The 2018 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament involves eight schools in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of women's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. The quarterfinals will be played at the campuses of the seeded teams on Saturday, March 10, 2018. The Frozen Four will be played on March 16 and 18, 2018 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The University of Minnesota will host the tournament. This was the fourth time that Ridder Arena hosted the Frozen Four and the sixth time it was played in Minneapolis. This was the second year that the Big Ten Network aired the Championship Game live and the first year the semifinals were aired live on BTN. Colgate and Ohio State each reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, and each reached the Frozen Four in their maiden appearance. Clarkson defeated the Colgate Raiders 2–1 in the final to win their second straight championship and third championship in the past five seasons.
Qualifying teams
In the fourth year under this qualification format, the winners of all four Division I conference tournaments received automatic berths to the NCAA tournament. The other four teams were selected at-large. The top four teams were then seeded and received home ice for the quarterfinals.
SeedSchoolConferenceRecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bid1ClarksonECAC33–4–1Tournament champion7th20172WisconsinWCHA30–4–2At-large bid12th20173ColgateECAC32–5–1At-large bid1stNever4Boston CollegeHockey East30–4–3At-large bid10th2017MinnesotaWCHA24–10–3Tournament champion16th2017Ohio StateWCHA23–10–4At-large bid1stNeverNortheasternHockey East19–16–3Tournament champion2nd2016MercyhurstCHA18–14–4Tournament champion12th2016
Bracket Quarterfinals held at home sites of seeded teams
Championship Game Officials: Referee Scott Roth, Shane Paskey Linesmen: Mike Mueller, Glendon Seal
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Results
National Quarterfinals
(1) Clarkson vs. Mercyhurst
(4) Boston College vs. Ohio State
(2) Wisconsin vs. Minnesota
(3) Colgate vs. Northeastern
National Semifinals
(1) Clarkson vs. Ohio State
(2) Wisconsin vs. (3) Colgate
National Championship (1) Clarkson vs. (3) Colgate
Media Television Big Ten Network televised the semifinals and championship during their multi-year contract to carry the event.
Broadcast assignments Women's Frozen Four and Championship Dan Kelly, Sonny Watrous, and Allison Hayes (BTN)
Tournament awards All-Tournament Team G: Shea Tiley*, Clarkson D: Savannah Harmon, Clarkson D: Olivia Zafuto, Colgate F: Loren Gabel, Clarkson F: Élizabeth Giguère, Clarkson F: Breanne Wilson-Bennett, Colgate * Most Outstanding Player
References