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25 Things to Know About the 2026 Frozen Four in College Hockey: Puck Drop

Originally posted on Boston College Eagles on SI
By Christopher Walsh  |  Last updated Apr 8, 2026 6:00 AM ET

There are three general themes about the 2026 Frozen Four that will be talked abotu and referred nearly non-stop through the weekeend.

First, the four teams to qualify have won the most Frozen Four national championships, led by Denver with 10, and followed by Michigan (nine), North Dakota (eight) and Wisconsin (six). That's never happened before in college hockey.

Second, it's being hailed as an offensive showcase as all four are in the top 10 nationally in goals scored. Yes, the Wolverines led the nation in average goals per game at 4.56, but the other three teams are prolific as well: North Dakota 3.85 (third), Wisconsin 3.76 (ffith), and Denver 3.61 (ninth) — and that's despite playing in the two best conferences in college hockey this season, they'll all in the top 20 in strength of schedule.

Finally, the Frozen Four will be played in Las Vegas for the first time. T-Mobile Arena, the home of the NHL's Golden Knights, is located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, and nicknamed "The Fortress." But it's also the most Western location for the college hockey national championship since the first Frozen Four was played in Anaheim, Calif. in 1999 (more on that later).

Look for the city to go all out as this is the first in a championship run as Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship, the 2028 NCAA Men's Final Four and Super Bowl LXIII in 2029.

A couple of weeks ago we did 25 Things to Know About the 2026 NCAA Hockey Tournament. It's time for the Frozen Four edition:

Puck Drop: Wednesday, April 8, 2026

• The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced that Dartmouth head coach Reid Cashman is this year's recipient of th 2026 Spencer Penrose Award as the Division I Men's Ice Hockey coach of the year. The Big Green then won a program- best 23 games this season and landed a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980. Cashman is the second Dartmouth coach to win the award (Eddie Jeremiah won the first award in 1951, and again 1967). A full list of the award winners can be found at the end of Puck Drop.

•  Former NHL veteran Matt Cullen has officially joined Brett Larson’s staff at Minnesota as the director of player development. Two of his sons had already committed to the Gophers. Former players Ben Gordon and Paul Martin are staying on staff, and another former player, Minnesota alum Cory Laylin, is joining as an assistant coach.

• Cornell announced that women's hockey head coach Doug Derraugh has signed a multi-year contract extension. No other details were made available.

• Former Dartmouth forward Luke Haymes was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

• The women's transfer portal has picked up. Sophomore forwards Jessie Pellerin (Providence) and Isa Goettl (Bemidji State) are both heading to Clarkson. Sophomore defender Caroline Aufiero is going from Clarkson to Robert Morris. Junior forward Rylee Bartz is heading to Ohio State from St. Thomas. Junior forward Sidney Jackel is leaving St. Cloud State for RIT. Freshman goaltender Tara Bach is heading from Mercyhurst to Vermont.

• Lane Hutson (Boston University) became the third defenseman in Montreal Canadiens history to score 75 points in a season. 

Hockey Quote of the Day

[On the development of the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens] "You have to take care of the baby. But a child is more autonomous: he's able to make his bed or brush his teeth."Martin St-Louis (Vermont)

We'll Leave You With This ...

Spencer Penrose Award: Coach the Year

1951    Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth
1952    Cheddy Thompson, Colorado College
1953    John Mariucci, Minnesota
1954    Vic Heyliger, Michigan
1955    Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard
1956    William Harrison, Clarkson
1957    Jack Riley, Army
1958    Harry Cleverly, Boston University
1959    John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College
1960    Jack Riley, Army
1961    Murray Armstrong, Denver
1962    Jack Kelley, Colby
1963    Tony Frasca, Colorado College
1964    Tom Eccleston, Jr., Providence
1965    Jim Fullerton, Brown
1966    Amo Bessone, Michigan State; Len Ceglarski, Clarkson
1967    Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth
1968    Ned Harkness, Cornell
1969    Charlie Holt, New Hampshire
1970    John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech
1971    Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard
1972    John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College
1973    Len Ceglarski, Boston College
1974    Charlie Holt, New Hampshire
1975    Jack Parker, Boston University
1976    John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech
1977    Jerry York, Clarkson
1978    Jack Parker, Boston University
1979    Charlie Holt, New Hampshire
1980    Rick Comley, Northern Michigan
1981    Bill O'Flaherty, Clarkson
1982    Ferny Flaman, Northeastern
1983    Bill Cleary, Harvard
1984    Mike Sertich, Minnesota-Duluth
1985    Len Ceglarski, Boston College
1986    Ralph Backstrom, Denver
1987    John "Gino" Gasparini, North Dakota
1988    Frank Anzalone, Lake Superior
1989    Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
1990    Terry Slater, Colgate
1991    Rick Comley, Northern Michigan
1992    Ron Mason, Michigan State
1993    George Gwozdecky, Miami
1994    Don Lucia, Colorado College
1995    Shawn Walsh, Maine
1996    Bruce Crowder, UMass Lowell
1997    Dean Blais, North Dakota
1998    Tim Taylor, Yale
1999    Richard Umile, New Hampshire
2000    Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
2001    Dean Blais, North Dakota
2002    Tim Whitehead, Maine
2003    Bob Daniels, Ferris State
2004    Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth
2005    George Gwozdecky, Denver
2006    Enrico Blasi, Miami
2007    Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame
2008    Red Berenson, Michigan
2009    Jack Parker, Boston University
2010    Wayne Wilson, RIT
2011    Nate Leaman, Union
2012    Bob Daniels, Ferris State
2013    Norm Bazin, UMass Lowell
2014    Rick Bennett, Union
2015    Mike Hastings, Minnesota State
2016    Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac
2017    Jim Montgomery, Denver
2018    Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame
2019    Greg Carvel, Massachusetts
2020    Brad Berry, North Dakota; Mike Schafer, Cornell
2021    Mike Hastings, Minnesota State
2022    Mike Hastings, Minnesota State
2023    Bob Motzko, Minnesota
2024    Greg Brown, Boston College
2025    Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan
2026    Reid Cashman, Dartmouth


This article first appeared on Boston College Eagles on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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