While Denver is obviously a college hockey powerhouse, claiming 10 national titles and shooting for an 11th this weekend. But in the larger sports picture, the Pioneers and fellow NCHA member North Dakota are relatively small compared to their Big 10 counterparts in this year’s Frozen Four, Michigan and Wisconsin. The four teams have combined … Read more
LAS VEGAS — During his playing days, North Dakota coach Dane Jackson got some excellent advice from his mother on coaching. “That’s something my mom told me,” said Jackson. “You can always learn something from every coach.” Jackson has played under some venerable bench bosses like John Tortorella (Rochester Americans), Bruce Boudreau (Manchester Monarchs), Ted … Read more
Denver Pioneers Season record: 27-11-3 How they got to Las Vegas: Won the Loveland Regional, beating Cornell 5-0 and Western Michigan 6-2 Top players: F James Reeder (10-23-33), F Rieger Lorenz (16-18-34), D Erik Pohlkamp (18-21-39), F Sam Harris (15-19-34) Top goalie: Johnny Hicks (14-0-1, 1.12, .958) Why they’ll win the national championship: Hicks has … Read more
Western Michigan’s Slukynsky brothers are headed to California to play pro hockey. The LA Kings have signed goaltender Hampton Slukynsky to a three-year entry-level contract through the 2028-29 season, and forward Grant Slukynsky to a one-year entry-level contract through the 2026-27 season. Additionally, both players will join the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, on … Read more
North Dakota Fighting Hawks Season record: 29-9-1 How they got to Las Vegas: Won the Sioux Falls Regional, beating Merrimack 3-0 and Quinnipiac 5-0 Top players: F Will Zellers (18-16-34), F Ellis Rickwood (8-28-36), D Abram Wiebe (5-24-29) F Cole Reschny (6-29-35). Top goalie: Jan Špunar (20-4-1, 1.90 goals-against average, .917 save percentage). Why they’ll … Read more
The 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award will go to one of three men — Denver defenseman Eric Pohlkamp, Minnesota Duluth forward Max Plante or Michigan forward T.J. Hughes. The finalists — known as the “Hobey Hat Trick” were announced Thursday. Pohlkamp is looking to become the third Denver player to win the award, joining Matt … Read more
Minnesota Duluth goalie Adam Gajan has signed with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, the team announced. The two-year, entry-level contract runs through the 2027-28 season and comes with a $1.05 million salary-cap hit, according to the team. Gajan, 21, posted career highs in games played (33), wins (19), save percentage (.908), goals-against average (2.25) and shutouts … Read more
Finalists for the 2026 Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the Division I Men’s Hockey Coach of the Year, were announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association. The nominees consist of those named coach of the year by their respective leagues, and those whose teams qualified for the Frozen Four. Brandon Naurato of Michigan, Mike … Read more
Each week during the season, we look at the big events and big games around Division I men’s college hockey in Tuesday Morning Quarterback PAULA: Dan, that was a tournament weekend for the ages. The level of skill and grit on display in all four regionals matched anything I’ve seen in my decades of covering … Read more
The first Frozen Four in Las Vegas will have the teams who rank first through fourth in NCAA titles.
Hunter Anderson scored off a turnover at 14:47 of the third period, and Minnesota Duluth held on for a 3-1 win over Penn State.
Albany Regional, March 27-29 | MVP Arena No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Bentley | March 27, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU) No. 2 Minnesota Duluth vs. No. 3 Penn State | March 27, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Albany Regional Championship | March 29, TBD MICHIGAN How they got here: Won B1G tournament, 1st in final … Read more
Loveland Regional, March 27-29 | Blue FCU Arena No. 1 Western Michigan (26-10-1) vs. No. 4 Minnesota State (22-10-7) | March 27, 2:30 p.m. p.m. ET (ESPNU) No. 2 Denver (25-11-3) vs. No. 3 Cornell (22-10-1) | March 27, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN-plus) Loveland Regional Championship | March 29, TBD WESTERN MICHIGAN How they got … Read more
Sioux Falls Regional, March 26-28 | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center No. 2 Providence (23-10-2) vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac (26-9-3) | March 26, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN-plus) No. 1 North Dakota (27-9-1) vs. No. 4 Merrimack (21-15-2) | March 26, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) Sioux Falls Regional Championship | March 28, TBD NORTH DAKOTA How they … Read more
Brett Larson has agreed to a five-year contract to be the next coach of the Minnesota men’s hockey team, the school announced Tuesday. Larson comes to Minnesota from St. Cloud State where he served as the head coach for the past eight seasons. While at St. Cloud, Larson guided the Huskies to four NCAA tournament … Read more
In our last Monday 10 of the season, we’ll catch you up on 10 things to know about the men’s D-I hockey championship weekend and the NCAA tournament field.
Michigan is the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Division I men’s championship tournament. North Dakota (No. 2 overall), Michigan State (3) and defending NCAA champion Western Michigan (4) join the Wolverines as the four regional top seeds, while Dartmouth is making its first tourney appearance since 1980. FULL NCAA DIVISON I MEN’S … Read more
BOSTON — For Merrimack to make history, it needed a championship performance. It got one from goalie Max Lundgren. Clinging to a one-goal lead for almost the entirety of the third period, the junior from Angelholm, Sweden, held off a furious Connecticut attack over the final minutes to preserve a 2-1 win for Merrimack and … Read more
The 10 finalists for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award, representing five different conferences and nine programs, were announced Wednesday. The finalists include three seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The list is headlined by high-scoring forwards Ethan Wyttenbach (Quinnipiac), the nation’s current points leader, and Hayden Stavroff (Dartmouth), who leads the country in … Read more
Each week during the season, we look at the big events and big games around Division I men’s college hockey in Tuesday Morning Quarterback Dan: A season that started in the first weekend of October — and possibly beyond, if you’re a fan of counting things like exhibitions and preseason practices — makes its final … Read more