McKenna Goes First in 2026 NHL Draft

As expected, left wing Gavin McKenna (Penn State) was the first overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs at this year's NHL Draft in Buffalo tonight.

Several other current NCAA players were selected in the first round on Friday night at KeyBank Arena. Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota), a defenseman, was chosen ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks, while center Tyan Lawrence (Boston University) went 11th to the St. Louis Blues, and left wing Oscar Hemming (Boston College) went 14th to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Buffalo Sabres tabbed center Ilia Morozov (Miami) 20th overall.

As for incoming and future collegiate skaters, the Vancouver Canucks chose center Caleb Malhotra (Boston University) third overall, while defenseman Daxon Rudolph (Denver) was taken one spot later by host Buffalo. Carson Carels (North Dakota), another defenseman, went sixth to the Calgary Flames, while Chase Reid (Michigan State) went seventh to the Seattle Kraken. Left wing Wyatt Cullen (Minnesota) was tabbed 10th by the Nashville Predators, followed by right wing Nikita Klepov (Michigan State) at 15th to the Anaheim Ducks and left wing Ethan Belchetz (Michigan State) at 17th to the Utah Mammoth.

San Jose chose defenseman Ryan Lin (Denver) 21st overall, while right wing Liam Ruck (North Dakota) went to the Pittsburgh Penguins with the very next selection and left wing JP Hurlbert (Michigan) went 23rd to the Detroit Red Wings. The Philadelphia Flyers chose defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii (Maine) 27th overall, with center Jack Hextall (Michigan State) going three selections later to Calgary and defenseman Thomas Bleyl (Michigan State) right after to the Nashville Predators. The final pick of the first round was right wing Jaxon Cover (Penn State), who went 32nd overall to the Ottawa Senators.

The 2026 draft concludes Saturday with Rounds 2-7 (11 a.m. ET, NHL Network). The full list of college-related selections can be found here. 

Everblades ECHL Champions Again

For the fourth time in five seasons, the Florida Everblades are ECHL champions. 

The Everblades claimed this year's Kelly Cup by defeating the Kansas City Mavericks in six games, including a 5-4 double-overtime victory in the clinching contest on Monday night in Missouri, after rebounding from a three-goal deficit after 40 minutes. Florida, which won the last four games of the series, including three in OT, previously defeated Kansas City in five games to win the Cup in 2024.

Anthony Romano (Clarkson) tied for Florida's playoff scoring lead with 17 points in 20 games, including a league-best 12 goals. Carson Gicewicz (UMass), who won an NCAA title in 2021, contributed 10 goals over 20 postseason outings. Everblades goaltender Cam Johnson (North Dakota) earned the Most Valuable Player award for a record third time in his career after posting a 16-4 record in 20 appearances this spring, including three shutouts and a 1.88 goals-against average, and has been a member of four Kelly Cup title teams.

Florida has now raised the Kelly Cup five times (2012, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026), extending its own ECHL record.

Carolina Hurricanes Win 2026 Stanley Cup

Jaccob Slavin (Colorado College) and Jackson Blake (North Dakota) both assisted on the first goal of the game early in the first period by Taylor Hall, before Blake added an insurance marker of his own in the second stanza as the Carolina Hurricanes cliched their first Stanley Cup championship in 20 years with a 3-0 blanking of the host Vegas Golden Knights tonight in Game Six of the 2026 NHL championship series. Eastern Conference champion Carolina won the best-of-seven title series, four games to two.

Brandon Bussi (Western Michigan) stopped all 22 shots he faced in winning his third game of the series for the Hurricanes, who last claimed the Stanley Cup in 2006, their first-ever NHL championship after moving from Hartford in 1997. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour (Michigan State) was the captain of that Carolina team, and becomes the seventh individual in NHL history to win the Cup as both a player and a coach with the same franchise. Bussi is the first NHL goaltender to make his first career playoff starts in the Stanley Cup Final, and won all three, leading the ‘Canes to the crown after a two games-to-one deficit in the series.

Other former NCAA players who suited up for Carolina in the clinching contest tonight included Shayne Gostisbehere (Union), Mark Jankowski (Providence), K’Andre Miller (Wisconsin), Eric Robinson (Princeton) and Sean Walker (Bowling Green). Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal in the final two minutes, after opening the series scoring back in the first minute of Game One. The Hurricanes outshot the Golden Knights, 23-22, on the night, and also won 33 of 63 faceoffs in what turned out to be the final NHL contest of the 2025-26 campaign.

Canes Tie Stanley Cup Final at Two

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) tallied a goal and an assist in the first period, and Brandon Bussi (Western Michigan) stopped 18 of 21 shots in his first-ever NHL playoff start as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the host Vegas Golden Knights, 5-3, last night in Nevada. The best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five slated for tomorrow night in Raleigh (8 p.m. ET, ABC, SN).

Carolina jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first 20 minutes, with Vegas having a potential late goal waved off as it entered the net after time expired. The Golden Knights then tied the contest with two goals in the second stanza, before Jordan Staal scored his second goal of the game in the third period to lift the Hurricanes back into the lead, prior to Carolina tallying an empty-net goal for insurance late in regulation. Carolina outshot Vegas, 28-21, on the night, and also finished 1-for-3 on the power play.

ADDENDUM: Bussi stopped 23 shots, and Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) set up two goals as Carolina moved within a win of the Stanley Cup with a 4-2 victory in Game Five. Game Six is Sunday night in Las Vegas.

Canes Push Canadiens to Brink of Elimination

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) set up two goals, and K'Andre Miller (Wisconsin) and Jackson Blake (North Dakota) also recorded assists as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Montreal Canadiens, 4-0, last night in Game Four of their NHL Eastern Conference series. Carolina now leads the best-of-seven series, three games to one.

Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped 39 shots for the Canadiens, who were outshot, 43-18, on the night. Montreal, which will be facing elimination on Friday night in Game Five in North Carolina, is 7-3 on the road so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

ADDENDUM: Blake notched a goal and an assist, and Gostisbehere and Eric Robinson (Princeton) also scored as the Hurricanes topped Montreal, 6-1, in Game Five to win the Eastern Conference title. Carolina will now meet Vegas in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, starting Tuesday night in Raleigh.

Avalanche Put Wild on Brink of Elimination

Jack Drury (Harvard) set up the game-winning goal in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche moved one step away from the Western Conference Final with a 5-2 victory at the Minnesota Wild last night. Colorado now leads the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs series, three games to one.

Ross Colton (Vermont) put the Avalanche up, 2-1, in the final frame before Nico Sturm (Clarkson) tied matters less than three minutes later for the Wild. After Drury's heroics, Colorado closed out the contest with two empty-net goals, the second by Brock Nelson (North Dakota), and outshot Minnesota, 34-21, on the night.

Game Five and a potential clinching contest for the Avs is Thursday night in Denver.

Hurricanes Advance, Wild Triumphs

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and added an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the host Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, early last night. The Hurricanes swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, four games to zero, and are now 8-0 so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Trevor Zegras (Boston University) and Porter Martone (Michigan State) both assisted on Philadelphia's game-opening goal as the Flyers finished their longest playoff run since 2000. Carolina will now await the winner of the Buffalo-Montreal series, which is tied at one game apiece.

Late Saturday night, the Minnesota Wild climbed back into their Western Conference series with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Quinn Hughes (Michigan), Brock Faber (Minnesota) and Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored goals for the Wild, handing top-seeded Colorado its first loss so far this postseason, while Faber also posted two assists. Game Three will be held in St. Paul on Monday night, with the Avalanche still leading the series, two games to one.

Hurricanes Take Early Lead Over Flyers

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) tallied a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes opened the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-0 win last night over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Carolina leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series, one game to none.

The Hurricanes outshot the Flyers, 23-19, as both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play. Game Two of the first-ever postseason meeting between the two NHL clubs is Monday night in Raleigh.

Golden Knights Tie Series with Utah

Jack Eichel (Boston University) set up three goals and Noah Hanifin (Boston College) had two assists as the visiting Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth, 5-4, in overtime last night, in Game Four of their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series. The best-of-seven NHL Western Conference first-round matchup is now tied at two games apiece,

Nick Schmaltz (North Dakota) had a goal and assist for the Mammoth, who fought back from an early three-goal deficit to take a one-goal lead before Vegas came back to tie it in the third period prior to winning in OT. Game Five is Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

 

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.

Wisconsin, Denver to Meet in NCAA Title Game

Wisconsin scored twice in 27 seconds in the opening period, with Ryan Botterill's goal standing up as the game-winner, and the Badgers also killed off five power plays to top North Dakota, 2-1, in the early semifinal game of the 2026 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

In the nightcap, Denver's Johnny Hicks made 49 saves in all, and Kent Anderson scored midway through the second overtime to lift the Pioneers to a 4-3 victory over No. 1 Michigan.

Wisconsin and DU will now meet on Saturday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) at T-Mobile Arena for the national title, in another battle of former WCHA schools. The Badgers (24-12-2 overall) are after their first NCAA crown since 2006, while the Pioneers (28-11-3) are seeking their second NCAA title in three seasons, and third in five campaigns. 

2026 Regionals Done, Frozen Four Set

The regional finals from the 2026 NCAA Division I men's hockey championship are finished. Results from Saturday and Sunday are as follows:

Worcester, Mass. Regional (March 28) 

Wisconsin 4, Michigan State 3 (OT)

Sioux Falls, S.D. Regional (March 28) 

North Dakota 5, Quinnipiac 0

Albany, N.Y. Regional (March 29)  

Michigan 4, Minnesota-Duluth 3

Loveland, Col. Regional (March 29)  

Denver 6, Western Michigan 2

The 2026 NCAA Frozen Four field is now set. Wisconsin will face off with North Dakota in the first national semifinal in Las Vegas on April 9 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN 2), while Michigan will take on Denver in the second semifinal (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The winners will meet in the national championship game on April 11 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

 

Troy Murray 1962-2026

 

Long-time NHL veteran Troy Murray (North Dakota) passed away last week at the age of 63 after battling cancer the last five years.

A 100-point scorer in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Murray played two seasons at North Dakota, tallying 55 goals and 120 points in 80 games, while also leading the then-Fighting Sioux to the 1982 NCAA title. He also captained Team Canada to the gold medal at the 1982 World Junior Championship. 

Drafted 57th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1980, the Calgary native went on to a 16-year NHL career with Chicago, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Colorado, where he collected 230 goals and 354 assists for 584 points to go with 875 penalty minutes in 914 career NHL regular-season outings, including a 45-goal, 99-point season with Chicago in 1985-86 He also added 17-26—43 points and 145 PIM in 113 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, and won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996.

Murray, who was awarded the Selke Trophy in 1985-86 with Chicago as the NHL's best defensive forward, retired following the 1996-97 campaign where he registered 21-29—50 points in 81 games with the IHL's Chicago Wolves. He went on to be a longtime studio analyst and color commentator with the Blackhawks on both radio and TV, and called Chicago's three Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. 

Hockey East Stars Shine for USA Men

Hockey East alumni supplied four goals and more than 20 saves as the United States men's hockey team defeated Denmark, 6-3, on Valentine's Day at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy. 

Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored the first goal for Team USA, while Noah Hanifin (Boston College) converted his own rebound for the eventual game-winning goal. Jack Eichel (Boston University) and Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) also tallied for the Red, White and Blue, which got 21 saves in goal from Jeremy Swayman (Maine). Eight different U.S. skaters also notched assists on the day. 

The Americans, who twice battled back from one-goal deficits to defeat the Danes, improved to 2-0-0 in the tournament so far, and will complete the round-robin portion of their schedule with a game against Germany on Sunday.

ADDENDUM: Jake Sanderson (North Dakota) set up two goals and Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell) made 24 stops as Team USA upended Germany, 5-1.

2026 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team Revealed

Former NCAA skaters make up the bulk of the 2026 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team that will compete in Italy next month, the first time that current NHL players will compete in the Olympic Winter Games since 2014 in Russia.

Forwards

Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild (Boston College)

Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets (Michigan)

Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights (Boston University)

Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth (Boston University)

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings (Michigan)

Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche (North Dakota)

Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres (UConn)

Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators (Boston University)

Defensemen

Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild (Minnesota)

Noah Hanifin Vegas Golden Knights (Boston College)

Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild (Michigan)

Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins (Boston University)

Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators (North Dakota)

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes (Colorado College)

Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets (Michigan)

Goaltenders

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets (UMass Lowell)

Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars (Boston University) 

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins (Maine)

In addition, Canada's 2026 Olympic men's squad will boast three former NCAA skaters in forward Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) of the San Jose Sharks, and defensemen Cale Makar (UMass) and Devon Toews (Quinnipiac) of the Colorado Avalanche and Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) of the St. Louis Blues.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from Feb. 5-22 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. 

U.S., Canada Win in 2026 WJC Openers

Will Zellers (North Dakota) scored two goals and set up another, and Cole Hutson (Boston University) tallied two assists as the host United States defeated Germany, 6-3, tonight in its opener of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul, Minn. The U.S., which has won the last two WJC gold medals, will next face off tomorrow with Switzerland, which will be playing in its first game of the tournament.

In the nightcap in Minneapolis, Canada outlasted Czechia, 7-5, by scoring four times in the third period. Michael Hage (Michigan) notched a goal and two assists for the Canadians, who also got two assists from Gavin McKenna (Penn State) and an empty-net goal from Porter Martone (Michigan State). Canada will next face Latvia on Saturday.

ADDENDUM: Team USA edged Switzerland, 2-1, on a goal by Zellers, while Canada topped Latvia by the same score on an overtime goal from Hage.

NCAA Players Among NHL Leaders

Several former NCAA players rank among the NHL's top five statistical leaders just before Christmas, per ESPN. Seven of them are from Hockey East schools.

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) is third among NHL players with 53 points. 

Matt Boldy (Boston College) is tied for third overall with 22 goals.

Cale Makar (UMass) is fourth overall with a +30 plus-minus ranking

Casey DeSmith (New Hampshire) is tied for third overall with a .920 save percentage.

Jake Oettinger (Boston University) is tied for first overall with 15 wins.

Jack Eichel (Boston University) is third with 16 power-play assists.

Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) is fourth with 131 shots on goal.

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Quinn Hughes (Michigan) ranks first overall with 27:38 average ice time.

Jake Sanderson (North Dakota) and Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) are tied for fourth with 1,057 shifts.

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) is tied for first overall with five game-winning goals.

Dylan Larkin (Michigan) leads the league with 394 faceoff wins.

Three Chosen for U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Three former NCAA players have been chosen as part of the Class of 2025 for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Tara Mounsey (Brown), Zach Parise (North Dakota) and Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) will all be inducted into the hall in Eveleth, Minn. on Dec. 10. 

Mounsey, a member of the 1998 United States national team that won the first-ever gold medal in Olympic women's hockey, patrolled the blueline at Brown University from 1996 to 2000, notching 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in her third and final collegiate campaign, and tallied 48-22—70 points overall in her college career. A three-time All-Ivy First Time selection, and a two-time All-America and First Team All-ECAC choice, she also helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and two silvers at the IIHF Women's World Championship. Brown's Best Defensive Player Award, which she co-earned in 2000, has been renamed for her. Mounsey also played two years of field hockey at Brown, where she finished as the program’s all-time leader with 36 goals and 87 points.

Parise collected 434-455—889 points in 19 National Hockey League campaigns as a forward with New Jersey, Minnesota the New York Islanders and Colorado. He also collected 39-44—83 points in 122 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, and helped New Jersey, which drafted him 17th overall in 2003, to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. In two years at the University of North Dakota, he registered 49-67—116 points in 76 NCAA outings and was a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, plus a First Team All-America selection as a sophomore. He also represented the U.S. on numerous international occasions, earning gold at the 2002 IIHF U-18 Under World Junior Championship and the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship, and silver at the 2010 Olympics.   

Pavelski tallied 476 goals and 592 assists for 1,068 points over 18 NHL seasons at forward with San Jose and Dallas. He also added 74-69—143 points in 201 Stanley Cup Playoff outings, establishing a postseason record for the most career goals scored by an American, while also playing in two Stanley Cup Finals. Drafted in the 7th round (205th overall) by San Jose in 2004, he skated two NCAA seasons with the University of Wisconsin, recording 39-62—101 points overall in 84 contests while leading the Badgers to the 2006 national title. In international play, he skated in two Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal with the U.S. in 2010, while serving as captain of Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Abbotsford Wins First-Ever AHL Calder Cup

The Abbotsford Canucks are the 2024-25 champions of the American Hockey League.

The Canucks rebounded from a 2-0 first-period deficit tonight to score three unanswered goals and win the decisive Game Six of the 2025 Calder Cup Final by a 3-2 count at Charlotte. Abbotsford thus won the best-of-seven series, four games to two. It is the first overall league championship for Abbotsford, primary affiliate of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, who had previously earned this year's AHL Western Conference title.

John Leonard (Massachusetts) and Jack Devine (Denver) scored early for the Eastern Conference champion Checkers, who were seeking their first Calder Cup crown since 2019. Christian Wolanin (North Dakota) assisted on Abbottsford's first goal late in the opening session, before the Canucks connected twice in the second stanza to close out the scoring and claim the championship, despite being outshot, 30-20, on the evening.

Joining Wolanin as former NCAA skaters who lifted the Calder Cup with the Canucks this season were Phil Di Giuseppe (Michigan), Ty Glover (Western Michigan), Akito Hirose (Minnesota State), Jujhar Khaira (Michigan Tech), Victor Mancini (Omaha), Cole McWard (Ohio State), Ty Mueller (Omaha), Max Sasson (Western Michigan) and Nathan Smith (Minnesota State). 

Canucks Take Two-Game Lead in AHL Final

Kyle Criscuolo (Harvard) and Jack Devine (Denver) tallied third-period goals to bring the visiting Charlotte Checkers within one, but the Abbotsford Canucks held on for a 3-2 victory in Game Four of the 2025 Calder Cup Final. The Canucks now lead the best-of-seven series, three games to one.

Ty Mueller (Omaha) notched two assists for Abbotsford, including one on the game-winning goal. Christian Wolanin (North Dakota) also had an assist for the Canucks, while Devine and Eamon Powell (Boston College) set up goals for Charlotte.

Abbotsford can wrap up its first-ever AHL championship with a win in Game Five at home on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

ADDENDUM: Charlotte rebounded for a 4-3 win in overtime in Game Five to stay alive, while also cutting Abbotsford's series lead to three games to two. Game Six is Monday night in North Carolina (8 p.m. ET, NHL Network).