| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | College ice hockey |
Number of tournaments | 28 |
| Teams | 4 |
| Current champion | |
| Arizona State | |
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 2025 edition was hosted by Arizona State. [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 |
| Arizona State | 1 | 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 |