More 2026 NCAA Skaters Joining NHL

More NCAA Division I players, some with college eligibility remaining, are making the jump to the professional hockey ranks.

Charlie Stramel has left Michigan State after two seasons with the Spartans to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him 21st overall in 2003. A native of St. Paul, Minn., he tallied 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points this past season in helping MSU to its third straight Big Ten conference regular-season title. Stramel, who began his NCAA tenure with two years at Wisconsin, finished his college career with 36-55—101 points.

The brother combination of Hampton and Grant Slukynsky, who led Western Michigan to its first-ever NCAA title last spring, is taking its act to California. Hampton has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings, who inked brother Grant to a similar deal for one year. Both natives of Roseau, Minn. will report to the AHL's Ontario Reign for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign. Hampton Slukynsky, who was drafted 118th overall by the Kings in 2023, fashioned a record of 46-16-2 with a 2.14 goals-against average and five shutouts in 64 career games with the Broncos over two years, while Grant, who began his college career at Northern Michigan, tallied 26-59—85 points in 115 outings over three seasons. 

James Hagens of Boston College has inked a three-year deal withe Boston Bruins, who drafted him seventh overall last summer. He had earlier signed an amateur tryout agreement with Providence (AHL), the Bruins' top affiliate, and tallied a goal and four points in his first six AHL outings. The Hauppauge, N.Y native paced BC with 23-24—47 totals this season, and was also named MVP as the Eagles won their first Beanpot Tournament in 10 years. He finished with 34-50—84 points in 71 career NCAA games.

Notre Dame forward Cole Knuble signed earlier on with the Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him 103rd overall in 2023, and has been skating with Lehigh Valley (AHL), notching a goal and an assist through his first five games. The son of former NHL player Mike Knuble, the East Grand Rapids, Mich. native spent the last three seasons with the Fighting Irish, compiling 30-60—90 points in 106 appearances.

 

Western Michigan Wins 2025 NCAA Hockey Title

Owen Michaels scored two third-period goals, and Hampton Slukynsky made 24 saves in net to lift Western Michigan University to a 6-2 victory over Boston University in Saturday's 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey national championship game in St. Louis. It is the first-ever NCAA hockey crown for WMU (34-7-1 overall), while BU (24-14-2) was seeking its sixth national title all-time and first since 2009.

WMU, which got goals from five different players, scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes into the contest on a deflection by Wyatt Schingoethe, and led 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. BU closed to within 3-2 midway through the second period on a power-play goal by Shane Lachance, but the Broncos tallied the final three goals of the game in the third period to put matters to rest, with Tim Washe finishing the night with two assists. 

Sluknysky also made a huge save on a one-timer in close by Cole Eiserman, who scored BU's other goal, in the final frame to keep WMU ahead. Mikhail Yegorov finished with 22 stops in goal for the Terriers before 16,953 on-lookers at the Enterprise Center.

Michaels earned Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player honors after scoring four goals in two games. He finished the campaign with 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points as WMU set a program record with 34 victories, and also ended the year on a 10-game winning streak.

WMU, which was the last of Michigan's seven Division I men's hockey schools to make a Frozen Four, is the fourth program all-time to win the NCAA men's hockey title in its championship game debut, and the first since Lake Superior State in 1988. It is also the third Michigan school to win an NCAA hockey championship in St. Louis, the first since Michigan State in 2007. 

The Broncos, who advanced to this year's national title game by edging defending national champion Denver in double overtime on Thursday's semeifinals on a goal by Michaels, had previously won this year's National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular-season and tournament championships, its first NCHC titles since the conference began in 2013.

Next year's men's NCAA Division I Frozen Four will be held in Las Vegas for the first time ever.

Third Day of 2025 NCAA Men's Regionals Done

The third day of the 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey regionals are complete, and two spots have been secured for the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis in two weeks' time.

At the Toledo, Ohio regional, Quinn Hutson's overtime goal propelled Boston University to a 3-2 win over Cornell. The Terriers (23-13-2 overall) are now headed to their third consecutive Frozen Four, and 25th all-time. The loss by the Big Red (19-11-6) also ended the career of longtime Cornell head coach Mike Schafer, who finishes with an overall record of 561-300-117.

At the Fargo, N.D. regional, Western Michigan outlasted Massachusetts, 2-1, on an early third-period power-play goal by Tim Washe, and 28 saves overall from Hampton Slukynsky. The Broncos (32-7-1) are now headed to the first Frozen Four in program history, while UMass (21-14-5) was seeking its first Frozen Four since the Minutemen won their first-ever national championship in 2021.

The last two regionals conclude on Sunday, with UConn facing Penn State in Allentown, Pa., and Boston College taking on Denver in Manchester, N.H. 

U.S. Drops Swiss in WJC Quarterfinals

Fresh off a convincing 4-1 victory over host Canada in its last game of round-robin play on New Year's Eve, the United States moved closer to defending its gold medal status at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa with a 7-2 win today over Switzerland in the quarterfinal round.

James Hagens (Boston College) and Ryan Leonard (Boston College) each scored two goals for the Group A champion Americans, who also got 17 saves in goal from Hampton Slukynsky (Western Michigan) and three assists offensively from Gabe Perreault (Boston College).

The U.S. will now face Czechia in the WJC semifinals on Saturday. The other semifinal will match Sweden and Finland, with the winners to meet on Sunday for the championship.

ADDENDUM: Team USA defeated Czechia, 4-1, and will face Finland on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET (NHL Network) for the gold. Czechia will meet Sweden for the bronze.