If tied at the end of regulation, teams play sudden-death overtime periods, each lasting 20 minutes, until a goal is scored, as per Sporting News. Standard NCAA hockey rules apply for penalties, offsides, and icing. The tournament uses video review for goals and major penalties. The same rules are enforced from regionals through the Frozen Four, including player eligibility, equipment standards, and officiating guidelines.

Who qualifies for the Frozen Four?

The four teams that qualify for the Frozen Four are the winners of the four regional finals in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. These teams advance through a single-elimination tournament that begins with 16 teams—six automatic qualifiers (conference champions) and ten at-large selections, as per the NCAA.