NCAA
NCHC Conference Schedule and Changes
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has unveiled its 2024-2025 conference schedule, marking several significant changes. For the first time in its 12-year history, the conference will feature 108 regular-season contests, with all nine teams playing a 24-game NCHC slate. The season begins on November 8 and concludes on March 8, with the NCHC regular-season champion winning the Julie and Spencer Penrose Memorial Cup. Arizona State joins the NCHC as a new member, starting with their first conference games against Colorado College on November 8-9. The NCHC has adopted a new scheduling model based on three-team pods: Arizona State, Colorado College, and Denver; Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota, and St. Cloud State; and Miami, Omaha, and Western Michigan. Each team will play home and away series against the other two teams in their pod and additional games against non-pod teams.
ECAC Hockey Schedule and Traditions
ECAC Hockey has released its 2024-25 men's league schedule, maintaining its traditional balanced schedule where each program plays its 11 competitors once at home and once on the road. The season starts on October 25 and ends on March 22 with the ECAC Men's Hockey Championship at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. The regular season winner claims the Cleary Cup and the number one seed in the ECAC Hockey Championship tournament. The playoff structure includes a First Round, best-of-three Quarterfinals, and the Championship Weekend. Last season, Quinnipiac won the regular season title, and Cornell captured the ECAC Tournament championship.
Independent Teams and NCAA Schedule
The 2024-2025 NCAA Division I independent men's ice hockey season begins on October 4, 2024, and concludes on March 1, 2025. This season marks the 131st year of varsity ice hockey in the United States and involves five independent teams. The NCAA tournament schedule follows the regular season, with key dates including NCAA Regionals from March 27-30, Frozen Four Semifinals on April 10, and the National Championship on April 12.
NCHC Playoff Structure and Final Tournament
The NCHC playoff structure includes a Play-In Game on March 12 between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds, followed by best-of-three Quarterfinals from March 14-16. The winners advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, held at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on March 21-22. This will be the final year the Frozen Faceoff is held at this location, as it will move to campus sites starting in 2026.
NCDC and Developmental Hockey
The National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) also kicks off its season, marking its eighth campaign. The NCDC season starts on September 19, 2024, with games across the Atlantic, New England, and Mountain Divisions. The season includes several highly-scouted showcases and an All-Star Event. The NCDC is a crucial feeder program for NCAA Division I hockey, with over 165 players committed to NCAA schools in the previous season.
Key Dates and Season Highlights
Key dates for the NCAA hockey season include the official start date of October 5, the first NCHC conference games on November 8, and the ECAC league's first contest on October 25. The season is filled with rivalry games, such as the Gold Pan series between Denver and Colorado College, and significant playoff matchups. The NCAA Regionals, Frozen Four, and National Championship games are pivotal events in the postseason.