With the college hockey season quickly approaching, it has reached the time where we go on a largely fruitless but endlessly enjoyable mission to try to predict the order of finish in the NCHC.
As per tradition, we begin by reminding you 1) of last season’s standings, and 2) how your humble correspondent predicted them before the season began.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. North Dakota (predicted 2nd)
2. Denver (3rd)
3. Western Michigan (1st)
4. UMD (4th)
5. St. Cloud State (8th)
6. Colorado College (5th)
7. Miami (9th)
8. Omaha (7th)
9. Arizona State (6th)
Let’s not loiter too much here, and get right into the predictions that will very likely be wrong (though, comparatively speaking, last year was not bad at all!).
10 THOUGHTS
1. UMD Bulldogs
2025-26: 24-15-1 overall, 11-12-1 NCHC (4th)
Lost to Michigan in NCAA Albany Regional final
I feel like waking up
I’ve had this dream before
I’ll take these footsteps
Go higher, go higher
Look, this is fraught with peril, and I know that. The NCHC is the best league in the country, UMD hasn’t won a conference regular season title since 1993 (so long ago that the captain of that team turned pro, won a Stanley Cup, got married, started a family, and sired the current team’s projected top line since it last happened), and it’s not like the Bulldogs come back with no question marks.
But here’s my reasoning: Yes, UMD has to find a goaltender (more to come, and you should trust the likes of Scott Sandelin and Brant Nicklin with this stuff). Yes, that’s still an important position. No, I don’t think anyone in the building necessarily knows who that guy will be.
However, let’s be fair about this. Max Plante was the best player in the country last season. He won every award there is to win in order to display that, including the Hobey Baker. And he’s back, along with older brother Zam Plante, who might have been UMD’s best player in the postseason (all due respect to Max, mind you), and 17 other players off last season’s team.
Yes, UMD returns 19 players. It lost five seniors, goalie Adam Gajan turned pro with Chicago, and forward Daniel Shlaine was the only player who had eligibility remaining but chose to transfer.
The Bulldogs only brought in five freshmen, choosing to fill the other two spots with transfer portal additions. And one of them (Barrett Hall) figures to play in the top six. The other (Peyton Platter) will center a bottom six line at the outset, but he is a guy who could play up the lineup if the need arose.
To me, the Plantes, Jayson Shaugabay, Hall, Hunter Anderson (look out), Ty Hanson, and Adam Kleber give UMD a top end that’s unmatched in the conference. Yes, other teams full of high draft picks fresh out of juniors (often major juniors) might have more upside, but UMD’s floor is much lower, and much of its high-end talent has already proven itself at this level.
You can’t win the league in November, but you can put yourself in a great position to do so by starting strong.
Biggest question: Who starts in goal? Sandelin will play coy about it, but freshman Carl Axelsson is going to be given every chance to win the job. Junior Ethan Dahlmeir and sophomore Cole Sheffield are back, and they might get some opportunity in October to show what they can do. I do expect, however, that Axelsson would be the choice of the coaches to start those first big games of the year against Minnesota in mid-October, if everything goes according to whatever the plan has been coming in.
Projected ceiling: 1st
Projected floor: 4th
2. North Dakota Fighting Hawks
2025-26: 29-10-1 overall, 17-6-1 NCHC (1st)
Lost to Wisconsin in NCAA Frozen Four semifinal
I’m comin’ home, I’m comin’ home
Tell the world I’m comin’ home
Let the rain wash away
All the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits
And they’ve forgiven my mistakes
I’m comin’ home, I’m comin’ home
Tell the world I’m comin’
–> Diddy – Dirty Money, “Coming Home (ft. Skylar Grey)
Under first-year coach Dane Jackson, North Dakota finished two wins short of doing what North Dakota did under first-year coach Brad Berry a decade earlier. The Fighting Hawks lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Wisconsin at the Frozen Four in Vegas, but getting back there after a couple tough seasons (by their extremely lofty standards) was a huge step.
There was turnover, but Jackson and his staff — led on the recruiting trail by GM Bryn Chyzyk — have restocked impressively. Cole Reschny and Will Zellers lead the returning forward group, with UND adding transfers Kasper Magnussen (Bemidji State) and Hudson Malinoski (Providence). A large recruiting class includes the very talented Cooper Simpson of Shakopee, who should figure in quickly.
The back end has some new faces, including top prospects Carson Carels and Ethan MacKenzie, along with Arizona State transfer Brasen Boser.
Jan Spunar returns in goal, with USHL standout Caleb Heil joining. He’ll likely get a chance to play some this season, giving North Dakota even more strength at what was already a strong position.
Biggest question: Can UND reload its top spots both at forward and defense? Top line center Ellis Rickwood graduated, and both members of UND’s top defensive pair (Jake Livanavage and Abram Wiebe) turned pro. This isn’t a major concern, given the talent that’s been added, but it still bears watching in the season’s first month and change.
Projected ceiling: 1st
Projected floor: 4th
3. Denver Pioneers
2025-26: 29-11-3 overall, 17-6-1 NCHC (2nd)
Beat Wisconsin in NCAA final
This is what you asked for, heavy is the crownFire in the sunrise, ashes rainin’ down
–> Linkin Park, “Heavy is the Crown”
This was not an easy placement. I actually wrestled with these three teams an awful lot before settling on this top three, and Denver’s reputation is one of the biggest reasons why it was so difficult.
Let’s start with what Denver has back.
Johnny Hicks.
And that might be enough. The super-athletic goalie took over just past midseason after classmate Quentin Miller suffered an injury. And Miller didn’t play again for DU (he transferred to Western Michigan).
All Hicks did was go 16-0-1 with a 1.19 goals against and .957 (!) save percentage after taking over. He was great from the second he took over in goal, and his return instantly makes Denver a national contender, no matter what was lost elsewhere.
And there’s a lot lost.
Hobey Baker finalist Eric Pohlkamp turned pro, as did his most-of-the-time partner Boston Buckberger. Rieger Lorenz is gone, as is Samu Salminen.
But don’t cry for David Carle and his incredible staff. They added one of the best recruiting classes in the country, including a lot of names you’ll want to know. Forwards Mikey Berchild, Ryan Miller, and Jack Pridham will all be big-time players, as will defensemen Blake Fiddler, Ryan Lin, and Daxon Rudolph.
But Hicks is the key.
Biggest question: Can Denver quickly replace the likes of Pohlkamp and Lorenz, who carried a lot of the offensive load? After a trip to Carle’s hometown of Anchorage and a weekend off, the schedule ramps up quickly with Michigan and Boston College visiting Magness Arena on consecutive weekends. Those are huge games, and the Pioneers will need to learn quickly who can play major roles on their team. Well, the major roles in front of Hicks.
Projected ceiling: 1st
Projected floor: 4th
4. Western Michigan Broncos
2025-26: 27-11-1 overall, 16-7-1 NCHC (3rd)
Lost to Denver in NCAA Loveland Regional final
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
Lawson Ice Arena is a relic. I know my opinion on the matter isn’t universally-held, but it’s one of my all-time favorite buildings to work in.
Not for the amenities. Or the food. Or the climate-control situation.
It’s all about the atmosphere (and the accessibility, at least for a fully-abled but fat radio guy). Yes, there’s a lot of swearing, and swearing isn’t for everyone.
But Lawson Ice Arena is unmatched when it comes to environments where it’s fun as hell to work a game. The noise is nearly constant, and the press box is right on top of the ice, so you can see everything and practically feel it as well. I’ve found it nearly impossible to have a bad night there, because the games are fast-paced and the building is constant noise with a ton of character and some great traditions.
(Among the non-vulgar things the Lunatics do that are great fun would be the first intermission “Livin’ On A Prayer” singalong that just hits different than it does anywhere else.)
This is Lawson’s last season, and we’re going to miss the place.
Oh, and Western is still pretty good. Miller taking over in goal after transferring from Denver is a huge get for the Broncos, who lost the Slukynsky brothers (Grant and Hampton) to the Los Angeles Kings.
But the Broncos return William Whitelaw and Zaccharya Wisdom, among others, up front, while adding the likes of Adam Benak (Wild draft pick and Czech World Junior standout) and Tommy Lafreniere. The back end returns Joona Väisänen, who missed most of last season with an injury, and Pat Ferschweiler was excited about the Christmas addition of defenseman Alex Calbeck, who came in to help provide depth and showed a lot of promise.
Biggest question: Do the Broncos have enough depth on defense? Ferschweiler dipped into the portal again, which has provided them great success in the past, to add Colgate blue-liner Michael Neumeier, but Western will mostly be relying on returnees (and the phenomenal Väisänen being back is huge). It felt at times last year that Western Michigan was one defenseman away from being an even bigger threat to win it all. If that’s Väisänen and all the other pieces are in place, look out. They might be able to close Lawson with a title, and there is no better way to do that.
Projected ceiling: 1st
Projected floor: 5th
5. Miami Redhawks
2025-26: 18-16-2 overall, 9-13-2 NCHC (7th)
Lost to Denver in NCHC quarterfinal
Can you feel the hairs stand on the back of your neck?
Can you feel your heart beating right out of your chest?
Can you feel your bones ache like there’s something within?
Can you feel your blood pumping inside of your skin?
–> Asking Alexandria, “They Don’t Want What We Want (And They Don’t Care)”
I made the joke on the radio a couple weeks ago, before my preseason chat with Miami coach Anthony Noreen.
If Miami pulls off another 15-win improvement, the RedHawks are going to bring a national championship to Oxford.
It’s, trust me, a lot easier said than done. The next step — earning home ice and potentially returning to the NCAA Tournament — is the hardest one to make.
But I think Miami is ready to make it. Noreen returns some impressive talent, led by Buffalo first-rounder Ilya Morozov. He was the youngest player in college hockey last season, which is saying a lot considering how young this sport is becoming. And the best is yet to come from him.
David Deputy, Kocha Delic, Doug Grimes, Matteo Giampa, Vladislav Lukashevich, and goalie Matteo Drobac are among the returners who had quality seasons last year.
Biggest question: Miami resurged as a program, brought the fans and great atmosphere back to Coach Cady Arena, and now has actual expectations for the first time in years. The building will be rocking, but can Miami take this difficult next step? I felt the RedHawks wore down a bit as last season went on, but some of that is to be expected for a team with 21 newcomers that was adjusting on the fly as it became harder and harder to “sneak up” on adversaries. I don’t know what we’ll learn about this team in October and November, but I’ll be watching closely in January and February.
Projected ceiling: 4th
Projected floor: 7th
6. St. Thomas Tommies
2025-26: 21-12-5 overall, 15-7-4 CCHA (2nd)
Lost to Minnesota State in CCHA final
Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games
We got everything you want, honey, we know the names
–> Guns N’ Roses, Welcome to the Jungle
What’s new is old again? Sort of?
St. Thomas joins the NCHC this season, and the Tommies are bringing an old friend back to the league. Rico Blasi was hired in St. Paul to lead the transition to Division I, and man alive has it gone well. St. Thomas was quickly competitive in a quality league (the CCHA), and UST picked up 20 wins last season and just missed the NCAAs in its CCHA swan song.
Blasi knows the league, but his players will need to experience it on a nightly basis.
St. Thomas has been active in the portal, adding older forwards Winter Wallace (Cornell), Kevin Anderson (Princeton), and Quinn Rudrud (Augustana). Players like Nick Williams and Chase Cheslock key an older defensive corps. Big Carsen Musser returns in goal after some ups and downs in his sophomore season (transferred from Colorado College after his freshman year).
Biggest question: The Tommies are entering a new league, a tougher league, and we’ll need to see how their players adjust. The schedule is daunting, as they’ll play North Dakota and Denver before Thanksgiving. If there’s any period of adjustment, can the Tommies win enough to keep their heads above water?
Projected ceiling: 5th
Projected floor: 8th
7. Colorado College Tigers
2025-26: 13-17-6 overall, 7-11-6 NCHC (6th)
Lost to Western Michigan in NCHC quarterfinal
Miss the beat, you lose the rhythmAnd nothing falls into placeOnly missed by a fractionSlipped a little off your pace
Colorado College has been a darling for analytics types. The Tigers were mostly a top 20 team in terms of generating scoring chances last season, but CC only scored on 8.3 percent of shots on goal, ranking 57th nationally.
In a season where the Tigers lost top defenseman Max Burkholder for the season very early, CC’s defensive play and goaltending were not consistent enough to overcome the offensive struggles.
Colorado College scored two or fewer goals in 14 of its 17 losses last season, which is a non-existent margin for error, no matter who is in goal.
Now Kris Mayotte’s Tigers move on without standout goalie Kaidan Mbereko. Michal Pradel, a top goalie from Slovakia, joins this year and will compete with returning Jackson Unger for playing time.
Up front, the Tigers return big forward Klavs Veinbergs, along with seniors Drew Montgomery, Bret Link, and Riley Stuart, all quality players who will be looking to have big years before graduating. Burkholder is back for his senior season, providing some needed offense from the back end along with leadership.
Defenseman Mats Lindgren, who came in at midseason last year, helps give the Tigers quality blue-line depth with offensive upside.
Biggest question: Can the Tigers score? They had no problem generating quality chances last year, but the finish wasn’t there. Even adding a half-goal per game to their average would probably be enough to get the Tigers to the NCAA bubble.
Projected ceiling: 5th
Projected floor: 9th
8. St. Cloud State Huskies
2025-26: 16-19-1 overall, 9-14-1 NCHC (5th)
Lost to UMD in NCHC quarterfinals
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
‘Cause I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
The Huskies played two quality games in the quarterfinals against UMD, leading both in the final minute before Zam Plante tying and winning goals both nights.
And the team that walked off the ice that Saturday night in Duluth will not remotely resemble the one that takes the ice Oct. 3 at Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Gone is head coach Brett Larson, who took the job at Minnesota. Gone is top-line center Tyson Gross, who signed with Calgary. Gone are Gross’ linemates, Austin Burnevik and Hall, who transferred to Minnesota and UMD, respectively.
Defensemen Tanner Henricks and Finn Loftus followed Larson to Minnesota, as well.
The new coach is SCSU alum Nick Oliver, who was on Larson’s staff at SCSU before joining Mike Hastings at Wisconsin. He was busy, adding 11 freshmen and six transfers.
Among the returners are sophomore goalie Yan Shostak, who will compete with Patriks Berzins again for playing time. Forwards Noah Urness and Nolan Roed return after strong freshman seasons. Pain-in-the-ass junior Gavyn Thoreson is back, and while he might not be an explosive offensive player, he’s a fan favorite (he’d be one anywhere he played) who will help lead this team by example if nothing else.
Oliver has shown himself to be a quality coach, and the cupboard here is not bare.
Biggest question: Can Oliver find some scoring? The Huskies struggled to generate consistent secondary scoring last year, and losing their top three forwards is not going to help that cause this season. Also, they’ll need a goalie, no matter which one, to take a big step forward as Oliver’s staff sorts out what they have for defensemen.
Projected ceiling: 5th
Projected floor: 9th
9. Omaha Mavericks
2025-26: 12-24 overall, 8-16 NCHC (8th)
Lost to North Dakota in NCHC quarterfinal
I try to take the pain away, nothing seems to changeWhen I go through hell, it’s when I know myselfAnd all the lies that I believe are digging me a graveBut when I go through hell, that’s where I find myselfRemade in misery
After a nice surge to the final NCHC Frozen Faceoff, Omaha fell off last season. An injury to senior goalie Simon Latkoczy affected most of his season, limiting him to 25 games and forcing Mike Gabinet’s team to play freshman goalie Dawson Cowan more than planned.
Making things more difficult, Omaha’s remade roster struggled with puck possession, scoring, and special teams. Maxime Pellerin led with 23 points, Marcus Nguyen with 11 goals. Gabinet, admittedly like just about every other coach, likes his mostly older freshman class, and Cowan is a better goalie for being thrown into the fire like was at times last year.
There’s some turnover here, with nine more freshmen coming in. And Cowan is now joined in goal by freshman Will Lacelle, who participated in World Junior camp for Canada and has a really neat story.
Watch out for small forwards Aiden Oiring and Gavin Hodnett, both of whom had nice overage years in major junior and could be able to help quickly if they can adjust to the college game.
Biggest question: Can the Mavericks slow down opposing offenses? Part of the team save percentage being only .888 last year was how Omaha often gave up too much possession and too many chances to adversaries. Cowan settling in as the goalie would be a huge step forward, but improvement defensively would go a long way toward helping him do that.
Projected ceiling: 6th
Projected floor: 10th
10. Arizona State Sun Devils
2025-26: 14-21-1 overall, 7-16-1 NCHC (9th)
Did not participate in postseason
I offer nothing whimsical here. We all know the story coming out of Tempe, involving sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich.
Instead of breaking down the roster or trying to offer any tangible analysis of the season ahead, I’m going to choose to use this space to send my prayers and well wishes to Matthew Mayich, his family, his friends, and his teammates, both at ASU and at his other stops in hockey.
We’re thinking of all of you during this awful time.
And I hope ASU’s players who may be struggling with what has happened are able to get the help they need to navigate a tragedy.
Please hug your loved ones. You just never know what will happen tomorrow.
Projected ceiling: 6th
Projected floor: 10th
______
That’s a heavy way to close this out, and this is an awkward way to move on. I’ve never been good at that kind of thing.
We will return with a more UMD-centric preview ahead of the opener against Long Island in two weeks.
Meanwhile, please subscribe to my podcast, which is available by searching my name just about anywhere you get podcasts. Subscribe, tap the bell so you can get notified of new episodes, and feel free to leave us a review, even if you think it sucks. We’ve got interviews up there already with Noreen (Miami), Sandelin (UMD), Gabinet (Omaha), and NCHC Director of Officiating Mike Schmitt. Plenty more to come as the opening weekend approaches. Appreciate everyone who has found us there in the first couple weeks of doing only a digital production.
Thanks for reading.
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