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The Pioneers are gearing up for what they hope is a successful national title defense.
As the leaves start to change color, the puck is set to drop on a new season of NCAA Men’s Hockey in the U.S. With the new rules regarding major junior players’ participation, the collegiate game is better than it has ever been.
Deeper rosters, thrilling stars and future NHLers are balancing both their athletic and academic careers, all to the enjoyment of us university hockey fanatics. Heading into the 2026-27 campaign, there are several teams expected to do well. Whether it be thanks to returning players or new faces on campus, many of the NCAA’s blue bloods are set to have another strong season, with a few surprises brewing as well. Calgary Flames ) leading a solid veteran core.
Goaltender Johnny Hicks surprised everyone with his incredible run in the second semester and is hoping to pick up right where he left off.last year was the Wolverines, as the Maize and Blue fell in double overtime in the Frozen Four semifinals. It seemed that Michigan only got better from 2025-26, thanks to a number of key returners to Brandon Naurato’s lineup,in their arsenal.
A player with a skill set that would fit right into the program now gives Michigan one of the best blue lines in the country, let alone the Big Ten. Along with DuPoint, the Wolverines have, who decided to return for his sophomore season, rather than join the Canadiens during last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.prospect Jack Ivankovic between the pipes.
While the former Brampton Steelhead had some growing pains in his rookie season with U-M, expect to see him develop into a complete goaltender this year.. Yet, Dane Jackson has so much talent, both old and new, that it’s hard not to see North Dakota back in the Frozen Four once again this spring. , but North Dakota has so much in their arsenal that can challenge Denver for the top spot in the NCHC.
Cole Reschny was exciting to watch in his rookie campaign, with the Flames draft pick projected to do even more. Same goes for Will Zellers is coming off an 81-point season with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.
Then there’sdraft pick Shane Vansaghi has shown glimpses of being a future NHLer, but has some proving to do heading into his third year. Also, Cayden Lindstrom needs to show a little more consistency and some discipline if he wants to be a true threat for the Spartans. Every year, the basic fans tend to overlook the Bobcats because they don’t have the “NHL star power” that some of the other schools have.
However, in my years of covering college hockey, you never count out a Rand Pecknold team, especially with the amount of players that are back in Hamden this year. 16 players are back on the Bobcats roster this year, an unheard-of number in today’s world of collegiate athletics. Leading the pack is the guy who led college hockey in scoring last year, Flames prospect Ethan Wyttenbach.
Some wondered if the freshman would turn pro after one year at QU, but he decided to come back and play with an experienced bunch that features Bruins draft picks Chris Pelosi and Ethan Groenewold, as well as Canucks prospect Matthew Lansing. The Bobcats are inheriting some players who have done some winning lately. Dylan Edwards and Sharks goaltending prospect Christian Kirsch were part of the Kitchener Rangers team that won the Memorial Cup.
Kirsch is expected to play the bulk of the games for the Bobcats, while Edwards is going to be an X-factor offensively for the program. Y’all…the Bulldogs might be one of the most exciting teams to watch this year.
Sure, UMD came short of the Frozen Four last year, but they have the firepower to outgun the best teams in the country, and their star players are a little bit older.in his sophomore campaign, and is only going to get better the more he plays in Duluth. Expect him to be on a line with his brother, Zam , as well as Jayson Shaugabay.
The trio spent more of 2025-26 together, and were one of the more formidable lines in college hockey. Did I forget to mention that there’s a third Plante? Max and Zam’s younger brother, Victor, is joining the program after Detroit took him in the second round last June. Goaltending is going to look a little different in Duluth.
With Adam Gajan joining the Blackhawks, expect Scott Sandelin to turn to rookie Carl Axelsson. TheI don’t know what it is, but the Bagers were just annoyingly fun to watch last season. They weren’t flashy, especially compared to other teams in the Big Ten, but they were efficient. It’s the formula that has made Mike Hastings one of the more underrated coaches in college hockey, and helped Wisconsin make a surprising run to the Frozen Four last spring.
However, the veterans on the Badgers heading into 2026-27 suggest they can hang with the best in their conference again. Gavin Morrissey, who led the team with 36 points last year, is at the top of a strong undrafted contingent that features Oliver Tulk, Ryan Botterill and goaltender Daniel Hauser. Hauser will have some help between the pipes this year, as Canadiens prospect Alexis Cournoyer transferred over from Cornell. The biggest addition this year has to be J.J.
Wiebusch. After becoming a hero with Penn State, the junior has joined Wisconsin, giving them a needed boost up front. Let’s call a spade a spade…Hockey East was terrible last year.
However, the Friars were one of the conference’s bright spots, despite not going far in the national tournament. What Nate Leaman and his staff did this past year was structured to make Providence better on all fronts. Whileturned pro, the team is getting back its top two scorers in John Mustard and Logan Sawyer .
The Friars have a very strong freshman class, with some notable names coming out of the Canadian junior ranks, including Carter Klippenstein and Thomas Vandenberg . I’m really excited to see what Lightning prospect Everett Baldwin can do on defense. He established himself as a two-way threat with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.draft pick John Parsons could be the team’s 1A netminder this year after sharing the net with Philip Svedeback in 2025-26.
Yet, North Dakota transfer Gibson Homer can provide quality starts if need be. I was going back and forth on including the Eagles in the top 10 to start the year. The program lost some notable assets from recent years –to name a few – but there’s enough returning faces that can help turn BC’s fortunes around after a down season.
Dean Letourneau was a pleasant surprise last season, going from a whole three points in his freshman campaign to 22 goals and 39 points a year ago. The Bruins draft pick is hoping to have an even better output in his junior season, with Ryan Conmy and Will Moore also looking to have a greater impact.
World Juniors hero and Predators prospect Teddy Stiga had a slight dip in his sophomore year, but has the tools to be one of Boston College’s top scoring threats. What makes this Eagles team different from years past is how they’ll rely heavily on undrafted veterans. Players like Will Vote, Jake Sondreal and Luke Radivojevic will be playing some big minutes for Greg Brown’s squad..
The team ended up finishing third in the NCHC, but were just one win away from getting back to the Frozen Four, but fell to the Pioneers in the regional finals.all joining the pro ranks, too. Yet, as Pat Ferschweiler has done every year he has been at the helm, he has filled the gaps by bringing in talent from elsewhere to keep the Broncos near the top of the polls.
William Whitelaw and Zaccharya Wisdon were key transfers prior to last season. This year, 11 new names are looking to help the team. With Hampton Slukynsky gone, Western Michigan is getting a quality goaltender in Quentin Miller, who transferred from rival Denver. Wild draft pick Adam Benak and Jets prospect Edison Engle were both key players with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs last season.
One aspect that could be the difference in WMU’s national standing is the return of Joona Vaisanen. The Penguins prospect suffered a season-ending injury after just seven games, leaving a sizeable gap on the team’s blue line. If he can stay healthy, the Broncos will have one of the best D-corps in the NCHC.
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