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Icebreaker, Ranked Showdowns, Women's No. 1 vs. 4 Top Busy Hockey Week: Puck Drop

Originally posted on Boston College Eagles on SI
By Christopher Walsh | Last updated Oct 7, 2025 2:36 AM ET

Arizona State was the center of the college hockey world last weekend, where it hosted Penn State for high-flying opening salvo for the season, and it might be again in Week 2 of the men's season.

On Friday, this year's Ice Breaker Tournament will feature Alaska (Fairbanks) against No. 8 Quinnipiac on the first semifinal, followed by the No. 15 host Sun Devils against Notre Dame. If Quinnipiac and Arizona State both win and advance to Saturday's championship, there will be four non-conference meetings between ranked teams this weekend.

Boston College playing two games in Minnesota was the matchup most fans circled on the schedule heading into the season, but both had setbacks last week and dropped out of the top 10 of the rankings. Neither can afford an early-season sweep.

Instead, No. 9 Michigan at No. 7 Providence has become the matchup to watch. The Wolverines destroyed Mercyhurst with a sweep by a combined score of 18-1, while Providence edged Quinnipiac in an home exhibition 2-1. This will technically be the Friars' season opener.

The other showdown between ranked teams is No. 18 St. Thomas at No. 10 North Dakota. Next season they'll be in the same conference as the NCHC goes to a 10-team league. St. Thomas, located in the Twin Cities, made the jump to Division I for all sports beginning with the 2021-22 season. Last year it finished second in the CCHA.

On the women's there'e three ranked matchups, but No. 4 UMD at No. 1 Wisconsin is the first top-four meeting of the young season. ÈveGascon might be the best goaltender in the nation, and is squaring off against the reigning national champions on their home ice.

Puck Drop: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Did You Notice?

• Former Northeastern goaltender Cayden Primeau was claimed by the by the Toronto Maple Leafs off waivers from the Carolina Panthers. He had been acquired in an offseason trade with Montreal for a seventh-round selection. Rosters were set on Monday for Tuesday's start to the NHL season.

• Former Boston University defenseman Matt Grzelcyk signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. For more, see Breakaway On SI.

• Connor McDavid's contract extension (two years, $12.5 million for each starting next season) understandingly dominated the headlines on Monday, but the Edmonton Oilers also signed former Providence College defenseman Jake Walman to a seven-year deal worth $49 million.

• Alaska Fairbanks men’s hockey would like find a new league home following the dissolution of the WCHA back in 2021. Head coach Erik Largen told the Duluth News Tribune: “We’ve put together a really competitive schedule year-in and year-out. We’ve had some really quality teams, quality people have been up here. At the same point, it’d be nice for us to finally find a home and just have that consistency for home and away scheduling.” Their best hope might be for the five current independents to eventually form their own league as more teams join Division I.

• MSU Hockey Coach Undervalued Entering 2025 Season

On This Date in Hockey History:

Hockey Quote of the Day

"It takes brains. It's not like a forward, where you can get away with scoring and not play defense. On defense you have to be thinking.” Chris Chelios