“2025-26 NCAA Hockey Season: Top Teams and ESPN Broadcast Schedule”

The 2025-26 NCAA men’s and women’s hockey seasons are almost here. Fans are ready for another wild year on the ice.

ESPN plans to air over 620 games, putting college hockey’s best front and center. There are plenty of stories to follow, from defending champs to up-and-coming stars.

This post digs into the season’s highlights, big matchups, and players you’ll want to keep an eye on. Seriously, you won’t want to miss any of this.

Men’s College Hockey: Teams and Storylines to Watch

The men’s college hockey world feels electric right now. Western Michigan just won the national title, and they’re chasing back-to-back championships—a feat nobody’s pulled off since Minnesota-Duluth in 2019.

Western Michigan sits at No. 1 in the USCHO.com preseason poll. They’re the team everyone’s aiming for this season.

Top Contenders

Boston University comes in at No. 2, with Michigan State following at No. 3. Five of the top ten teams play in Hockey East, which is kind of wild:

• Boston University
• Boston College
• Maine
• Providence
• UConn

Expect these squads to bring the heat all season. Hockey East could be the conference to watch.

Gavin McKenna: A Rising Star

Everyone’s talking about Gavin McKenna—he’s the projected No. 1 pick for the 2026 NHL draft. McKenna just signed a big NIL deal to play at Penn State.

Penn State made its first Frozen Four last year and now sits fifth in the preseason poll. Fans and scouts will be watching McKenna’s every move.

Women’s College Hockey: Dominant Teams and Key Players

The Wisconsin Badgers are back to defend their national title after grabbing their eighth championship. Wisconsin holds the preseason No. 1 spot, with Ohio State at No. 2 and Minnesota at No. 3.

That puts the Big Ten in all three top spots for women’s college hockey. Not too shabby.

Key Matchups and Dates

Circle these dates: The women’s NCAA hockey championship is on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The men’s championship follows on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Mark your calendars if you want to catch the season’s biggest moments.

Exciting Early Season Matchups

The first weeks bring some juicy games that could set the tone for everyone. Here’s what’s coming up:

October 17, 2025

• 7 p.m.: Michigan State at Boston University on ESPN2
• 7 p.m.: Northeastern at Massachusetts
• 7 p.m.: Maine at Quinnipiac
• 7 p.m.: Ohio State at UConn
• 7 p.m.: Canisius at Colgate
• 7 p.m.: Boston College at Rensselaer
• 7:15 p.m.: Western Michigan at UMass Lowell
• 8 p.m.: Niagara at Union

October 18, 2025

• 4 p.m.: Ohio State at UConn
• 4 p.m.: Maine at Quinnipiac
• 4 p.m.: Providence at Rensselaer
• 5 p.m.: Harvard at Northeastern
• 6 p.m.: New Hampshire at Merrimack
• 6:05 p.m.: Western Michigan at UMass Lowell
• 7 p.m.: Michigan State at Boston University
• 7 p.m.: Canisius at Colgate
• 7:30 p.m.: Bentley at Massachusetts
• 8 p.m.: Niagara at Union

The early schedule is packed with teams looking to make a statement. It’s only the beginning.

ESPN’s Comprehensive Coverage

ESPN plans to cover the 2025-26 NCAA men’s and women’s hockey seasons from every angle. You can catch every game live or on replay through the ESPN App, unless otherwise noted.

Highlighted Broadcasts

Some of the biggest games will air on ESPN2 and ESPNU, like:

• March 26, 2026: NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship – Regional Semifinals
• March 27, 2026: NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship – Regional Semifinals
• March 28, 2026: NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship – Regional Finals

These are the games every hockey fan should try to catch. The best teams and brightest players will be battling for a shot at the title.

Looking Ahead

With so many storylines, rivalries, and breakout players, the 2025-26 NCAA hockey season could be one of the most exciting yet. There’s just a lot to look forward to.