PC Draws Defending National Champion Denver in First Round of NCAA Tournament

The Providence College men’s hockey team has earned an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the 16-team bracket was unveiled on Sunday (March 23). The Friars (21-10-5) will be the No. 2 seed in the Manchester Regional facing off against the No. 3-seeded and reigning national champion Denver (29-11-1) on Friday (March 28) at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H. The game will be aired on ESPN+ beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Friars are 17-20 all-time in NCAA Tournament games. This will mark the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019 and 16th overall appearance.

Friday marks the 24th meeting all-time between the schools, with the Friars holding a 11-9-3 record. Providence and Denver last met at Schneider Arena on Oct. 20, 2023, as the Friars came away victorious by a 4-3 decision. This will be the second meeting in the NCAA Tournament as Providence earned a 4-1 victory in the 2015 NCAA East Regional Final en route to their first-ever national championship.

The winner will advance to the Manchester Regional Final against either Boston College or Bentley on Sunday, March 30 at 4:30 or 7 p.m. That game can be seen live on ESPN2.

For more updates on the Providence College men’s hockey program, follow the team on X & Instagram @FriarsHockey.