The recruiting landscape in college hockey these days, and in American college sports in general, isn’t what our parents grew up with. The NCAA rolling out the transfer portal in October 2018, letting student-athletes move freely from one school to another, made sure of that. Seven years later, the recruiting scene in NCAA Division … Read more
Year-in and year-out, ever since their conference held its first games in 2013, coaches and players from NCHC member schools have talked about the meat-grinder that is their league. It might be even tougher now, and it’s certainly as difficult as ever to predict who will end up where. The conference boasts the defending national … Read more
While the NCHC has awarded the Julie and Spencer Penrose Memorial Cup (Penrose Cup) to its regular-season champion since 2014, the conference’s tournament trophy has never had a name. That is until the 2026 NCHC tournament. With the NCHC moving its postseason tournament, the Frozen Faceoff, entirely to campus sites across the country this coming … Read more
The NCHC has released its 2025-26 preseason media poll. Defending national champion Western Michigan was picked first, followed by Denver and North Dakota. Four different teams received first-place votes in the poll. 2025-26 NCHC Preseason Media Poll 1. Western Michigan, 252 points (19 first-place votes) 2. Denver, 225 (4) 3. North Dakota, 220 (5) 4. … Read more
The NCHC has announced its 2025-26 preseason all-conference team, as selected by members of the media. 2025-26 NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team F: Sam Harris, Denver, Jr. F: Cullen Potter, Arizona State, So. F: Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So. D: Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Jr. D: Eric Pohlkamp, Denver, Jr. G: Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, So. … Read more
After announcing its individual award finalists last Thursday, the NCHC handed out its 12 year-end individual awards for the 2024-25 season Thursday night at the St. Paul Event Center. Six different teams took home an individual honor, led by a trio from Western Michigan, including Herb Brooks Coach of the Year Pat Ferschweiler. Denver also … Read more
One day after revealing its all-rookie team, the NCHC unveiled its three all-conference teams for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday. With the addition of a ninth member, this year marks the first time the conference has awarded an all-NCHC third team, after previously only honoring two all-conference teams its first 11 years. 2024-25 All-NCHC First … Read more
Seven freshman standouts have been honored by the NCHC on its 2024-25 all-rookie team. 2024-25 NCHC All-Rookie Team F: Sacha Boisvert, North Dakota – 51 points (17 first-team votes) unanimous F: Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State – 37 points (10) F: Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth – 31 points (8) F: Cullen Potter, Arizona State – … Read more
Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet has signed a contract extension, keeping the leader of the men’s hockey program tied to the Mavericks through the 2027-28 season. The third head coach in Omaha hockey history, Gabinet enters his eighth campaign leading the Mavericks in 2024-25. “We are excited to have reached an agreement with Coach Gabinet … Read more
Omaha has appointed Zach Vit as director of hockey operations. Vit joins Omaha after serving as the associate head coach of the Bishop Kearney Selects 18U team for three seasons. During the 2021-22 season, Vit was the assistant coach for the Bishop Kearney Selects 16U team that won the USA Hockey national championship. “I am … Read more
There’s going from strength to strength, and then there’s the NCHC’s situation heading into the new season. For the first time in the conference’s 12-year history, the NCHC has seen eight teams picked in the USCHO.com Top 20 Preseason Poll. Defending national champion Denver is at the top almost by default, getting 42 of 50 … Read more
The NCHC is mourning the loss of longtime officiating supervisor Brendan “Brent” Rutherford. Rutherford passed away peacefully at his home in Sterling Heights, Mich., on Sept. 20 at the age of 73. Rutherford served as an NCHC supervisor of officials for nine seasons, joining the staff in the conference’s third year of competition in 2015-16 … Read more
For his work with the NCHC officiating program and in his hometown community, NCHC officiating supervisor Thor Nelson has been named the recipient of the 2023-24 Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award. Nelson was presented with his award at NCHC officiating camp on Sept. 14 in Saint Paul, Minn. NCHC director of officiating Mike Schmitt, a … Read more
Coming off a record 10th NCAA national championship, Denver has been selected by the media as the favorite to win the NCHC regular season in 2024-25 in the annual preseason media poll. The 2024-25 campaign marks the third straight season that Denver has landed first in the poll and the fourth time overall (2017). The … Read more
Three different teams are represented on the 2024-25 preseason all-NCHC team, as the conference unveiled the six-man squad selected by media on Tuesday, two days ahead of its annual media day. Colorado College, Denver and North Dakota each have two players on the team, with two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors composing the … Read more
The NCHC has finalized the 10-team playoff model the conference will use starting in 2027 when St. Thomas begins NCHC play. The conference announced back in May that the Tommies will join the NCHC as its 10th team beginning with the 2026-27 season. All 10 teams will make the NCHC tournament when St. Thomas becomes an official … Read more
There were 26 NCAA schools represented with picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, which wrapped up Saturday in Las Vegas.
Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini is the top prospect for the 2024 NHL draft, which starts Friday.
Following the completion of his undergraduate degree at Omaha, Mavericks defenseman Kirby Proctor has been selected the 2024 recipient of the annual NCHC postgraduate scholarship. Proctor becomes the fifth Omaha player to earn the scholarship in its nine years of being awarded. Proctor graduated from Omaha in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, … Read more
For his work as an administrator at Omaha and ambassador of college hockey, the NCHC has honored Omaha executive associate athletics director Mike Kemp with the 2024 NCHC Distinguished Service Award. Kemp is retiring in May after a 48-year career in college athletics as a coach and administrator. Kemp was bestowed with the award in … Read more