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Atlantic Hockey America 2025-26 Men’s Hockey Season Preview: New playoff format, new coaches, same talent drain big talking points on eve of new season

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We remain in a period of intense change in college hockey, and Atlantic Hockey America is no exception. Besides the changing landscape of college athletics in general and college hockey in particular, the AHA also has some new faces and a new(ish) playoff format. Last things first With the departure of American International, Atlantic Hockey … Read more

Who’s best bet as 2026 champ, three big matchups for first weekend: USCHO Edge Season 4 Episode 1

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USCHO Edge hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look at national championship futures and money lines and over/under for three college hockey games on October 3, 2025:
  • Quinnipiac +175 @ Boston College -230; over/under 5.5
  • Merrimack +160 @ UMass Lowell -210; o/u 5.5
  • Penn State -175 @ Arizona State +135; o/u 6.5

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Longtime Notre Dame assistant coach Slaggert departing at end of October for pro hockey opportunity

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Notre Dame associate coach Andy Slaggert has announced he will be leaving the school at the conclusion of the month to pursue an opportunity at the professional hockey level. Slaggert was elevated to associate head coach in 2017 and saw his position endowed during the 2024-25 season, becoming the first Ralph M. DiVietro Memorial Associate … Read more

Hockey East 2025-26 Men’s Hockey Season Preview: Expect the regular contenders to contend again; Also, expansion isn’t happening

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It’s a pattern that seems to repeat itself every winter — Hockey East and the NCHC battle all year for the proverbial “best conference” label, both leagues making their case with numerous teams hogging the top spots in the USCHO men’s D-I poll. Then the NCAA tournament plays out and the NCHC is the one … Read more

Yale graduate, former NHL goaltending coach Westlund tabbed new assistant coach for UConn men’s hockey team

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UConn has announced the addition of Alex Westlund to the men’s hockey coaching staff as an assistant coach with a focus on goaltending and recruiting. Westlund joins the Huskies staff after spending the past three years with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings where he served as the team’s goaltending coach. “We’re excited to add Alex … Read more

Rensselaer adds Schneider, ‘one of the brightest and most promising young coaches in college hockey,’ as new assistant coach for Engineers

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Rensselaer has announced that Cory Schneider will be joining the RPI bench as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team. Schneider arrives in Troy, N.Y., following three seasons at Clarkson, where he was an integral part of the Golden Knights’ coaching staff, including key roles in recruiting, player development, and power play management. Schneider’s … Read more

CCHA 2025-26 Men’s Hockey Season Preview: Potential there for conference ‘to be the tightest the CCHA has ever been’

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It’s almost a cliche at this point to point out the parity that exists in the CCHA. Sure, Minnesota State last season won their third MacNaughton Cup in the four seasons since the league was re-formed in 2022, but every year we’ve seen close races for the league title and for home ice in the … Read more

After 17 NHL seasons, former Michigan star Pacioretty back with Wolverines as special assistant to head coach

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Former Wolverines standout Max Pacioretty has joined Michigan as special assistant to the head coach. Pacioretty played 17 years in the NHL, with his final season in 2024-25 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Bringing in a guy like Max is huge for us,” Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato said in a statement. “He’s been through … Read more

NCHC 2025-26 Men’s Hockey Season Preview: Conference looks wide-open with targets on defending national champion Western Michigan

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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

The NCAA Power Index (NPI) is replacing the PairWise, but what does that mean for college hockey?

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The PairWise Rankings have been as familiar – and often controversial – as any topic across college hockey for the better part of three decades. The term, first coined by three self-described “stat geeks” from the University of Minnesota (who went on to start USCHO back some 30 years ago), is going the way of … Read more

NCAA replaces PairWise with NCAA Power Index (NPI) for D-I men’s hockey championship tournament selections

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At the latest meeting of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Oversight Committee, the final vote for championship selection criteria was passed unanimously finalizing the use of the NCAA Power Index (NPI) for the 2025-26 season. The NPI replaces the PairWise, which had been in use since the 2013-14 season. One of the benefits … Read more

Big Ten 2025-26 Men’s Hockey Season Preview: Are odds in conference’s favor of finally bringing home a national championship?

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Let’s go to Vegas, baby. The 2026 Frozen Four will be played in T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, and wouldn’t any team from the Big Ten love to ride a streak all the way to the final buzzer of the national championship game next April? Because, of course, not one of … Read more

Michigan State chosen top team in 2025 Big Ten preseason coaches poll; preseason all-conference teams also unveiled

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Two-time defending regular-season champion Michigan State is favored to win the 2025-26 Big Ten championship according to the Big Ten hockey preseason coaches poll released on Thursday. Preseason All-Big Ten teams were also selected in voting conducted by conference head coaches. BIG TEN 2025-26 PRESEASON POLL 1. Michigan State 2. Penn State 3. Minnesota 4. … Read more

Western Michigan gets 29 first-place votes, starts 2025-26 season No. 1 in USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll

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Defending national champion Western Michigan earned 29 first-place votes in the preseason USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll to start the year ranked No. 1. No. 2 Boston University took home three first-place votes, while No. 3 Michigan State picked up 14 first-place votes. Denver is slotted fourth and Penn State, with three first-place votes, … Read more

After considering more than 125 online submissions, NCHC names postseason tournament trophy the National Cup

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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

Defending national champion Western Michigan chosen first in 2025 NCHC preseason media poll

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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

NCHC announces six-member preseason all-conference team ahead of 2025-26 season

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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

Lake Superior State signs Whitten, already Lakers’ longest-tenured head coach, to extension through 2031-32 season

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Lake Superior State has signed head coach Damon Whitten to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season. Whitten, already the longest-tenured coach in program history, will begin his 12th season behind the bench this October. “We are thrilled to extend Coach Whitten’s leadership with this contract extension,” said LSSU athletic director Tory Lindley in a … Read more