The 2026 NCAA men’s Frozen Four is here as four of the best hockey schools in the United States face off for the national championship, beginning on Thursday.
The first semifinal on the slate features No. 2 seed North Dakota taking on Wisconsin, followed by No. 1 ranked Michigan battling Denver for a spot in the title game.
The tournament features prospects who will be in the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo at the end of June, top prospects from NHL teams, and some of the best college free agents looking for their shot at the NHL.
Here are 10 players to watch at this year’s Frozen Four:
Michael Hage – University of Michigan
Michael Hage is one of the Montreal Canadiens’ top prospects in their pipeline after he was drafted 21st overall in the 2024 draft.
The 6-foot-1 centre is a key piece of Michigan’s high-powered offence, recording 13 goals and 51 points in 38 games to finish second on the team.
His combination of skill and hockey IQ helped Michigan to the No. 1 seed with a 26-7-0 record.
Hage was also ranked No. 6 on TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button’s Top-50 NHL-affiliated prospect list and Montreal’s highest-rated prospect.
The Mississauga, Ont., native starred for Canada in their bronze-medal performance at the 2026 World Juniors, leading the tournament in scoring with two goals and 15 points in seven games.
Keaton Verhoeff – University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota benefited from the NCAA’s rule change that made Canadian Hockey League players eligible by attracting star defenceman Keaton Verhoeff from the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals.
Verhoeff was one of the WHL’s top rookies during the 2024-25 campaign, recording 21 goals and 45 points in 63 games.
The 6-foot-4, right-shot defenceman recorded six goals and 20 points in 35 games in North Dakota as the youngest player on the team at 17-years-old.
He began the season at No. 2 on TSN’s pre-season draft rankings and is currently slotted at No. 5 on Button’s most recent draft list.
Verhoeff was one of three players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft on Canada’s bronze-medal winning roster at the World Juniors, joining Penn State’s Gavin McKenna and Prince George Cougars’ Carson Carels.
The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native took home gold medals at the 2024 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge and 2025 Under-18 World Hockey Championships. He also captained Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in a bronze-medal finish.
Eric Pohlkamp – University of Denver
The San Jose Sharks found something when they drafted Eric Pohlkamp 132nd overall in 2023 as he has been one of the NCAA’s most impactful players.
Pohlkamp led the University of Denver in scoring with 18 goals and 39 points this year and is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player.
The 5-foot-11, right-shot defenceman was also ranked No. 45 on Button’s Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list in March.
Pohlkamp also helped the United States to their first of back-to-back gold medals at the World Juniors in 2024 and represented the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup in 2026, finishing in second place.
T.J. Hughes – University of Michigan
T.J. Hughes has an opportunity to showcase himself on the NCAA’s biggest stage as one of the top college free agents this season.
The 24-year-old forward led the University of Michigan with 21 goals and 56 points this season and was named the Big 10 Player of the Year.
Hughes also joins Pohlkamp and University of Minnesota-Duluth winger Max Pante as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
The 6-foot captain of Michigan also joined the U.S. College Selects at the Spengler Cup, recording four assists before bowing out in the final.
Cole Reschny – University of North Dakota
Cole Reschny is another product of the NCAA changing their eligibility rules after he also joined North Dakota from the WHL.
The 5-foot-11 centre played last season in Victoria, leading the Royals with 26 goals and 92 points in 62 games.
He was then drafted 18th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2025 draft and recorded six goals and 35 points in 35 games to finish second in scoring on North Dakota.
Reschny was ranked No. 24 on Button’s Top-50 NHL-affiliated prospects list.
The Macklin, Sask., native represented Canada at the 2026 World Juniors in Minnesota, scoring four goals and five points in a bronze-medal finish.
Josh Eernisse – University of Michigan
Forward Josh Eernisse will be a sought-after free agent by NHL teams after he finishes his senior season with the University of Michigan.
Eernisse, 24, recorded 10 goals and 18 points in 37 games with Michigan this season.
He is viewed as primary penalty killer for Michigan and his three short-handed goals ties him for second in the NCAA.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, NHL scouts believe Eernisse’s size is already NHL ready and that he could contribute to teams as early as next season.
Jake Livanavage – University of North Dakota
Another player NHL teams will be watching closely will be defenceman Jake Livanavage, who is eligible to sign after North Dakota’s season is finished.
The 5-foot-10, left-shot blueliner finished second among North Dakota defencemen with five goals and 25 points in 38 games with a plus-16 rating.
Livanavage offensive production has been a key factor in the NCAA, putting up 14 goals and 82 points in 116 career college games.
The Gilbert, Ariz., native also impressed for the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup in a second-place finish.
Adam Valentini – University of Michigan
Fans of the NHL Draft will also want to keep their eyes on Michigan forward Adam Valentini as he looks to make his final impressions on NHL scouts.
The 5-foot-11 centre elected to forgo his commitment to the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers last summer and join Michigan as a 17-year-old for his draft season.
Valentini responded by recording 11 goals and 26 points in 39 NCAA games, including a goal in the quarter-finals against Minnesota Duluth to send Michigan to the Frozen Four.
He was ranked No. 46 on Button’s March list with room to rise with a strong tournament.
The Toronto native represented Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in a bronze-medal finish. He also took home a gold medal at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, leading the tournament with four goals and nine points in five games.
William Horcoff – University of Michigan
William Horcoff was drafted 24th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025 after getting his first taste of NCAA hockey, recording four goals and 10 points in 18 games during the 2024-25 campaign.
The 6-foot-5 centre then stepped up his game this season, registering 25 goals and 38 points in 39 games in his first full season of college hockey.
His play combined with his potential landed him at No. 50 on Button’s Top-50 NHL-affiliated prospects list.
The Birmingham, Mich., native represented the United States at the 2026 World Juniors in a fifth-place finish.
Horcoff is also the son of 15-year NHL veteran Shawn Horcoff.
Will Zellers – University of North Dakota
Will Zellers has been one of the premier scorers for North Dakota this season as North Dakota finished as the second seed with 27-5-4.
Originally drafted 76th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2024, Zellers was a key piece in a trade that sent him to the Boston Bruins in a deal that saw Charlie Coyle go the other way in March of 2025.
Prior to joining North Dakota, Zellers dominated the United States Hockey League as a member of the Green Bay Gamblers during the 2024-25 campaign, leading the league with 44 goals to go along with 71 points in 52 games.
Upon moving to North Dakota this season, the 6-foot centre is third on his team with 18 goals and 34 points in 37 games.
The Maple Grove, Minn., native also represented the United States at the 2026 World Juniors, recording five goals and eight points in five games in a fifth-place finish.