Michigan hockey misses NCAA Tournament for first time since 2019

Michigan's hockey team will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. The Wolverines rank No. 14 in the Pairwise standings but face tough competition. They ended their season with an 18-15-3 record after losing two playoff games at home to Penn State. Their chances of making the tournament took a hit when Quinnipiac lost in the ECAC semifinals. Michigan needed Quinnipiac to win the tournament but instead, Cornell upset them in overtime. This outcome left Michigan at risk, as three teams below them will get automatic spots. The Wolverines had a strong start to the season, winning nine of their first 12 games. However, they struggled to maintain that momentum. They also lost key players to the professional leagues, impacting their overall performance. Head coach Brandon Naurato expressed disappointment but is optimistic about the team's future. He stated that Michigan will not find themselves in a similar situation again as long as he is coaching. Despite the setback, he believes the team can learn and improve moving forward.