Tournament information | |
---|---|
Sport | College ice hockey |
Number of tournaments | 27 |
Teams | 4 |
Current champion | |
Omaha |
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]
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]
† Michigan and North Dakota declined to participate in a shootout to determine a winner [5]
Team | # of times participated | Titles | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Boston College | 6 | 4 | Hockey East |
Minnesota | 5 | 3 | Big Ten |
Boston University | 4 | 3 | Hockey East |
New Hampshire | 3 | 2 | Hockey East |
North Dakota | 5 | 2 | NCHC |
Michigan State | 5 | 1 | Big Ten |
Notre Dame | 4 | 1 | Big Ten |
Ohio State | 4 | 1 | Big Ten |
Air Force | 3 | 1 | Atlantic Hockey |
Denver | 3 | 1 | NCHC |
Michigan | 3 | 1 | Big Ten |
Nebraska–Omaha | 2 | 1 | NCHC |
St. Cloud | 2 | 1 | NCHC |
Colorado College | 1 | 1 | NCHC |
Michigan Tech | 1 | 1 | CCHA |
Vermont | 1 | 1 | Hockey East |
Maine | 4 | 0 | Hockey East |
Minnesota–Duluth | 4 | 0 | NCHC |
Clarkson | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
Rensselaer | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
St. Lawrence | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
Union | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
Wisconsin | 4 | 0 | Big Ten |
Army | 3 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
Bowling Green | 2 | 0 | CCHA |
Colgate | 2 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
Holy Cross | 2 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
Providence | 2 | 0 | Hockey East |
Bemidji State | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
Findlay | 1 | 0 | CHA |
Lake Superior State | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
Massachusetts | 1 | 0 | Hockey East |
Massachusetts–Lowell | 1 | 0 | Hockey East |
Mercyhurst | 1 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
Miami | 1 | 0 | NCHC |
Minnesota State | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
Northeastern | 1 | 0 | Hockey East |
Northern Michigan | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
Quinnipiac | 1 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
RIT | 1 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
Western Michigan | 1 | 0 | NCHC |
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is a college ice hockey conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a women's-only conference.
College Hockey America (CHA) was a college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference's final membership featured six women's teams, with three in Pennsylvania; two in New York, and one in Missouri.
The 2006 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 24, 2006, and ended with the championship game on April 8. A total of 15 games were played.
The 2005 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 25, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 9. A total of 15 games were played.
The 2004 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 26, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 10. A total of 15 games were played. This was the first season in which the Atlantic Hockey sent a representative to the tournament. Atlantic Hockey assumed possession of the automatic bid that had been the possession of the MAAC after it collapsed and all remaining ice hockey programs formed the new conference.
College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America.
The Boston College Eagles are an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The team has competed in Hockey East since 1984, having previously played in the ECAC. The Eagles have won five national championships, the most recent coming in 2012. Home games have been played at Kelley Rink at Conte Forum, named in honor of long-time BC hockey coach John "Snooks" Kelley, since 1986, having previously played at McHugh Forum. The Eagles are coached by former Eagles and NHL defenseman Greg Brown, who recently took over the reins after the retirement of Jerry York.
The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Bemidji State University. The Beavers are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and play at Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota, as of the 2010 season, after previously playing at the John S. Glas Field House.
The 2001 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the 42nd conference playoff in league history and 48th season where a WCHA champion was crowned. The 2001 tournament was played between March 9 and March 17, 2001, at five conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, the home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. By winning the tournament, St. Cloud State was awarded the Broadmoor Trophy and received the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament. This was the inaugural year in which the Xcel Energy Center hosted the WCHA final five and it remained there until the conclusion of the 2013 tournament.
The Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is the conference tournament for the Big Ten Conference. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
The 2017–18 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey team represented the University of Minnesota Duluth in intercollegiate college ice hockey during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The head coach was Scott Sandelin and the team captain was Karson Kuhlman. The team won the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The team's leading scorer was Scott Perunovich, who was only the fourth defencemen to lead a championship team in scoring (Bob Heathcott, 1952; Dan Lodboa, 1970; Craig Norwich, 1977).
The 1957–58 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey team represented University of Denver in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach Murray Armstrong the team compiled a 24–10–2 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time. The Pioneers defeated North Dakota 6–2 in the championship game at the Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first national title not held at the Broadmoor Ice Palace. Denver became the first team to win its inaugural championship appearance since Michigan in 1948, the first time the tournament was held.
The 1958–59 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team represented the University of North Dakota in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach Bob May, the team compiled a 20–10–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the second time. The Fighting Sioux defeated Michigan State 4–3 in overtime to win the championship game at the RPI Field House in Troy, New York, the first national title hosted by an eastern school.
The 1964–65 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team represented Michigan Tech University in college ice hockey. In its 9th year under head coach John MacInnes the team compiled a 24–5–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in its history. The Huskies defeated Boston College 8–2 in the championship game at the Meehan Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island.
The 2021 NCHC Tournament was the eighth tournament in league history. Typically the tournament is scheduled across two separate weekends in mid-march with quarterfinal games hosted on campus locations, while the final four games are played at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. However, on February 8, 2021, NCHC announced that the tournament would be played entirely in Grand Forks. By winning the tournament, North Dakota earned NCHC's automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
The 2021–22 Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey season was the 66th season of play for the program. The team represented Bemidji State University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season and for the first season in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The Beavers were coached by Tom Serratore, in his 21st season, and played their home games at Sanford Center.
The 2022–23 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season was the 74th season of play for the program and 10th in the NCHC. The Pioneers represented the University of Denver in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, were coached by David Carle in his 5th season and played their home games at Magness Arena.
The 2022–23 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey season was the 82nd season of play for the program and 10th in the NCHC. The Fighting Hawks represented the University of North Dakota in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season were coached by Brad Berry in his 8th season and played their home games at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The 2004–05 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season was the 56th season of play for the program and 46th in the WCHA. The Pioneers represented the University of Denver in the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at Magness Arena and were coached by George Gwozdecky, in his 11th season. The team won the 2005 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, the 7th title in program history.