USCHO Weekend Review

Wisconsin outscored Notre Dame 16–2—but have the Badgers earned the No. 1 ranking? Michigan suffers its first loss, Michigan State wins a thriller against North Dakota in Austin, and Augustana’s explosive weekend raises expectations for the Vikings.

Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley break down the weekend, including Quinnipiac’s response against Providence, Boston University’s sweep of Maine, Vermont’s dramatic sweep of UNH and Army’s historic conference start behind consecutive JJ Cataldo shutouts.

Plus: the Ivies get underway, and we discuss what the early NPI can tell us as Thanksgiving approaches.

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What's changing in NCAA men's college hockey this season, and why are some new rules already generating so much discussion?

On this special edition of USCHO Upon Further Review, hosts Ed Trefzger and Jim Connelly welcome two of the leading authorities on NCAA hockey rules and officiating:

• Jeff Fulton — NCAA National Coordinator of Men's Ice Hockey Officials
• Steve Piotrowski — NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor

Together, they explain the changes for the 2026–27 season, why they were introduced and how officials are applying them on the ice.

Topics include:

New faceoff procedures and enforcement of violations

The increased emphasis on diving and embellishment

Video replay, major penalties and coaches' challenges

The introduction of the goaltender trapezoid

Changes affecting line changes, timeouts and game flow

Consistency in officiating across college hockey

Whether you're a player, coach, broadcaster or fan, this conversation offers insight into how the college game is evolving.

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Minnesota delivered one of the biggest surprises of the young college hockey season, sweeping previously unbeaten North Dakota to give new head coach Brett Larson his first two victories with the Golden Gophers.

On this week's USCHO Weekend Review, Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley break down a wild weekend in NCAA Division I men's hockey.

Among the topics:

- Minnesota's sweep of North Dakota and what it means for both programs
- Army's stunning overtime upset of Quinnipiac
- New Hampshire's impressive split with Michigan State
- Michigan's dramatic last-second victory over Western Michigan
- Augustana's sweep at Ohio State and Merrimack's big weekend at Notre Dame

Plus: Which conference is strongest? We examine the early-season nonconference records of all six Division I men's leagues, including the NCHC, Big Ten and Hockey East, and what those results could mean for the national picture.

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Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley make their calls on nine early-season questions in college hockey. Who’s buying — and who’s selling?

Can Denver get back to the Frozen Four? Will Augustana earn an at-large NCAA bid? Is Quinnipiac the nation’s top-scoring team? We also weigh in on Penn State, Minnesota, Arizona State, Atlantic Hockey and the NCAA tournament outlook for Boston College, Boston University and Hockey East.

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Michigan swept defending national champion Denver and takes over No. 1 in the USCHO poll. What separates the unbeaten Wolverines, and what should we make of the Pioneers’ first losses of the season?

Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley break down the weekend in college hockey, including:

• Michigan’s statement sweep at Denver
• Western Michigan’s dominant start and upcoming test against Michigan
• Augustana and Michigan Tech building strong early cases
• Quinnipiac’s scoring depth and Penn State’s struggles
• Minnesota’s winless start
• Arizona State’s sweep at UMass Lowell in Dave Hakstol’s debut behind the bench

Jim also shares insight from his pregame conversation with Hakstol and his firsthand view of Friday’s ASU victory.

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In the debut episode, USCHO’s Jim Connelly goes inside Bentley Arena for an extended conversation with Jones, now in his fourth season leading the Falcons after guiding the program to back-to-back Atlantic Hockey America championships and consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

Jones discusses the transition into his first head-coaching job, the philosophy and relationships behind Bentley’s rise, and what it means to build a Division I hockey program at a smaller school in the blue-collar city of Waltham, Massachusetts. He reflects on the people who fought to keep Bentley hockey alive, the growth of the program and its community, and the identity he believes has become the foundation of its success.

The conversation also looks at the rapidly changing landscape of college hockey — including NIL, the transfer portal, player retention and 5-for-5 eligibility — and how Bentley hopes to remain competitive without losing sight of what the program is trying to be.

Plus, Jones opens up about the responsibilities of being a head coach, the senior class that helped transform the program, leadership inside a hockey locker room and his long-term vision for Bentley hockey.

Behind the Bench takes listeners beyond the standings and inside the programs, people and philosophies shaping college hockey.

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Are Atlantic Hockey America teams and independents closing the gap in college hockey?

Holy Cross has beaten Maine and Arizona State. Sacred Heart knocked off Penn State, Bentley shut out Vermont, and RIT came within half a second of beating UMass. Add Alaska’s win at Boston College and Maryville’s win over St. Lawrence, and there’s plenty to discuss.

Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley examine what these early results tell us about college hockey’s depth—and why a split against a higher-profile opponent can represent real progress. Are the days of assuming a comfortable sweep fading?

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Alaska takes down No. 11 Boston College, Sacred Heart beats No. 17 Penn State, and Maine and Quinnipiac split a hard-fought series. We also recap Bowling Green’s Ice Breaker title and more from a busy weekend of college hockey.

Then, Arizona State’s split with Holy Cross: a 2–1 Friday loss followed by a 5–4 overtime comeback win. ASU trailed 3–1 in the third before scoring three straight, and Jack Beck won it 46 seconds into overtime. We also hear from interim head coach Mike Corbett.

Ed Trefzger hosts Jimmy Connelly and Derek Schooley on USCHO Weekend Review.

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A teammate’s catastrophic injury. A players’ letter demanding answers. A program facing difficult questions about accountability and trust.

On this edition of USCHO Upon Further Review, Jim Connelly, Ed Trefzger and Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley discuss the aftermath of Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich’s collapse during an August 20 team workout.

The conversation examines seven players’ challenge to the university’s initial account, head coach Greg Powers being placed on paid administrative leave, and the independent review—including questions about its scope and transparency.

Jim and Ed offer their perspectives on ASU’s response and its responsibilities to Mayich, his family and the team. Derek discusses the emotional burden players carry as they return to competition.
We also look at Arizona State’s opening-weekend split with Lindenwood and why the hockey results cannot answer the larger questions facing the program.

What must happen next to begin restoring trust?

This episode discusses allegations and an ongoing investigation; responsibility has not been established by completed investigative findings.

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College hockey is back, and opening weekend wasted no time producing some major early-season storylines.

On this edition of the USCHO Weekend Review, Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley break down Colorado College’s impressive sweep of No. 10 UMass, including a dominant weekend from goaltender Jackson Unger, and Quinnipiac’s explosive 16-goal start against New Hampshire and Merrimack.

The crew also discusses Michigan Tech’s sweep of No. 14 Minnesota after an unusual postponement in Houghton, Denver opening its title defense with two wins at Alaska Anchorage, and Michigan rallying to complete a sweep of Bowling Green while Brandon Naurato earned his 100th career victory.

Plus, Hockey East begins nonconference play just 3–5 — albeit entirely on the road — and Maryville earns a dramatic comeback victory over St. Lawrence as it begins its transition toward full Division I hockey.

Topics include:

- Colorado College sweeps No. 10 UMass
- Quinnipiac scores 16 goals in two games
- Michigan Tech sweeps Minnesota
- Denver begins its national-title defense
- Michigan survives a scare at Bowling Green
- Hockey East’s early nonconference results
- Maryville earns its first win against a Division I opponent

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The 2026–27 men’s Division I college hockey season is here, and USCHO Opening Faceoff breaks down the biggest contenders across all six conferences.

Jim Connelly, Ed Trefzger and Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley go conference by conference through Atlantic Hockey America, the Big Ten, CCHA, ECAC Hockey, Hockey East and the NCHC. Which teams should win their leagues? Who could surprise? And which programs are built to make a run deep into March?

The show concludes with Jim, Ed and Derek revealing their four picks to reach the 2027 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.

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The old dividing line between Major Junior and NCAA hockey is disappearing.

Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley examine the CHL’s growing impact on college hockey—from a record-setting NHL Draft to a rapidly expanding recruiting pool of Major Junior players.

A record 19 current or committed NCAA players were selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, with 110 chosen overall. But the larger story is how the new CHL-to-NCAA pathway is changing recruiting, roster construction and player development throughout the sport.

The discussion then turns to four prominent coaching changes:

• Brett Larson takes over at Minnesota
• Nick Oliver succeeds Larson at St. Cloud State
• Rob Rassey follows Ted Donato at Harvard
• Eric Rud begins a new chapter at Alaska Anchorage

Which programs are best positioned for immediate success—and which new coach faces the most difficult transition?

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College hockey players may now have five years of eligibility—but House settlement roster limits leave participating programs with only 26 roster spots.

In Episode 2 of the USCHO Weekend Review Offseason series, Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley examine how the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model will affect college hockey.

The panel explains why “5-for-5” is an imperfect shorthand, when a player’s five-year clock begins and why the new system may change decisions about junior hockey, college enrollment, redshirts and player development.

Also discussed:

• The five-year clock beginning at the earlier of initial full-time college enrollment or the NCAA’s age-19 trigger

• The important September 1 birthday cutoff

• Why sitting out, transferring or taking time away generally does not stop the clock

• Transition rules for current players and incoming recruits

• Court challenges that have complicated the implementation of the new model

• The 26-player roster limit at House-participating Division I men’s hockey programs

• The end of traditional sport-specific scholarship limits at participating schools

• Temporary roster protection for certain designated student-athletes

• How additional eligibility and limited roster space could change recruiting and roster construction

The group also confronts the ultimate roster-management question: If only one spot remains, do you choose the developmental freshman, the trusted veteran or the elite NHL prospect who may stay for only one season?

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In the first of three USCHO Weekend Review Offseason episodes, Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley begin with the serious medical situation involving Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich.

Mayich was hospitalized after collapsing during an outdoor team workout in August. The panel discusses the circumstances surrounding the workout, the questions facing Arizona State and the broader responsibilities schools have for athlete safety, oversight and accountability.

The conversation then turns to a series of major changes affecting NCAA hockey:

• How the NCAA’s governance restructuring gives hockey greater authority over sport-specific decisions

• Why Division I men’s and women’s hockey can now take different approaches to playing rules

• New rules and safety measures entering the college game

• The temporary waiver allowing additional institutional staff members to provide technical and tactical instruction

• Whether expanded player-development staffs will create a competitive arms race

• The push toward a longer college hockey schedule—and why a 40-game maximum has not yet been approved

The episode examines how these developments fit together and whether college hockey is beginning to govern itself with more independence than ever before.

Recorded September 2, 2026. The Matthew Mayich discussion reflects information publicly available at the time of recording.

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The 2026 NHL Draft begins tonight in Buffalo, and college hockey could be headed for a historic first round.

In this USCHO NHL Draft Special, Jim Connelly looks at the growing number of first-round prospects with college hockey ties, including current NCAA players and incoming college-bound players from the CHL, USHL, NTDP and international paths.

The episode features insight from NHL Central Scouting’s Dave Gregory on how scouts evaluate prospects across different leagues and development routes, including why college hockey can provide important context for draft-eligible players competing against older, stronger opponents.

Also featured:

• Gavin McKenna and what Penn State revealed about his NHL projection
• Tynan Lawrence and Oscar Hemming adjusting to Hockey East midseason
• Brady Knowling, the top-ranked North American goaltender
• Chase Reid, Carson Carels and Keaton Verhoeff among the high-end defensemen
• Names to know among the top college-linked North American skaters
• A dark horse first-round name to watch

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Episode 3 of our 2026 NHL Draft Preview series looks at two Hockey East forwards who are drawing NHL Draft attention: Tynan Lawrence of Boston University and Oscar Hemming of Boston College.

Each joined their respective teams in January. Lawrence finished his freshman season at BU with 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points in 18 games, while Hemming posted 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points in 19 games for Boston College.

In this episode, BU coach Jay Pandolfo and BC coach Greg Brown join USCHO's Jim Connelly. They break down how to evaluate both players beyond the stat line, what their roles showed in Hockey East, and why NHL teams will be looking closely at their projection heading into the 2026 NHL Draft.

Featured players:

Tynan Lawrence — Boston University
Oscar Hemming — Boston College

This is part of our 2026 NHL Draft Preview series, focused on college hockey players, NCAA prospects, and college-linked names to know before the draft.

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Gavin McKenna is one of the most talked-about players in the 2026 NHL Draft, and after a season at Penn State, his college hockey experience adds important context to his evaluation.

Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky joins Jim Connelly and USCHO’s 2026 NHL Draft Special to discuss what stood out about McKenna from the start, how his game developed over the season, what college hockey demanded from him, and what fans should understand beyond the highlights, rankings and draft attention.

Topics include:
• What made Gavin McKenna special from the start
• How his game developed at Penn State
• What college hockey revealed about his NHL projection
• Playing against older, stronger NCAA competition
• How elite players adjust when opponents key on them
• What fans may miss when judging top draft prospects
• Penn State’s role in McKenna’s development path

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The 2026 NHL Draft is just days away, and USCHO kicks off its draft coverage with Dave Gregory, Associate Director of NHL Central Scouting.

In this conversation, Gregory explains how NHL Central Scouting’s rankings come together, what fans should understand about the evaluation process, and how scouts compare prospects across college hockey, junior hockey, international leagues and other development paths.

We also discuss what college hockey can reveal about draft-eligible players, how scouts look beyond statistics and highlight clips, what the NHL Scouting Combine adds to the process, and which types of players may be getting less public attention but could still make a real impact in the future.

Topics include:
• How to understand NHL Central Scouting rankings
• Comparing NCAA, CHL, USHL, NTDP and international prospects
• What college hockey reveals about draft-eligible players
• Why production does not always tell the full story
• Evaluating forwards, defensemen and goaltenders
• What the NHL Combine adds to the process
• Players and traits that may be under-discussed before draft day

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Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) review major off-season topics that have surfaced in the month since the end of the season.

They begin by focusing on the NCAA’s proposed five-year-to-play-five-seasons eligibility model that would start at high school graduation (or a player’s 19th birthday) and could reduce eligibility for future incoming freshmen, impacting junior hockey pathways, parity, scholarships, APR/graduation rates, and creating uncertainty amid the portal, NIL, and other changes. They note widespread opposition, potential revisions, and upcoming NCAA discussion dates.

This episode also addresses House v. NCAA roster limits (26 with calls for 27+ and in-season injury replacements), debates about breaking from the NCAA versus more sport autonomy, proposals to expand games/practices and add limited non-recruiting on-ice staff, and tournament format ideas.

They close with notes on Frozen Four viewership in Las Vegas and recent coaching changes.

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In a special offseason USCHO Report, Jim Connelly interviews ECAC commissioner Doug Christiansen about an NCAA proposal to change the eligibility window to align with high school graduation or a player’s 19th birthday. In this episode, Christiansen explains that this would have major consequences for college hockey, with 75% of players potentially losing a year of eligibility given the sport’s average player age of 20.6.

Christiansen describes ongoing, collaborative discussions with the NCAA, NHL, USA Hockey, and development leagues. The talks emphasize hockey’s unique development path through junior hockey and that the proposed rule was not designed for hockey.

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