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
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
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 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
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
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
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
The competing teams for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 Friendship Four hockey tournaments have been announced, marking a major milestone as the event celebrates its 10-year anniversary in Belfast in 2025. Founded by the Odyssey Trust and held annually at the SSE Arena, Belfast, the Friendship Four is the first and only NCAA Division I … Read more
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
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
Hockey East has announced the results of the 2025-26 men’s preseason coaches poll. 1. Boston University – 105 (7 first-place votes) 2. Providence – 91 (3) 3. UConn – 90 4. Maine – 87 (1) 5. Boston College – 85 6. UMass – 64 7t. UMass Lowell – 53 7t. Northeastern – 53 9. Merrimack … Read more
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
The CCHA has announced the results of its coaches and media preseason polls and preseason all-conference teams and preseason individual awards as selected by league coaches and media. 2025-26 CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll St. Thomas – 72 (3 first-place votes) Minnesota State – 71 (4) Michigan Tech – 59 (2) Augustana – 59 Bowling Green … Read more
Atlantic Hockey America has announced its 2025-26 preseason coaches poll and preseason all-conference team. 2025-26 Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll (First-place votes) 1. Sacred Heart (7) 2. Holy Cross (2) 3. Bentley (1) 4. Niagara 5. Army West Point 6. Air Force 7. Canisius 8. RIT 9. Robert Morris 10. Mercyhurst 2025-26 Atlantic Hockey Preseason … Read more
St. Lawrence has announced Kyle Flanagan and Greg Gardner as new assistant coaches for the Saints men’s hockey team. Flanagan returns home to St. Lawrence where he served as a two-year captain and was a part of a family legacy that included his brother, Sean Flanagan, and his uncle, Paul Flanagan. Kyle will become the … Read more
Cam Doomany has joined the Boston University men’s hockey team as an assistant coach. “I’m excited to welcome Cam to our coaching staff,” BU head coach Jay Pandolfo said in a news release. “Cam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to BU and he will be a great asset for our goaltenders.” Doomany arrives … Read more
Former NCAA hockey standouts Tara Mounsey (Brown), Zach Parise (North Dakota) and Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2025. Photographer Bruce Bennett and former player Scott Gomez will also be inducted. “The collection of talent that is part of the U.S. … Read more
For the first time, historic West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium will be home to Penn State hockey this January. The Hockey Valley Doubleheader, featuring the men’s and women’s hockey teams in conference matchups, will take place on Jan. 31, 2026. “This is a historic moment for Penn State Hockey, our fans and the … Read more