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 earning his undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State with plans for a doctorate in dentistry, SCSU defenseman Josh Luedtke has been selected the 2025 recipient of the NCHC’s annual postgraduate scholarship. Luedtke is only the second Husky to receive the scholarship, with both coming in the last three years (Aidan Spellacy in 2023). Luedtke … Read more
The second annual Cactus Cup will return Jan. 2-3, 2026 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. Next year’s event will feature UMass Lowell, Minnesota State, Yale and St. Cloud State. Friday’s first matchup begins at 3:30 p.m. PDT with game two starting at 7 p.m. The action continues Saturday with the consolation game beginning … Read more
St. Cloud State sophomore goaltender Isak Posch has signed a two-year, entry-level contract through the 2026-27 season with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Posch, a native of Umea, Sweden, just completed the 2024-25 campaign with a record of 12-10-0, a 2.40 goals-against-average, .923 save percentage and two shutouts. His save percentage ranked second in the NCHC … 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
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
NCAA hockey alums Matt Cullen, Brianna Decker and Kevin Stevens will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the class of 2024. The trio will be joined by Frederic McLaughlin and the gold medal-winning 2002 Paralympic sled hockey team. “The impact of the class of 2024 spans across the sport and … 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
St. Cloud State has announced the addition of Eric Rud as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team. A 25-year veteran of the coaching world with head coaching experience, Rud returns to St. Cloud for the third time after previous stints as an assistant coach with the men’s team from 2005 to 2010 and … 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.