Ice Breaker Tournament

Last updated
Ice Breaker Tournament
Tournament information
Sport College ice hockey
Number of
tournaments
27
Teams4
Current champion
North Dakota

The Ice Breaker Tournament (also called the Ice Breaker Invitational or the Ice Breaker Cup) is a college Division I men's ice hockey tournament played annually at the start of each season. [1]

Contents

The tournament began play in 1997 as an exhibition [2] and was created as an early-season showcase for top-ranked teams from four separate conferences. After the first year the games became an official part of the NCAA season and counted towards the standings. The participants are selected partially based upon their pre-season rankings with one of the four usually serving as the host. Twice, in 2010 and 2012, local sports commissions served as hosts when there was no local university available. Only Minnesota has played in consecutive Ice Breaker Tournaments (2013, 2014). The tournament is typically held during the opening weekend of college hockey season.

Due to the 2020 edition being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was held twice in 2021 in successive weeks. The first tournament (East) had a predetermined schedule rather than utilizing an elimination format; the winner and placement was determined by highest record in the two games. The second tournament (West) returned to the normal championship/consolation format. [3]

The 2022 edition was co-hosted by Air Force and Denver, necessitating a predetermined schedule rather than an elimination format. The 2023 edition was co-hosted by Bemidji State and North Dakota. [4]

Yearly results

YearChampionRunner-upThird placeFourth placeVenue (Host)
2024 TBDTBDTBDTBD Orleans Arena (Minnesota)
2023 North Dakota Bemidji State Wisconsin Army Sanford Center (Bemidji)

Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks)

2022 Denver Maine Air Force Notre Dame Cadet Ice Arena (Colorado Springs)

Magness Arena (Denver)

2021 (West) Michigan Minnesota State Minnesota Duluth Providence AMSOIL Arena (Duluth)
2021 (East) Boston College Quinnipiac Northeastern Holy Cross DCU Center (Holy Cross)
2019 Ohio State RIT Western Michigan Bowling Green Huntington Center (Bowling Green)
2018 Notre Dame Providence Miami Mercyhurst Erie Insurance Arena (Mercyhurst)
2017 Michigan Tech Minnesota–Duluth Minnesota Union AMSOIL Arena (Duluth)
2016 Air Force Ohio State Boston College Denver Magness Arena (Denver)
2015 North Dakota Maine Michigan State Lake Superior State Cumberland County Civic Center (Maine)
2014 Minnesota Rensselaer Minnesota–Duluth Notre Dame Compton Family Ice Arena (Notre Dame)
2013 Minnesota New Hampshire Clarkson Mercyhurst Mariucci Arena (Minnesota)
2012 Notre Dame Nebraska–Omaha Maine Army Sprint Center (Kansas City Sports Commission)
2011 Boston College North Dakota Michigan State Air Force Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota)
2010 Boston University Notre Dame Wisconsin Holy Cross Scottrade Center (St. Louis Sports Commission)
2009 Nebraska–Omaha Massachusetts–Lowell St. Lawrence Army Qwest Center (Nebraska–Omaha)
2008 Boston University Michigan State Massachusetts North Dakota Agganis Arena (Boston University)
2007 Minnesota Michigan Boston College Rensselaer Xcel Energy Center (Minnesota)
2006 Vermont Miami Denver Colgate Goggin Ice Arena (Miami)
2005 Colorado College Maine Air Force Union World Arena (Colorado College)
2004 New Hampshire St. Lawrence St. Cloud State Ohio State Whittemore Center (New Hampshire)
2003 Boston College Findlay Michigan State Minnesota–Duluth Munn Ice Arena (Michigan State)
2002 Boston University Renssealer Wisconsin Northern Michigan Kohl Center (Wisconsin)
2001 St. Cloud State Maine Bowling Green Clarkson Alfond Arena (Maine)
2000 New Hampshire Colgate Michigan
North Dakota
None† Yost Ice Arena (Michigan)
1999 Denver Providence Notre Dame Union Magness Arena (Denver)
1998 Boston College St. Lawrence Minnesota Ohio State Mariucci Arena (Minnesota)
1997 Michigan State Wisconsin Boston University Clarkson Dane County Coliseum (Wisconsin)

Michigan and North Dakota declined to participate in a shootout to determine a winner [5]

Team records

Team# of times participatedTitlesConference
Boston College64 Hockey East
Minnesota53 Big Ten
Boston University43 Hockey East
New Hampshire32 Hockey East
North Dakota52 NCHC
Michigan State51 Big Ten
Notre Dame41 Big Ten
Ohio State41 Big Ten
Air Force31 Atlantic Hockey
Denver31 NCHC
Michigan31 Big Ten
Nebraska–Omaha21 NCHC
St. Cloud21 NCHC
Colorado College11 NCHC
Michigan Tech11 CCHA
Vermont11 Hockey East
Maine40 Hockey East
Minnesota–Duluth40 NCHC
Clarkson30 ECAC Hockey
Rensselaer30 ECAC Hockey
St. Lawrence30 ECAC Hockey
Union30 ECAC Hockey
Wisconsin40 Big Ten
Army30 Atlantic Hockey
Bowling Green20 CCHA
Colgate20 ECAC Hockey
Holy Cross20 Atlantic Hockey
Providence20 Hockey East
Bemidji State10 CCHA
Findlay10 CHA
Lake Superior State10 CCHA
Massachusetts10 Hockey East
Massachusetts–Lowell10 Hockey East
Mercyhurst10 Atlantic Hockey
Miami10 NCHC
Minnesota State10 CCHA
Northeastern10 Hockey East
Northern Michigan10 CCHA
Quinnipiac10 ECAC Hockey
RIT10 Atlantic Hockey
Western Michigan10 NCHC

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References

  1. "Ice Breaker Tournament". College Hockey Inc. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  2. "BU men's Hockey Record Book" (PDF). Boston University Terriers. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  3. "Holy Cross to host 2021 Ice Breaker Tournament". Holy Cross Crusaders. February 13, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  4. "Bemidji State, North Dakota to co-host 2023 Ice Breaker Tournament". College Hockey Inc. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. "Michigan, North Dakota Settle for Tie in Ice Breaker, 5-5". USCHO. 2000-10-07. Retrieved 2017-01-20.