The 2026 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament is the culmination of the 2025–26 season, the 41st such tournament in NCAA history. Hamilton defeated previously undefeated Hobart 2–1 in overtime to win the program's first national championship.
Qualifying teams The tournament featured 14 teams selected in the following manner: (Pool A) ten teams received bids as a result of being conference tournament champions from conferences that possessed an automatic bid, (Pool B) four additional teams received at-large bids based upon their NCAA Percentage Index.
East West Seed School Conference Record Berth Type Appearance Last Bid Seed School Conference Record Berth Type Appearance Last Bid 1 Hobart SUNYAC 28–0–0 Tournament Champion 15th 20251 Wisconsin–Stout WIAC 21–5–1 Tournament Champion 3rd 20092 Endicott CNE 21–3–3 Tournament Champion 4th 20242 Aurora NCHA 23–5–1 At-Large 2nd 20253 Hamilton NESCAC 19–5–2 At-Large 3rd 20253 St. Norbert NCHA 21–6–2 Tournament Champion 23rd 20254 Utica UCHC 19–7–1 Tournament Champion 7th 20254 Saint John's MIAC 17–6–4 Tournament Champion 7th 20135 Salve Regina Independent 17–3–0 At-Large 3rd 20186 University of New England CNE 21–6–0 At-Large 6th 20257 Norwich LEC 18–5–4 Tournament Champion 21st 20238 Anna Maria MASCAC 20–5–2 Tournament Champion 1st Never9 Williams NESCAC 12–13–2 Tournament Champion 2nd 201610 Neumann MAC 17–8–2 Tournament Champion 3rd 2011
Format The tournament featured four rounds of play. All rounds were single-game elimination. Except for flipping the seeding of Norwich and St. John's in order to save a flight, the NCAA seeded using the NCAA Percentage Index (NPI). The top two overall teams (Hobart and Endicott) received byes into the quarterfinal round while the remaining teams were seeded in the first round.
The higher-seeded teams played host in all first round and quarterfinal matches. Prior to the start of the tournament, Utica was selected to host the Frozen Four at their home rink, the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Bracket
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Results Note: All times local First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
All-Tournament Team TBA
Record by conference Conference# of BidsRecordWin %QuarterfinalsFrozen FourChampionship GameChampions NESCAC 2 4–1 1 1 1 1 SUNYAC 1 2–1 1 1 1 — NCHA 2 3–2 2 1 — — WIAC 1 2–1 1 1 — — CNE 2 0–2 1 — — — LEC 1 1–1 1 — — — UCHC 1 1–1 1 — — — Independent 1 0–1 — — — — MAC 1 0–1 — — — — MASCAC 1 0–1 — — — — MIAC 1 0–1 — — — —
See also 2026 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament
References
External links 2025 Division III Bracket