The first of six conference tournaments gets underway this weekend with the opening round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) and Jayson Hajdu (College Hockey Today) break down the known matchups and discuss RIT’s repeat as AHA regular-season conference champion. They also preview two massive head-to-head series that will decide two other league titles: Michigan State-Wisconsin in the Big Ten, and Bemidji State-Minnesota State in the CCHA, as well as the encouraging seasons from multiple independent programs, Dartmouth’s bid for home ice in the ECAC Tournament, the high-end underclassmen lighting it up in Hockey East, the race for the NCHC’s Penrose Cup, and tons more.   Rundown (time stamps approximate due to editing): 3:20 – Independents 6:15 – Atlantic Hockey 10:12 – Big Ten 14:10 – CCHA 17:50 – ECAC Hockey 22:10 – Hockey East 27:43 – NCHC Follow Brad Schlossman on X: @SchlossmanGF Follow the Grand Forks Herald on X: @GFHerald  Follow The Rink Live on X: @TheRinkLive   Follow Jayson Hajdu on X: @JaysonHajdu  Follow College Hockey Inc. on X: @collegehockey