Minnesota leads the way in producing college hockey players

Minnesota continues to be the main breeding ground for college hockey players, leading the nation with 233 current men’s players taking part in college hockey.

Minnesota not only outpaces every other state in the country, it outpaces any Canadian province as well. Michigan is a distant second in America with 138 college players and Ontario, Canada comes in a distant second with 186.

One of the main reasons for this is the unique system Minnesota Hockey has created and maintained with their community-based model. Minnesota still leads the nation in youth participants. The more youth participants the more opportunity for a Minnesota kid to play college hockey.

The community-based model works because it keeps hockey affordable and accessible for all kids in all communities throughout the state.

It also helps that the state is home to six Division I college hockey programs, providing local players ample opportunity to engage with their favorite collegiate team and giving them something to work towards.

The college hockey landscape has changed somewhat in that players usually play at least one and mostly two years of juniors before joining the NCAA Division I ranks. The time of 18-year-old freshmen is long gone as more developed 20-year-olds are now joining as freshmen, which has ultimately made the college game better.

Anyone who witnessed the game between the Golden Gophers and the University of St. Thomas Oct. 13 knows the college game is alive and well. As new rivalries are formed, and old rivalries are still played, fans are back in the stands supporting their favorite school. College hockey in 2023 is better than ever.

The following data was provided by College Hockey Inc., giving an in depth look at the college hockey landscape.

NCAA Division I men’s hockey is in an era of unprecedented talent, parity, and success on and off the ice. 

Consider:

• More than half of the nation’s teams (34) have reached the NCAA Tournament over the last five tournaments o 10of those teams have reached the Frozen Four in that time

• Eleven new college hockey venues have opened in the last decade, with a 12th coming (Augustana) in January 

• More college hockey alumni than ever before is playing in the National Hockey League

• 236 NHL draft picks will play college hockey this season, including 14 first-rounders

• Half of the NHL’s 32 current general managers and 13 of the league’s head coaches played college hockey

• 92% of NCAA Division I men’s hockey players earn a degree, among the top graduation rates of all men’s sports

A look at some numbers:

DIVISION I PLAYERS BY GEOGRAPHY

United States – 63% (1,132 players)

Canada – 28% (519 players)

Outside of North America – 8% (151 players from 20 countries)

· 56 players – Sweden · 28 players – Finland · 14 players — Latvia

· 9 players – Russia

· 8 players – Slovakia

· 6 players – Czechia

· 5 players – Norway, Switzerland

· 3 players – Germany, Hungary

· 2 players – Belarus, England

· 1 player – Australia, Austria, China, Denmark, Japan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Scotland

American players come from 40 states.

The top 10:

Minnesota – 233 

Michigan – 138 

Massachusetts – 127 

New York – 109 

Illinois – 54

New Jersey – 52 

Pennsylvania – 48 

California – 47 

Connecticut – 42 

Wisconsin – 38

Canadian players come from 12 provinces and territories. 

The top six:

Ontario – 186

Alberta – 108

British Columbia – 107 

Quebec – 46 

Saskatchewan – 28 

Manitoba – 23

BY JUNIOR LEAGUE

Division I players come from more than 20 junior/high school leagues. The top North American leagues sending players directly to Division I:

USHL – 666 players

NAHL – 382

BCHL – 322

AJHL – 123

NTDP – 56 

USPHL/NCDC – 56 

OJHL – 41

CCHL – 25

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS ENTERING 2023-24

Points: 

Andre Ghantous, Northern Michigan – 124 

Riese Gaber, North Dakota – 95

Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State – 95

Braeden Tuck, Sacred Heart – 91

Mathieu Gosselin, Clarkson – 89 

Griffin Loughran, Canisius – 84

Veeti Miettinen, St. Cloud State – 83 

Alex Young, Arizona State – 83 

Bryce Brodzinski, Minnesota – 83 

Massimo Rizzo, Denver – 82

Goals:

Bryce Brodzinski, Minnesota – 46

Riese Gaber, North Dakota – 46

Andre Ghantous, Northern Michigan – 44 

Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State – 42 

Matthew Kopperud, Arizona State – 41 

Anthony Romano, Clarkson – 39

Griffin Loughran, Canisius – 38

Alex Young, Arizona State – 37

Patrick Moynihan, Notre Dame – 37

Alex Campbell, Northeastern – 34

Ben Brar, Merrimack, — 34

Assists:

Andre Ghantous, Northern Michigan – 80 

Braeden Tuck, Sacred Heart – 63

Ryan Naumovski, Augustana – 58 

Mathieu Gosselin, Clarkson – 56

Zack Okabe, St. Cloud State – 53 

Massimo Rizzo, Denver – 53

Quinn Olson, Minnesota Duluth – 52 

Gabriel Seger, Cornell – 52

Veeti Miettinen, St. Cloud State – 50 

Riese Gaber North Dakota – 49

Collin Graf, Quinnipiac – 49

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – 49

Power-Play Goals:

Matthew Kopperud, Arizona State – 24 

Patrick Moynihan, Notre Dame – 24 

Riese Gaber, North Dakota – 21

Veeti Miettinen, St. Cloud State – 17 

Alex Young, Arizona State – 15

Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State – 14 

Five players tied w/ – 13

Shorthanded Goals:

Owen Lindmark, Wisconsin – 6 

Lynden Breen, Maine – 4

Logan Pietila, Michigan Tech – 4 

Ryan Miotto, Vermont – 3

Nine players tied w/ – 2

Game-Winning Goals:

Veeti Miettinen, St. Cloud State – 9

Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State – 9

Alex Campbell, Clarkson – 8

Riese Gaber, North Dakota – 8

Connor McMenamin, Minnesota Duluth – 8 

Logan Pietila, Michigan Tech – 8

Anthony Romano, Clarkson – 8 

udson Schandor, UConn – 8 

Carter Wilkie, RIT – 8

Four players tied w/ – 7

Games Played:

Bryce Brodzinski, Minnesota – 146

Dustin Manz, American International – 141 

Logan Pietila, Michigan Tech – 139

Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State – 138

Jesse Lansdell, Omaha – 137

Quinn Olson, Minnesota Duluth – 137 

Andre Ghantous, Northern Michigan – 136 

Jonny Sorenson, Alaska – 134

Ryan Naumovski, Niagara – 131

Nolan Sullivan, Omaha – 131

Plus/Minus Rating:

Jacob Quillan, Quinnipiac — +47 

Mathieu Gosselin, Clarkson – +42 

Massimo Rizzo, Denver – +42

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – +41 

Ondrej Psenicka, Cornell – +36

Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota – +35 

Marshall Warren, Michigan – +32 

Sam Morton, Minnesota State – +31 

Collin Graf, Quinnipiac – +29

Bryce Brodzinski, Minnesota – +24 

Ryan Kirwan, Penn State – +24

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS ENTERING 2023-24

Points by Defensemen:

Brandon Koch, Minnesota State – 77

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – 69 

Tanner Palocsik, Penn State – 66

Scott Morrow, UMass – 64

Dylan Anhorn, St. Cloud State – 61 

Drew Bavaro, Notre Dame – 58 

Marshall Warren, Michigan – 57 

Jacob Bengtsson, Boston College – 57 

Nick Anderson, Colgate – 56

Andrew Lucas, Connecticut – 56

Goals by Defensemen:

Scott Morrow, UMass – 22

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – 20 

Marshall Warren, Michigan – 20 

Brandon Koch, Minnesota State – 18 

Dylan Anhorn, St. Cloud State – 18 

Gianfranco Cassaro, RIT – 18

Drew Bavaro, Notre Dame – 17

Lane Hutson, Boston University – 15 

Luc Salem, St. Lawrence – 15

Luke Rowe, Air Force – 15

Assists by Defensemen:

Brandon Koch, Minesota State – 59 

Tanner Palocsik, Penn State – 53 

Jacob Bengtsson, Boston College – 51 

Nick Anderson, Colgate – 50

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – 49 

T.J. Lloyd, Alaska – 47

Andrew Lucas, Connecticut – 45

Sean Behrens, Denver – 44

Dylan Anhorn, St. Cloud State 43 

Mike Koster, Minnesota – 43 

David Melaragni, Canisius – 43 

Aiden Hansen-Bukata, RIT – 43

Power-Play Goals by Defensemen:

Brandon Koch, Minnesota State – 13 

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – 9 

Scott Morrow, UMass – 7

Drew Bavaro, Notre Dame – 7

Ryan Ufko, UMass – 7

Gianfranco Cassaro, RIT – 7

James Crossman, Michigan State – 7 

Five players tied w/ – 5

Shorthanded Goals by Defensemen:

13 players tied w/ – 1

Game-Winning Goals by Defensemen:

Kirby Proctor, Omaha – 6

Scott Morrow, UMass – 5

Marshall Warren, Michigan – 5 

Lane Hutson, Boston University – 5 

Luc Salem, St. Lawrence – 5

Nick Hale, Ferris State – 4

Cam McDonald, Providence – 4 

Lauri Sertti, Rensselaer – 4

11 players tied w/ – 3

Games Played by Defensemen:

T.J. Lloyd, Alaska – 138

Kyle Looft, Bemidji State – 137

Jayden Lee, Quinnipiac – 133

Michael Van Unen, Northern Michigan – 133 

Cam McDonald, Providence – 133

Kirby Proctor, Omaha – 132

Logan Britt, North Dakota – 131

Marshall Warren, Michigan – 130

Jack Clement, Miami – 130

Jack Judson, Clarkson – 128

Plus/Minus Rating by Defensemen:

Iivari Räsänen, Quinnipiac – +55

Jayden Lee, Quinnipiac – + 54

Jacob Truscott, Michigan – +42

Zak Galambos, Western Michigan – +41 

Mike Koster, Minnesota – +38

Ian Moore, Harvard – +36

Ryan Siedem, Notre Dame – +35 

Keaton Pehrson, North Dakota – +34 

Marshall Warren, Michigan – +32 

Jérémie Bucheler, Vermont – +32

ACTIVE CAREER GOALTENDING LEADERS ENTERING 2023-24

Games Played:

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech – 103 

Jacob Barczewski, Michigan – 100 

Chad Veltri, Robert Morris – 96 

Ludvig Persson, North Dakota – 82 

Ethan Haider, UConn – 80

Carter Gylander, Colgate – 74

Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame – 69 

Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan – 68 

Victor Ostman, Maine – 64

Justen Close, Minnesota – 62

Saves:

Jacob Barczewski, Michigan – 2,719 

Chad Veltri, Robert Morris – 2,526 

Ludvig Persson, North Dakota – 2,451 

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech – 2,362 

Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame – 1,886 

Carter Gylander, Colgate – 1,886 

Ethan Haider, UConn – 1,855

Victor Ostman, Maine – 1,704

Gavin Abric, Army West Point – 1,609 

Christian Stoever, Bowling Green – 1,568

Wins:

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech – 58

Jacob Barczewski, Michigan – 44

Chad Veltri, Robert Moris – 41

Justen Close, Minnesota – 40

Ethan Haider, UConn – 36

Cameron Rowe, Western Michigan – 33 

Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame – 32

Carter Gylander, Colgate – 32 

Tommy Scarfone, RIT – 30 

Liam Souliere, Penn State – 27 

Ian Shane, Cornell – 27

Goals-Against Average (Min. 25 GP):

Ian Shane, Cornell – 1.72

Keenan Rancier, Minnesota State – 1.82 

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech – 2.04 

Justen Close, Minnesota – 2.05

Vinny Duplessis, Quinnipiac – 2.15

Philip Svedebäck, Providence – 2.18 

Hugo Ollas, Merrimack – 2.28

Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College – 2.30 

Beni Halasz, Northern Michigan – 2.32 

Ethan Haider, UConn – 2.36

Save Percentage (Min. 25 GP):

Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame – .925

Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College – .925 

Justen Close, Minnesota – .924

Ian Shane, Cornell – .923

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech – .922

Kyle McClellan, Wisconsin – .922

Luke Pavicich, UMass Lowell – .921 

Tommy Scarfone, RIT – .919

Beni Halasz, Northern Michigan – .919 

Jarrett Fiske, Niagara – .918

Shutouts:

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech – 19 

Justen Close, Minnesota – 9

Ian Shane, Cornell – 8

Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame – 7 

Gavin Abric, Army West Point – 6 

Jacob Barczewski, Michigan – 6 

Ethan Haider, UConn – 6

Hugo Ollas, Merrimack – 6 

Six players tied w/ – 5

RETURNING OFFENSE FROM 2022-23 (does not include incoming transfers)

Most Returning Goals:

Minnesota – 108

RIT – 102

Michigan – 96

Boston University – 95 

Denver – 92

American International – 85 

Quinnipiac – 85

Alaska – 80

Holy Cross – 79

Long Island – 78

Most Returning Points:

Boston University – 272 

Minnesota – 271

RIT – 266

Denver – 256

Michigan – 252

American International – 248 

Quinnipiac – 242

UConn – 222

St. Cloud State – 218

Alaska – 214

Highest Percentage of Returning Goals:

Alaska Anchorage – 85% 

St. Lawrence – 85% 

Union – 83%

Holy Cross – 81%

Maine – 80%

RIT – 80%

Air Force – 77%

Alaska – 77%

Minnesota Duluth – 77% 

St. Thomas – 77%

Highest Percentage of Returning Points:

St. Lawrence – 86%

RIT – 83%

Alaska Anchorage – 81% 

Union – 80%

Yale – 79%

Alaska – 77%

Maine – 77%

American International – 76% 

Holy Cross – 76%

Air Force – 75% 

Princeton – 75%

TEAMS BY THE NUMBERS

10 biggest teams, by average height: 

Lindenwood – 6’1.5”

Vermont – 6’1.1”

Boston University – 6’1.0”

St. Cloud State – 6’1.0”

Clarkson – 6’1.0”

Cornell – 6’0.9”

Miami – 6’0.9”

Western Michigan – 6’0.9”

UMass – 6’0.8”

Wisconsin – 6’0.8”

10 smallest teams, by average height:

Sacred Heart – 5’11.3” 

Ferris State – 5’11.6” 

Michigan – 5’11.6” 

Minnesota State – 5’11.6” 

Penn State – 5’11.7” 

Princeton – 5’11.7”

Army – 5’11.8”

Bemidji State – 5’11.8” 

Colorado College – 5’11.8” 

Quinnipiac – 5’11.8”

10 biggest teams, by average weight:

Notre Dame – 195.6 pounds 

UMass Lowell – 192.7 

Cornell – 192.4

Colgate – 191.3 

Lindenwood – 191.2

Omaha – 190.8

Boston University – 190.7

 Providence – 190.7

Ohio State – 190.3

Denver – 190.2

Ferris State – 190.2 

Western Michigan – 190.2

10 smallest teams, by average weight:

Minnesota State – 179.5 pounds 

Bemidji State – 180.5

Michigan – 180.5

Penn State – 180.9

Robert Morris – 181.2 

Quinnipiac – 181.5 

Harvard – 181.8 

Sacred Heart – 182.0 

Maine – 182.5 

Niagara – 183.0

10 oldest teams, by average age (as of Oct. 1):

Canisius – 23.0 years

RIT – 23.0

Robert Morris – 22.9 

Long Island – 22.8 

Sacred Heart – 22.8 

Alaska – 22. 7

Minnesota State – 22.7 

St. Lawrence – 22.7 

Augustana – 22.6

Ferris State – 22.6 

Niagara – 22.6

Western Michigan – 22.6

10 youngest teams, by average age (as of Oct. 1):

Boston College – 20.6 years 

Denver – 20.9

Harvard – 20.9

Boston University – 21.1 

Michigan State – 21.2 

Wisconsin – 21.2

Cornell – 21. 4 

Providence – 21.4

Michigan – 21.5 

Minnesota – 21.5 

Notre Dame – 21.5

Tallest players:

6’9” – Cooper Black, Dartmouth 

6’8” – Hugo Ollas, Merrimack

Shortest players:

5’4” – Danny Dzhaniyev, Penn State 

5’5” – Max Itagaki, Army West Point

Youngest players:

6/13/06 – Macklin Celebrini, Boston University 

12/7/05 – Zeev Buium, Denver

10/28/05 – Artyom Levshunov, Michigan State 

9/2/05 – Tanner Adams, Providence

8/3/05 – Danny Nelson, Notre Dame

TEAMS BY THE NUMBERS

Most seniors:

11 – Western Michigan

10 – Rensselaer

9 – Air Force, Canisius, Colorado College, Holy Cross, St. Lawrence

Most graduate students:

9 – Robert Morris

7 – Northeastern, Sacred Heart

6 – Canisius, Clarkson, Merrimack, Omaha

5 – American International, Augustana, Long Island, North Dakota, Ohio State, Providence, RIT, St. Thomas

Largest freshman classes:

16 – Robert Morris

11 – Air Force, Army West Point, Boston College, Lake Superior State, Mercyhurst 

10 – American International, Augustana, Cornell, Denver, Michigan State

Most freshmen and sophomores:

21 – American International

20 – Alaska Anchorage, Army West Point, Stonehill

19 – Brown

18 – Boston College, Maine, Mercyhurst, Michigan State, Michigan Tech

Fewest freshmen:

1 – St. Thomas

3 – Miami, Omaha

4 – Colgate, Michigan, Rensselaer

Fewest seniors

1 – Alaska, Augustana, Lindenwood, Minnesota State

2 – Bowling Green, Clarkson, Cornell, UMass Lowell, Robert Morris, Stonehill, St. Thomas

3 – Boston College, Brown, Dartmouth, Denver, Harvard, Merrimack, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Northeastern, Ohio State, Providence, St. Cloud State, Vermont

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS

Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame (West – second team, 2022-23) 

Collin Graf, Quinnipiac (East – first team, 2022-23)

Lane Hutson, Boston University (East – first team, 2022-23) 

Alex Jefferies, Merrimack (East – second team, 2022-23) 

Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech (West – first team, 2022-23) 

Massimo Rizzo, Denver (West – second team, 2022-23)

RETURNING 2022-23 ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS

Atlantic Hockey

D Gianfranco Cassaro, RIT

D Aiden Hansen-Bukata, RIT (Best Defenseman) 

G Tommy Scarfone, RIT

F Carter Wilkie, RIT (Player of the Year)

Big Ten

G Ryan Bischel, Notre Dame (Goaltender of the Year)

CCHA

F Ryland Mosley, Michigan Tech

G Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech (Player of the Year)

F David Silye, Minnesota State (now with Wisconsin)

F Austen Swankler, Bowling Green (now committed to Michigan Tech)

ECAC Hockey

F Collin Graf, Quinnipiac

F Alex Young, Colgate (now with Arizona State)

Hockey East

D Lane Hutson, Boston University (Rookie of the Year) 

F Alex Jefferies, Merrimack

NCHC

Massimo Rizzo, Denver

NCAA TOURNAMENT

Most NCAA Appearances:

Michigan, Minnesota – 40 

Boston University – 38 

Boston College – 36 

North Dakota – 34 

Denver – 32

Harvard, Michigan State – 27 

Wisconsin – 26

Cornell – 23

Longest Active NCAA Appearance Streaks:

Minnesota State, St. Cloud State – 5 

Quinnipiac – 4

Michigan, Minnesota – 3

Most Appearances, Last 10 Tournaments:

Denver, St. Cloud State – 9

Minnesota State, Notre Dame, Quinnipiac – 8 

Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota – 7

Most Appearances, Last 5 Tournaments:

Minnesota State, St. Cloud State – 5

Denver, Michigan, Minnesota Duluth, Notre Dame, Quinnipiac – 4

American International, Boston University, Cornell, Harvard, UMass, Michigan Tech, Minnesota, Northeastern, Ohio State, Penn State – 3

Most Frozen Four Appearances:

Michigan – 27

Boston College – 25

Boston University, Minnesota – 23 

North Dakota – 22

Most Championships:

Denver, Michigan – 9

North Dakota – 8

Wisconsin – 6

Boston College, Boston University, Minnesota – 5

Lake Superior State, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota Duluth – 3 

Colorado College, Cornell, Maine, Rensselaer – 2

Bowling Green, Harvard, UMass, Northern Michigan, Providence, Quinnipiac, Union, Yale – 1

COLLEGE COACHES

Most Career Wins entering 2023-24 

(Division I wins):

Jerry York (Boston College, Bowling Green, Clarkson) – 1,123

Jack Parker (Boston University) – 897

Red Berenson (Michigan) – 848

Ron Mason (Michigan State, Bowling Green, Lake Superior State) – 815

Rick Comley (Michigan State, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State) – 783

(Source: CollegeHockeyNews.com)

Most Career Wins Among Active Coaches (Division I wins):

Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame (and Lake Superior State) – 574 

Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac – 540

Mike Schafer, Cornell – 520

Bob Daniels, Ferris State – 487

Frank Serratore, Air Force (and Denver) – 487

(Source: CollegeHockeyNews.com)

Most NCAA Tournament Appearances, Active Coaches:

18 – Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame (and Lake Superior State) 

13 – Mike Schafer, Cornell

11 – Bob Motzko, Minnesota (and St. Cloud State)

11 – Scott Sandelin, Minnesota Duluth

9 – Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac

Teams with New Head Coaches in 2023-24:

Bentley, Andy Jones

Colgate, Mike Harder

Minnesota State, Luke Strand 

Vermont, Steve Wiedler (interim) 

Wisconsin, Mike Hastings

Longest Tenure at Current School:

Rick Gotkin, Mercyhurst – 36th season

Bob Daniels, Ferris State – 32nd season

Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac – 30th season

Mike Schafer, Cornell – 29th season

Frank Serratore, Air Force Academy – 27th season

Youngest Head Coaches:

Brett Riley, Long Island – Turns 33 on Jan. 25

David Carle, Denver – Turns 34 on Nov. 9

Erik Largen, Alaska – Turns 37 on Oct. 17

Garrett Raboin, Augustana – Turns 38 on March 27

Steve Wiedler, Vermont (interim) – Turns 38 on September 15

Coaches with Sons Playing NCAA Division I Hockey:

Keith Allain, Yale head coach (son Niklas is a Yale senior F)

Chris Brooks, Clarkson assistant coach (son Barrett is a Mercyhurst sophomore F)

Ty Eigner, Bowling Green head coach (son Pete is a Bowling Green junior G)

Guy Gadowsky, Penn State head coach (son Mac is an Army West Point freshman D)

Cory Laylin, St. Thomas (son Luc is a St. Thomas sophomore F)

Andy Slaggert, Notre Dame associate coach (son Landon, Notre Dame senior F; son Carter, Notre Dame freshman F)

Coaches Coaching their Alma Mater in 2023-24 (23 of 64 or 36%):

Keith Allain, Yale

Norm Bazin, UMass Lowell

Chris Bergeron, Miami

Brad Berry, North Dakota

Greg Brown, Boston College

David Carle, Denver

Greg Carvel, UMass (master’s degree) 

Ted Donato, Harvard

Ty Eigner, Bowling Green

Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan 

Mike Gabinet, Omaha

Mike Harder, Colgate

Eric Lang, American International

Erik Largen, Alaska

Brandon Naurato, Michigan

Adam Nightingale, Michigan State

Jay Pandolfo, Boston University

Greg Powers, Arizona State

Mike Schafer, Cornell

Tom Serratore, Bemidji State

Matt Shasby, Alaska Anchorage

Mike Souza, New Hampshire Brendan Whittet, Brown

Head Coaches with NHL Coaching Experience:

Keith Allain, Yale (assistant coach with Washington and St. Louis)

Brad Berry, North Dakota (assistant coach with Columbus)

Greg Brown, Boston College (assistant coach with NY Rangers)

Greg Carvel, UMass (assistant coach with Anaheim and Ottawa)

Reid Cashman, Dartmouth (assistant coach with Washington)

Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan (assistant coach with Detroit)

Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame (assistant coach with NY Islanders)

Brandon Naurato, Michigan (player development consultant with Detroit)

Adam Nightingale, Michigan State (assistant coach with Detroit; video coach with Buffalo) 

Jay Pandolfo, Boston University (assistant coach with Boston)

Head Coaches with NHL Playing Experience:

Brad Berry, North Dakota (241 GP with Winnipeg, Minnesota, Dallas)

Greg Brown, Boston College (94 GP with Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Winnipeg)

Ted Donato, Harvard (796 GP with Boston, NY Islanders, Ottawa, Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, St. Louis, NY Rangers) 

Jay Pandolfo, Boston University (899 GP with New Jersey, NY Islanders, Boston)

Scott Sandelin, Minnesota Duluth (25 GP with Montreal, Philadelphia, Minnesota)

Rick Zombo, Lindenwood (652 GP with Detroit, St. Louis, Boston)

IN THE NHL

A total of 333 college hockey alumni, representing 46 schools, played in the NHL in 2022-23. 

Colleges with the most:

Minnesota – 26

Boston College, Michigan – 24

Boston University – 21

North Dakota – 20

Minnesota Duluth – 17

Notre Dame – 16

Wisconsin – 15

Harvard – 14

UMass – 12

Denver, Providence, St. Cloud State – 11 

Northeastern – 10

NHL players by years in school (66% played at least three years): 

Played five years – 1

Played four years – 89

Played three years – 131 

Played two years – 81 

Played one year – 32

By position:

190 forwards 

120 defensemen 

24 goaltenders

By NHL Draft status:

79 – First round

43 – Second round

35 – Third round

31 – Fourth round

26 – Fifth round

19 – Sixth round

16 – Seventh round

1 – Ninth round

84 – Undrafted free agents (62% of all active undrafted NHL players)

• 41 schools have at least one NHL Draft pick on their roster. 

Colleges with the most draft picks:

Boston University, Boston College – 14 

UMass, Minnesota, Wisconsin – 13 

Denver – 12

Harvard, Michigan, North Dakota – 11

All 32 NHL teams have prospects in college. Those with the most:

Detroit – 14

Nashville – 13

Boston – 12

Chicago, NY Rangers, Tampa Bay, Vancouver – 11 

Arizona, Carolina, Montreal, New Jersey, San Jose – 9

16 of 32 NHL general managers played college hockey:

Kevyn Adams, Buffalo (Miami)

Rob Blake, Los Angeles (Bowling Green)

Craig Conroy, Calgary (Clarkson)

Tom Fitzgerald, New Jersey (Providence) 

Chris Drury, NY Rangers (Boston University) 

Mike Grier, San Jose (Boston University)

Bill Guerin, Minnesota (Boston College)

Kent Hughes, Montreal (Middlebury)

Jarmo Kekalainen, Columbus (Clarkson)

Lou Lamoriello, NY Islanders (Providence) 

Chris MacFarland, Colorado (Pace)

Brian MacLellan, Washington (Bowling Green) 

Kelly McCrimmon, Vegas (Michigan)

Don Sweeney, Boston (Harvard)

Don Waddell, Carolina (Northern Michigan) 

Bill Zito, Florida (Yale)

13 of 32 NHL head coaches played college hockey:

Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina (Michigan State)

Spencer Carbery, Washington (Alaska Anchorage, St. Norbert) 

Greg Cronin, Anaheim (Colby College)

Don Granato, Buffalo (Wisconsin)

Dave Hakstol, Seattle (North Dakota)

Derek Lalonde, Detroit (SUNY Cortland)

Peter Laviolette, NY Rangers (Westfield State)

Jim Montgomery, Boston (Maine)

David Quinn, San Jose (Boston University)

Martin St. Louis, Montreal (Vermont)

John Tortorella, Philadelphia (Maine)

Jay Woodcroft, Edmonton (Alabama-Huntsville) 

Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh (Boston University)

Dozens of players who are sons of former NHLers are playing college hockey, including:

Tristan Amonte (Boston University) – son of Tony Amonte

Jack Blake (Bowling Green) – son of Rob Blake

Brayden Morrison (Miami) – son of Brendan Morrison

Jackson Niedermayer (Arizona State) and Josh Niedermayer (Arizona State) – sons of Scott Niedermayer 

Jackson Nieuwendyk (Canisius) – son of Joe Nieuwendyk

Cameron Recchi (St. Thomas) – son of Mark Recchi

Tom Richter (Union) and Will Richter (Yale) – sons of Mike Richter 

Ryan St. Louis (Brown) – son of Martin St. Louis

Danny Weight (Colorado College) – son of Doug Weight

Players with brothers who have played in the NHL:

Brady Bjork, Notre Dame (Anders Bjork)

Cam Gaudette, Stonehill (Adam Gaudette)

Grant Ahcan, St. Cloud State (Jack Ahcan)

Nic Belpedio, Colgate (Louie Belpedio)

Seth Bernard-Docker, Bentley (Jacob Bernard-Docker) 

Caden Brown, Ohio State (Logan Brown)

Bryce Brodzinski, Minnesota (Jonny Brodzinski)

Luca Fantilli, Michigan (Adam Fantilli)

Brendan Fitzgerald, New Hampshire (Casey Fitzgerald)

Timofei Khokhlachev, American International (Alexander Khokhlachev) 

Ryan Leonard, Boston College (John Leonard)

Taylor Makar, UMass (Cale Makar)

Ryan McInchak, Cornell (step-brother Jack Studnicka) 

John and Luke Mittelstadt, Minnesota (Casey Mittelstadt) 

Rhett Pitlick, Minnesota (Rem Pitlick)

Mason Poolman, Sacred Heart (Tucker Poolman)

Dalton Norris, Bowling Green (Josh Norris)

C.J. Regula, Rensselaer (Alec Regula)

Lukas Sillinger, Arizona State (Cole Sillinger)

Ben Steeves, Minnesota Duluth (Alex Steeves)

Luke Tuch, Boston University (Alex Tuch)

Other current players with notable NHL bloodlines:

Jamie Armstrong (Boston College) – son of Arizona Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong

Grayson Arnott (Maine) – nephew of former NHL player Jason Arnott

Matt DeBoer (Holy Cross) – son of Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer

Jack Gorton (Boston University) – son of Montreal Canadiens Executive VP of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton 

Jack Hughes (Boston University) and Riley Hughes (Ohio State) – sons of Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes 

Luke Loheit (Minnesota Duluth) – grandson of former NHL player Bill Goldsworthy

Alton McDermott (Canisius) – grandson of former NHL player Paul Henderson

Owen Murray (UMass) – great-nephew of former NHL player Dallas Smith

Nick Rhéaume (UMass Lowell) – nephew of Manon Rhéaume, the first woman to play in an NHL game

Levi Stauber (Michigan Tech) – nephew of former NHL player and 1988 Hobey Baker Award winner Robb Stauber

HOCKEY HALL OF FAME

Players:

Hobey Baker, Princeton – 1945

Frank Brimsek, St. Cloud State – 1966

Ken Dryden, Cornell – 1983

Tony Esposito, Michigan Tech – 1988

Joe Mullen, Boston College – 2000

Rod Langway, New Hampshire – 2002

Brett Hull, Minnesota Duluth – 2009

Brian Leetch, Boston College – 2009

Cammi Granato, Providence – 2010

Ed Belfour, North Dakota – 2011

Joe Nieuwendyk, Cornell – 2011

Adam Oates, RPI – 2012

Chris Chelios, Wisconsin – 2013

Rob Blake, Bowling Green – 2014

Angela Ruggiero, Harvard – 2015

Paul Kariya, Maine – 2017

Martin St. Louis, Vermont – 2018

Caroline Ouellette, Minnesota Duluth – 2023

Builders:

John Mariucci, Minnesota – 1985

Bob Johnson, Minnesota (Wisconsin, Colorado College coach) – 1992 

Bill Torrey, St. Lawrence – 1995

Craig Patrick, Denver – 2001

Herb Brooks, Minnesota – 2006

Harley Hotchkiss, Michigan State – 2006

Lou Lamoriello, Providence – 2009

Bill “Red” Hay, Colorado College – 2015

Jerry York, Boston College – 2019

COLLEGE ARENAS

New Arenas Since 2010:

2024: Midco Arena (Augustana)

2023: Martire Family Arena (Sacred Heart), Toscano Family Ice Forum (UConn) 2022: Mullett Arena (Arizona State)

2021: Ed Robson Arena (Colorado College)

2019: Centene Ice Center (Lindenwood)

2018: Bentley Arena

2016: Class of 1965 Arena (Colgate)

2015: Baxter Arena (Omaha)

2014: Gene Polisseni Center (RIT), HarborCenter (Canisius)

2013: Pegula Ice Arena (Penn State)

2011: Compton Family Ice Arena (Notre Dame)

2010: Amsoil Arena (Minnesota Duluth), Sanford Center (Bemidji State)

Oldest arenas:

Matthews Arena, Northeastern – 1910

Baker Rink, Princeton – 1923

Yost Ice Arena, Michigan – 1923 (did not have ice until 1973) 

Houston Field House, RPI – 1949

Appleton Arena, St. Lawrence – 1951

Bright-Landry Hockey Center – 1956 (originally Watson Rink)

 Lynah Rink, Cornell – 1957

Ingalls Rink, Yale – 1958

OLDEST PROGRAMS

Yale – 1896

Brown, Harvard – 1898 Princeton – 1900

Cornell, Rensselaer – 1901

NEWEST PROGRAMS

2023 – Augustana

2022 – Lindenwood, Stonehill 

2021 – St. Thomas

2020 – Long Island

2015 – Arizona State

2012 – Penn State

2004 – Robert Morris

Key Differences in NCAA and NHL Rules

       NCAA hockey follows a rulebook that closely resembles the NHL, but with several key differences. An outline of the most significant differences is included below.

– Overtimes and tie games. Regular-season overtimes are five minutes, sudden death, played 3-on-3 (unless penalties carry over from regulation or are called during overtime). Teams switch ends for overtime (guarding the same net as they did in the second period).

– NCAA games can end in ties, although conferences may elect to use a three-person shootout to award points in league standings after the initial five-minute OT. Non-conference games tied after the initial five-minute OT will end as ties.

– Regular-season tournaments may use a shootout to break ties after the initial five-minute OT.

– Each team receives an additional timeout in overtime if it had already utilized its timeout in regulation.

– Goal scored during delayed penalty. If a team scores a goal during a delayed penalty call, that call is still enforced and the penalty served. The ensuing faceoff takes place at center ice.

– Contact to the head. Any time a player makes direct contact with the head or neck of an opponent it is a major penalty and game misconduct at a minimum. The responsibility lies with the player making the hit to avoid contact with the head and neck area of an opposing player. A player delivering a check to an unsuspecting and vulnerable player puts themselves in jeopardy of being penalized under this rule.

– When the initial force of the contact is a shoulder to the body of the opponent and then slides up to the head or neck area, this is not classified as contact to the head. This type of action may still be penalized, at the referee’s discretion, as another penalty (e.g., charging, roughing, elbowing, etc.).

– No trapezoid. There are no restrictions on where a goaltender can handle the puck behind his goal line.

– Rink size and benches. The NCAA rule book calls for rink dimensions of 200’ by 85’ “as nearly as possible,” but many NCAA rinks vary. Team benches in NCAA arenas may be on opposite sides of the ice.

– Puck shot directly out of play in defensive zone. There is no automatic penalty for clearing the puck over the glass in the defensive zone, although a delay of game penalty can be called at the discretion of the officials if the action was deemed to be intentional.

– Hand passes in the defensive zone. Hand passes are not allowed in the defensive zone in NCAA play, with those situations whistled down as they would be elsewhere on the ice. When the infraction takes place in the defensive zone the offending team will not be able to change players prior to the ensuing faceoff.

– Fighting. Fighting is penalized with a five-minute major and a game disqualification, meaning that the offending player is out of that game and the next game.

– Face shield. All players are required to wear an approved face mask or shield.

– Sticks. NCAA rules allow all players to use sticks up to 65 inches in length (NHL rules require players to seek a waiver for use of sticks between 63 and 65 inches). A goaltender’s paddle may be up to 28 inches long.

– Goaltender equipment. The NCAA rules committee intends to follow, as quickly as is feasible, all NHL goaltender equipment specifications.

– Penalty Shots. When any infraction of the rules calls for a penalty shot not involving a major, disqualification or misconduct penalty, the non-offending team shall be given the option of accepting the penalty shot or having a minor penalty assessed to the offending player.

– Faceoffs. In faceoffs in an offensive zone, the defending team will put their stick down first for the faceoff. In all neutral-zone faceoffs, the visiting team puts their stick down first. A linesman shall conduct all faceoffs.

– On an initial faceoff violation, the center shall not be removed. The linesman will issue a warning to the violating team and any subsequent violation by the same team during the same faceoff will result in a bench minor.

– Video replay. During the season, at a conference’s discretion, video replay may be used by the on-ice officials using a monitor at the scorers’ table. All goals are reviewed initially by a replay official. Should a situation occur that the replay official believes requires a review (or if the on-ice referee decides to review a play), the replay official will offer information and assist in the review. The on-ice referees will review the play at the scorer’s bench and make the decision.

– Video replay may be used, if available, to determine if a play that led to a goal was offsides or if the attacking team had too many men on the ice. During the regular season, prior to the final 10 minutes of regulation and overtime, these reviews require a coach’s challenge. Goals scored where a high stick or puck hitting the protective netting is in question require a coach’s challenge to be reviewed.

– Once a review is initiated, all aspects of a play that are eligible for review may be considered, not just what has been challenged by a coach.

– In the NCAA Tournament and in conference tournaments or regular-season games with suitable facilities, a video replay official will be assigned to a booth in the arena, much like in the NHL.

– Officials may use video replay during a game to review penalties that would result in the removal of a player to ensure proper enforcement. This option, previously only available in the postseason, now applies to the regular season as well.

– The use of video in the players’ bench area is prohibited.

– Skaters. Teams may dress up to 19 skaters in a game.

– Goaltenders. Teams may dress up to three goaltenders in a game.