NCAA Skaters Named to NHL All-Star Teams

Several former NCAA skaters were recently named to the 2025-26 NHL All-Star Teams:

First All‑Star Team

D – Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (Massachusetts)

D – Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets (Michigan)

Werenski also claimed the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the NHL last season. 

Second All‑Star Team

LW – Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens (Wisconsin) 

Caufield also claimed the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly play.

All-Rookie Team

G - Jakub Dobes, Montreal Canadiens (Ohio State)

F - Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues (Minnesota)

Dobes led the Canadiens to the 2026 Eastern Conference final, while Snuggerud tied for second on his team with 51 points.

Canadiens Take 3-2 Series Lead over Sabres

Lane Hutson (Boston University) set up two goals, and Cole Caufield scored for the third straight game, as the Montreal Canadiens moved within one win of the Eastern Conference final with a 6-3 victory over the host Buffalo Sabres last night. Montreal, which trailed, 3-2, after 20 minutes of play, now leads the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series, three games to two.

Josh Doan (Arizona State) scored Buffalo's second goal, assisted by Owen Power (Michigan), as the Sabres outshot Montreal, 36-26, on the evening. Alex Newhook (Boston College) drew an assist on the game-winning goal for the Canadiens, giving him six points so far in five games. Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) made 33 saves in net for Montreal, which can wrap matters up Saturday night at home in Game Six. The series winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.

In the Western Conference last night, the visiting Vegas Golden Knights routed the Anaheim Ducks, 5-1, to wrap up that quarterfinal series in five games. The Golden Knights will now face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final.

Sabres Tie Up Series with Canadiens

Tage Thompson (UConn) tied the game on a fluke goal in the second period, and then assisted on the game-winner early in the third stanza, to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the host Montreal Canadiens last night in Game Four of their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The second-round 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff matchup is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five set for Thursday night in Buffalo.

Josh Doan (Arizona State) finished with two assists for the Sabres, who went 2-for-4 on the power play, including Thompson's blueline goal that banked off the left wing boards and into the Canadiens net. Alex Newhook (Boston College) scored his fifth goal in the last three games for Montreal, which also got a power-play goal from Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and 19 saves in net from Jakub Dobes (Ohio State).

Canadiens Take Lead over Sabres, Ducks Tie Vegas

Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) tallied three assists as the Anaheim Ducks tied their Stanley Cup Playoff series with a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. The best-of-seven Western Conference matchup is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five set for Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Alex Killorn (Harvard) notched a goal and an assist for the Ducks, while Jack Eichel (Boston University) set up two goals for the Golden Knights.

In the Eastern Conference, the host Montreal Canadiens took a two game to one lead with a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game Three of their series on Sunday. Alex Newhook (Boston College) notched his second two-goal game of the series for the Canadiens, who also got two points apiece from Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Lane Hutson (Boston University), plus 26 saves in net from Jakub Dobes (Ohio State). Tage Thompson (UConn) scored a goal and added an assist for the Sabres, who got 32 stops from Alex Lyon (Yale). Game Four is Tuesday in Montreal.

 

NCAA Skaters Stars in NHL Playoff Openers

The NHL's 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs got underway this weekend, with several former NCAA players playing key roles in Game One first-round victories.

•  Jackson Blake (North Dakota) had two assists as Carolina topped Ottawa, 2-0.

• Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored two goals and set up another as Minnesota routed host Dallas, 6-1.

• Porter Martone (Michigan State) notched his first career NHL playoff goal, the game-winner in Philadelphia's 3-2 victory at Pittsburgh.

• Logan O'Connor (Denver) scored the game-winner in Colorado's 2-1 triumph over Los Angeles, assisted by Jack Drury (Harvard).

• • Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) notched two assists, both on the power play, and Jakub Dobeš (Ohio State) made 20 saves in Montreal's 4-3 overtime win at Tampa Bay.

• Tage Thompson (UConn) scored two goals and added an assist as Buffalo rebounded for a 4-3 victory over Boston.

• Nic Dowd (St. Cloud State) collected the game-winner as Vegas outlasted Utah, 4-2.

The eighth series, between Anaheim and Edmonton, gets underway tonight.

NCAA Alumni Boost Habs to Playoff Win

The Montreal Canadiens clawed their way back into their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series tonight, thanks to contributions from several former NCAA skaters.

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Alex Newhook (Boston College) each tallied a goal and an assist, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped seven of eight shots in 20 minutes of relief to pick up the win in Montreal's 6-3 victory tonight over the visiting Washington Capitals. The Canadiens now trail the best-of-seven NHL postseason series, two games to one. 

Jake Evans (Notre Dame), Lane Hutson (Boston University) and Mike Matheson (Boston College) also recorded assists, as the Habs won their first postseason contest since the 2020 Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay. Game Four against Washington is slated for Sunday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

ADDENDUM: New Jersey also rebounded in its series against visiting Carolina, winning 3-2 in overtime on Friday to close within two games to one as defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) recorded 36-plus minutes of ice time for the victors. Edmonton did likewise in Game Three of its series Friday with visiting Los Angeles, winning by a 7-4 count as Zach Hyman (Michigan) notched two assists to help make it a two to one series. 

U.S. Tops Latvia at Worlds

Team USA finished the round robin portion of the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Czechia with a 6-3 win over Latvia on Tuesday. The U.S. eliminated Latvia from this year's medal competition. and also avenged the Americans' overtime loss to Latvia in last year's bronze medal game.

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) scored two goals and set up two others to lead America, while Shane Pinto (North Dakota) had two assists. Matt Boldy (Boston College), Zach Werenski (Michigan) and Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) provided a goal and an assist apiece, while Charlie Lindgren (St. Cloud State) stopped 27 of 30 Latvian shots on goal. Eduards Tralmaks (Maine) scored one of Latvia's three goals.

The U.S., which finished second in Group B, will now face host Czechia on Thursday in the quarterfinal round.

U.S. Rebounds with Two Wins at 2024 Worlds

The United States regained its winning ways late this week at the 2024 IIHF Men's World Championship in Czechia. Following a 5-4 overtime loss to Slovakia on May 13, the Americans rebounded for a 5-0 shutout of France on Thursday, followed by a 4-1 victory over Poland on Friday. 

Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored two goals and set up another for the U.S. versus France, while Brock Nelson (North Dakota) tallied a goal and two assists. Against Poland, Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) led the way with a goal and three assists, as Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) scored twice, Shane Pinto (North Dakota) assisted on a pair of goals, and Trey Augustine (Michigan State) stopped 20 of 21 shots against.

Team USA will return to Group B action on Sunday against Kazakhstan.

ADDENDUM: The U.S routed Kazakhstan, 10-1, as Boldy notched two goals and three assists, Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) recorded a goal and four assists, Tkachuk tallied three goals and an assist, and Zach Werenski (Michigan) set up three goals.

U.S. Falls in 2024 IIHF Worlds Opener

The United States got behind the proverbial eight-ball on its first day of competition at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Czechia on Friday. The U.S. fell to Sweden by a 5-2 count at Ostrava Arena in the opener of Group B play for both teams.

Zach Werenski (Michigan) and Brock Nelson (North Dakota) scored goals for the Americans, who got 33 saves in net from Alex Lyon (Yale). Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) and Matt Boldy (Boston College) picked up assists for the U.S., which will return to action today against Germany, while Sweden will face Poland on Sunday. 

Canada, which boasts almost a half-dozen former NCAA skaters on its roster, begins play today against Great Britain in Group A round-robin competition. The Canadians won last year's Worlds in Riga/Latvia, with Germany claiming the silver medal and co-host Latvia earning bronze. The U.S. finished fourth in 2023.

ADDENDUM: The U.S. rebounded for a 6-1 win over Germany, getting goals from six different scorers. Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) and Michael Kesselring (Northeastern) tallied a goal and an assist apiece for the Americans, who also got two assists each from Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Shane Pinto (North Dakota). Trey Augustine (Michigan State) made 12 saves on 13 shots in relief of Lyon (14 saves).

College Players Come Through for Canadiens

Wednesday evening in central Ohio was NCAA night for the Montreal Canadiens.

Alex Newhook (Boston College) and Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) scored goals for the Habs, and Mike Matheson recorded two assists in the third period for the visitors as Montreal outlasted the host Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, at Nationwide Arena. Zach Werenski (Michigan) set up one of Columbus' two goals, as the Bluejackets fell to 7-13-4 overall and four points behind Montreal in the NHL's Eastern Conference standings. 

Montreal improved to 10-10-2 with the victory, but fell back below the .500 mark the next night after a 5-1 loss to visiting Florida. Newhook, the Canadiens' top goal scorer with seven goals so far this season, was injured in that contest and did not return. He earned a Stanley Cup ring in 2022 with Colorado, a year after helping Boston College return to the NCAA tournament.

Columbus hosts Ottawa (8-9-0) tonight, while Montreal will entertain Detroit (12-7-3) tomorrow.

Caufield Scores Second Career NHL Goal in OT

Two overtimes, two game-winning goals for Montreal Canadiens rookie forward Cole Caufield (Wisconsin).

Caufield, 20, connected 4:43 into the extra session on Monday night to lift Montreal to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the second career NHL goal for Caufield, who tallied his first-ever goal in the league just two nights earlier when he scored 2:25 into overtime to lift the host Habs to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Caufield now has two goals in five career NHL appearances to date. He joined the Canadiens after first auditioning with Laval (AHL), where he collected two goals and an assist in five outings last month. The 5-foot-7 Stevens Point, Wisc. native was drafted 15th overall by Montreal in 2019. 

The leading scorer in NCAA Division I men's hockey this past season with 30 goals and 52 points, Caufield also won the 2021 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey top's player. He turned pro shortly after scoring his last two collegiate goals in his final appearance with the Badgers, a 6-3 NCAA regional loss to Bemidji State on March 26. He recorded 49 goals over his two seasons at Wisconsin, and added 39 assists for 88 points in 77 career NCAA contests.

NCAA Hockey 2021 Major Award Winners Announced

NCAA Hockey's major award winners for the 2020-21 campaign were announced on Friday evening on NHL Network.

University of Wisconsin sophomore forward Cole Caufield, the leading Division I men's scorer with 30 goals and 52 points this season, won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (pictured) as college hockey top's player. Now in the Montreal Canadiens' farm system, Caufield is the first Badger to win the Hobey Baker since Blake Geoffrion did so in 2010.

University of Minnesota senior goaltender Jack Lafontaine claimed the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I men's hockey. Lafontaine, a former University of Michigan transfer who backstopped the Golden Gophers to this year's Big Ten tournament title, also posted a record of 22-7-0 with a 1.79 goals-against average and five shutouts in 29 appearances.

Saint Mary's (Minn.) University senior defender Delaney Wolf earned the Hockey Humanitarian Award for her extensive volunteer and community service. She also carries a 4.0 grade-point average academically as a biochemistry/Spanish double major.

University of Michigan freshman forward Thomas Bordeleau was chosen as the recipient of this season's Tim Taylor Award, which goes to the NCAA rookie of the year, and is named for the former longtime Yale University men's coach. Bordeleau led the Wolverines with team highs of 22 assists and 30 points this season, in his first collegiate campaign.

Union College senior forward Josh Kosack collected the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, named for the former Army hockey letterwinner who died in Afghanistan 16 years ago. It goes to the NCAA Division I player who is judged to best exemplify the "qualities of sportsmanship, competitiveness, intelligence and work ethic." Union did not play this season, due to COVID-19, although Kosack continued his widespread charitable and community efforts.

2021 Hobey Hat Trick Announced

 

The three "hat trick" finalists for the 2021 Hobey Baker Memorial Award were announced this week:

Cole Caufield, So., F, Wisconsin - Caufield led all NCAA Division I men's players with 30 goals and 52 points this season, including 11 power-play goals and five game-winning tallies. A member of the gold medal-winning U.S. squad at the 2021 World Junior Championship, the Stevens Point, Wis. native signed an NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, one day after Wisconsin's season ended with an NCAA East Regional semifinal loss to Bemidji State. He was selected 15th overall by Montreal in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Preston McKay, Sr., G, Minnesota State - McKay, who is also a finalist for this year's Mike Richter Award as the nation's top netminder, has backstopped the Mavericks to their first-ever Frozen Four next week in Pittsburgh after allowing just three goals over two games at the NCAA West Regional last weekend. In 25 total appearances so far this season, the Downers Grove, Ill. native has fashioned a 21-3-0 record to go with a 1.39 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage, and a nation-leading 10 shutouts.

Shane Pinto, So., F, North Dakota - Pinto finished his final collegiate campaign with 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points, while also helping the Fighting Hawks to their first-ever NCHC postseason crown. The Franklin Square, N.Y. product just signed an NHL contract with the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him 32nd overall in 2019. He played his final game for UND in a five-overtime NCAA Midwest Regional final loss to Minnesota-Duluth on March 27, recording two assists.

2021 NCAA Exodus to NHL Has Begun

 

The annual pre-Frozen Four exodus of NCAA players with college eligibility remaining to the pro hockey ranks is underway. Below are some of the players who have signed with NHL clubs since the regionals ended on Sunday:

Player                Yr. Pos. School (NHL Club)      

Cole Caufield         So. F    Wisconsin (Montreal)

Mike Hardman       So. F    Boston College (Chicago)

Matthew Boldy       So. F    Boston College (Minnesota)

Layton Ahac           So. D    Ohio State (Vegas)

Spencer Knight       So. G    Boston College (Florida)

Alex Newhook          So. F    Boston College (Colorado)

Jacob Bernard-Docker  Jr. D    North Dakota (Ottawa)

Cam York       So. D    Michigan (Philadelphia) 

Adam Scheel       Jr. G    North Dakota (Dallas)

Shane Pinto       So. F    North Dakota (Ottawa)

More to come, obviously ...

Minnesota, North Dakota Win Conference Titles

 

Two games, two offensive explosions in roughly two minutes each, and two tournament championships won on Tuesday night.

Minnesota defeated Wisconsin, 6-4, for the Big Ten title in South Bend, Ind., as the Golden Gophers broke open a 2-1 game with three unanswered goals in a span of 2:42 late in the second period. After Wisconsin closed to within 5-4 with three third-period goals, including Cole Caufield's nation-leading 28th score of the season to bring the Badgers within one, fourth-ranked Minnesota (23-6-0 overall) sealed the deal on an empty-net goal by Blake McLaughlin with 24 seconds remaining in regulation. McLaughlin led all skaters with two goals and two assists on the evening, while Roman Ahcan scored twice for No. 5 Wisconsin (20-9-1).

In Grand Forks, N.D., host North Dakota claimed its first-ever NCHC playoff championship by outlasting St. Cloud State, 5-3. After SCSU (17-10-0) took a 2-1 lead into the locker rooms after 40 minutes of play, the Fighting Hawks notched three goals in just 1:58 to start the third period en route to the victory. Riese Gaber's power-play goal just over five minutes into the final frame stood up as the game-winner, before Jordan Kawaguchi iced matters with his empty-net tally with nine seconds left. Gaber and Kawaguchi finished with two goals and an assist apiece for No. 2 UND (21-5-1), while Ondřej Trejbal set up two goals for the Huskies, including Sam Hentges' score that pulled No. 8 SCSU within 4-3 with just under 13 minutes left.

Both Minnesota and North Dakota, former rivals in the old WCHA, earned their respective current conference's automatic berth to this year's NCAA tournament. The NCAA selection show and the 2021 bracket will be revealed on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

U.S. Ousts Slovakia, Reaches WJC Semifinals

The U.S. National Junior Team is headed to the semifinal round of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Americans outlasted Slovakia, 5-2, in a quarterfinal round match on Saturday evening in Edmonton, Alberta.

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal for Team USA in the second period, before Slovakia eventually cut the American lead to 3-2. John Farinacci (Harvard) then scored his second goal of the evening on a wrap-around with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, to make it 4-2, before Matthew Beniers (Michigan) salted matters away with a late empty-net goal.

Arthur Kaliyev also scored for the U.S., which got 16 saves in net from Spencer Knight (Boston College), and two assists apiece from Bobby Brink (Denver) and Trevor Zegras (Boston University). The Americans will now face Finland, a 3-2 quarterfinal winner over rival Sweden, in a WJC semifinal-round game on Monday.

U.S. Blanks Czechs, 7-0, in WJC Action

Trevor Zegras (Boston University) scored two goals and set up three others as the U.S. National Junior Team blanked the Czech Republic, 7-0, in 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship action in Edmonton, Alberta this afternoon. The win also clinched a quarterfinal round berth for Team USA, in a game to be played on Jan. 2 against an as-yet undecided opponent.

Bobby Brink (Denver) scored twice for Team USA in the rout, including the game-winner that opened the scoring in a three-goal U.S. second period, while Cam York (Michigan) tallied three assists on the day. Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) scored one goal and assisted on another for the Americans, while Matthew Boldy (Boston College) notched his fourth goal in two games. Three of the U.S goals came on power plays.

The victory (and shutout) was the second straight for the United States in this year's WJC, following a tournament-opening loss to Russia on Christmas Day. Spencer Knight (Boston College), who took the loss in net in that contest, earned the win today by stopping all 22 Czech shots. The U.S. had blanked Austria, 11-0, in its second game of the tournament.

Team USA will close out the round-robin portion of Group B play at the WJC against Sweden on Thursday night (9:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

USA Edges Finland in WJC Tune-Up

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) scored two goals in the second period as the U.S. overcame an early deficit to top Finland, 3-2, in an exhibition warm-up at the 2021 World Junior Championships in Edmonton. For his efforts, Caufield was named player of the game for the American side.

Team USA, which finished in sixth place in the Czech Republic in last year's tournament, opens this year's Pool A round-robin schedule against Russia on Christmas night.

Minnesota, Wisconsin Earn Big Ten Sweeps

While the rest of the country is basically just beginning the 2020-21 NCAA hockey season, at least among Division I schools who have not opted out due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Big Ten conference is already going full steam ahead.

Minnesota improved to 4-0-0 overall this season with 4-1 and 2-0 victories over Ohio State on Monday and Tuesday in Minneapolis. Those wins followed a two-step sweep of visiting Penn State on Nov. 19-20 to open the campaign. 

Senior forward Brandon McManus leads the Golden Gophers this year with a goal and four assists through four games, while senior goaltender Jack LaFontaine has played every minute in net so far this season for Minnesota. The and former Michigan transfer stopped 38 of 39 shots against OSU.

Wisconsin is now 4-2-0 overall this fall after sweeping Penn State, 6-3 and 7-3, in Madison, Wis. on Monday and Tuesday. Cole Caufield paced the Badgers with four goals and two assists over the two games, including two power-play goals, and had three goals in all in the second contest alone. 

For his scoring prowess, Caufield earned Big Ten First Star accolades for the week. Graduate transfer Robbie Beydoun, who played the last three years at Michigan Tech (WCHA), stopped 84 of 90 shots against the Nittany Lions, including 49 saves in the opener.

Upcoming Big Ten action on Nov. 27-29 will feature Notre Dame visiting sixth-ranked Michigan, Michigan State traveling to No. 9 OSU, and Big Ten affiliate Arizona State dropping in No. 14 Wisconsin.

U.S. Edges Czech Republic in OT

The U.S. National Junior Team continues to roll along at the 2020 IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship. The Americans edged the host Czech Republic, 4-3, in overtime Monday to advance to the quarterfinal round on Jan. 2 (NHL Network).

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) notched the game-winning goal just over three minutes into the extra session for the U.S., which has now won three straight games after an opening match loss to Canada on Dec. 26. Trevor Zegras (Boston University) set up two goals in the win over the Czechs, and now has nine assists through Team USA's four games.

Spencer Knight (Boston College) made 25 saves in picking up the win for the Americans, after previously backstopping victories over Germany (6-3) and Russia (3-1). Team USA is now 2-1-0-1 in Group B play, and can finish no lower than second place in round-robin play.

Happy New Year!