The Nashville Predators will be well-represented in the NCAA hockey tournament, which is set to begin this Thursday.

Ben Strinden and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks will start in the Maryland Heights (MO) regional, taking on Michigan in the opening round; Ryan Ufko, Cole O’Hara, and the UMass Minutemen will start in the Springfield (MA) regional, facing off against the #3 national seed, Denver. Both teams earned an at-large bid after failing to win their respective conference championships.

Strinden has been a steady presence in the Fighting Hawks’ bottom six and their penalty-killing units this year. The sophomore has a career-high six goals and 12 points in 38 games this year, including nine primary points scored at even strength. North Dakota has won eight NCAA titles in their storied history, and they’ve dominated the NCHC under current head coach Brad Berry. In the past ten seasons, the Fighting Hawks have won six regular-season conference titles, including this year, and one NCHC Tournament title. But since their last NCAA championship in 2016, they have just one tournament win.

Ryan Ufko has been a foundational piece for the Minutemen this year as one of the best defenders in the country. The junior has scored ten goals and 26 points in 36 games while captaining his squad and averaging 26 minutes each night. Ufko won the Hockey East’s Defender of the Year award and its sportsmanship award, plus he was a finalist for the conference’s Player of the Year honors. He’s proved dominant in college hockey, and Nashville is keen to sign him after his season ends.

Cole O’Hara improved on his freshman year, becoming a key winger in UMass’ middle six. The 2022 fourth-round pick has scored seven goals and 18 points in 36 games, including ten primary points at even strength.

The Minutemen won their first and only NCAA title in 2021, featuring Marc Del Gaizo. This is their fourth tournament appearance under current head coach Greg Carvel.

The bracket for this year’s NCAA tournament is below: