2025 Women's Frozen Four: Strategies for NCAA Hockey Championship Glory

The 2025 NCAA Women's Frozen Four is set to captivate hockey fans as Wisconsin, Ohio State, Cornell, and Minnesota vie for the national championship. Here’s a detailed analysis of each team’s path to victory and key players to watch.

Wisconsin Badgers

• Dictate the Pace: Wisconsin needs to control the game tempo right from the start, leveraging their depth to dominate until the final buzzer.
• Capitalize on Power Plays: With the nation’s best power play percentage, special teams could be the deciding factor.
• Player to Watch: Casey O'Brien, a fifth-year forward, leads college hockey with an average of 2.18 points per game.

Ohio State Buckeyes

• Stick to Identity: The Buckeyes must continue their aggressive, in-your-face style to disrupt their opponents’ strategies.
• Play as a Unit: Maintaining their cohesive five-player unit is crucial for continued success.
• Player to Watch: Sophomore Jocelyn Amos leads the team with 27 goals.

Cornell Big Red

• Elite Defense: Cornell’s solid defensive play, which has minimized easy goals, must persist.
• Offensive Opportunities: Generating and finishing offensive chances will be key, with multiple players contributing to the scoreboard.
• Player to Watch: Sophomore goaltender Annelies Bergmann boasts a .945 save percentage.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Shutdown Defense: The Gophers will focus on making life difficult for their opponents with a strong defensive and shot-blocking strategy.
• Top Line Performance: The first line of Josefin Bouveng, Ella Huber, and Abbey Murphy must continue to drive the team’s offense.
• Player to Watch: Redshirt senior Abbey Murphy leads the nation with 33 goals.

The Frozen Four games will be held at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis on March 21 and 23, with all games streaming on ESPN+. Each team’s ability to execute their strategies and leverage their standout players will determine who lifts the championship trophy.