The 2025-26 men’s college hockey season is shaping up to be wild. With the season just around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest questions and events to watch out for this season:
📚 HISTORY: Schools with most NCAA DI men’s hockey championship appearances
1. Can Western Michigan win the title?
The Broncos won the program’s first NCAA title with a historic 2024-25 season. The question now is whether Western Michigan can recharge and defend a field that is deeper and hungrier than ever. With sky-high expectations, Kalamazoo’s spotlight has never been brighter.
The good news is that the Broncos begin the preseason with a No. 1 ranking in the USCHO rankings. The bad news is that they have lost key players in their title run, star forward Alex Bump and captain Tim Wash.
Despite these key losses, WMU returns Hampton Slukinski, one of the nation’s top goaltenders, after a stellar freshman season. They also bring back Owen Michaels, the “Frozen Four” standout who finished second in goals last season (18). The Broncos made four transfers this offseason, led by senior linebacker Zach Bookman from Merrimack and junior forward William Whitelaw from Michigan, a draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2. How will Michigan State survive without Isaac Howard?
The Spartans are ranked No. 3 in the USCHO preseason poll and will play a three-peat this season for the Big Ten regular season and tournament title. But it won’t be easy, as the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers will replace Hobey Baker Award-winning leading scorer Isaac Howard.
HOBEY BAKER: Breaking down Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard’s season
Howard’s departure leaves a big hole on the top line, but someone who could fill it is Porter Martone, who joined Michigan State from the Canadian OHL. Martone was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2025 after scoring 98 points (37G, 61A) in 57 OHL games last season.
The Spartans also return a talented lineup, led by junior goaltender Trey Augustine. Augustine made a big jump from his freshman to sophomore year, as his save percentage increased from .919 to .927 and his average dropped from 2.82 to 1.97. Entering his third season in East Lansing, the Spartans will rely on St. Augustine to carry them through a tough Big Ten schedule. MSU’s leading scorer is Charlie Stramel, who was third on the team last year with 27 points (9G, 18A). He’ll need to take another step forward to fill the offensive void left by Howard and Carsen Dorwart, who signed with the Flyers this summer.
3. Is it Penn State’s year?
The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 5 in the USCHO preseason poll, a record for a program that will make its first Frozen Four in 2024-25. On paper, this is the best Penn State roster we’ve seen since going DI in 2012-13.
The Nittany Lions have been hot on the recruiting trail this offseason, bringing in several key players from the CHL. #1 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna arrives in the Hockey Valley as one of the highest-rated recruits in college hockey history, and for good reason. He finished the WHL regular season with 129 points (41G, 88A) and a 40-game hitting streak that spanned the first 14 games of the playoffs. The 54-point streak is a modern CHL record that dates back to 2000. His elite scoring and playmaking will make Penn State a must-watch team this season.
The Nittany Lions also landed star defenseman Jackson Smith from the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. Smith was selected 14th overall in the 2025 draft, making him the first pick in program history to play for Penn State. He posted career highs in all offensive stats last year with 54 points, 11 goals and 43 assists in 68 games.
Penn State also brought back Luke Misa and Mack Gadowski and has a star-studded lineup led by top-10 Hobey Baker Award pick Aiden Fink. The Nittany Lions will have a lot of new and returning talent this season, so it will be fun to see how all those pieces come together.
4. Can either Boston College or Boston U. stop in a drought?
Boston University and Boston College, ranked No. 2 and No. 6 in the USCHO preseason poll, respectively, are steeling their way to national championships and looking to capture a title in Beantown.
BEST Year 1: BC’s James Hagens, BU’s Cole Hutson among top 2024-25 freshmen
Boston College entered last season with a star-studded lineup led by highly anticipated national leading scorer Ryan Leonard and 2023 NHL first-round pick Gabe Perreault. The Eagles advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but lost to Denver in the 2023 title game. But with Leonard and Perreault signed to NHL contracts in the spring, there’s a lot of work to do to replace the offensive game. The pressure is on top players like James Hagens to take the next step and lead BC to its first national title since 2012.
After making the Frozen Four the last three years, Boston U is trying to win its first title since 2009. BU’s 2024-25 roster was loaded with future NHL talent, but there were underclassmen whose lack of experience forced some time to adjust. The first half of last season was also a goaltending struggle, but the January addition of Mikhail Egorov turned the season around and the Terriers made a run to the state title game. This year, with top talents like Cole Eisermann and Sacha Boumedien more experienced and Egorov playing a full season, the Terriers have high hopes for another deep playoff run. But can they finally get over the hump?
5. Which dark horses could crash the NCAA tournament?
Last season showed that the Frozen Four isn’t just for blue bloods. Programs like Quinnipiac and Western Michigan have proven they can compete with college hockey giants. Now, with the CHL talent pooled across the country, we could see a number of under-the-radar teams in the NCAA tournament.
Some teams to watch out for include No. 18 Minnesota State, No. 14 Arizona State, and Bowling Green, each of which is entering the offseason through the transfer portal and new NCAA rules. No. 16 Ohio State and No. 20 Wisconsin could also make some noise in the crowded Big Ten.
6. Is it hockey’s turn on the big stage?
The 2025-26 season is packed with events that will put men’s college hockey in the national spotlight like never before. In January, Penn State will host Michigan State outdoors at Beaver Stadium, giving fans the chance to watch a top-tier college game in an arena reminiscent of the NHL’s Winter Classic. And for the first time, the nation’s top college players will compete as part of the USA Collegiate Selection Team at the prestigious Spengler Cup in Switzerland, showcasing top-level college talent against internationally recognized and professional competition.
With a star-studded roster, a talent pool deeper than ever, and these one-of-a-kind events, college hockey will be must-see TV in 2025-26.
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