NFL
By Jason Gulden
Welcome back, NCHC Hockey Fans. Boy, have I missed NCHC College Hockey.
Before we get into the 2026-2027 season preview, I need to bring something up. There’s news coming out of Arizona State regarding sophomore Matthew Mayich. I’m fully aware of what’s going on, and when the time is right, I will talk more in depth about the situation. Matthew, everyone in the NCHC community is thinking of you and your family and praying for your recovery.
Preseason Poll and Breakdown
NCHC released its Preseason Poll about a week ago, and the results aren’t very shocking considering how the season ended last year.
Local media members from each school, along with select national media, voted on these results. A total of 33 ballots were cast, and points were awarded on a descending scale: first place got 10 points, second place got 9 points, and so on down to 10th place.
Coming in at #1 with 304 points and 14 first-place votes are the defending National Champions, the Denver Pioneers. They say goaltending wins championships. That’s exactly what Denver has returning this season. After a strong year taking over halfway through last season, Johnny Hicks has posted a record of 15-0-1, a Goals-Against average of 1.25, and a save percentage of .969. Denver will have big shoes to fill this season on their blue line, as defensemen Boston Buckberger and Eric Pohlkamp have forgone their senior years and signed with NHL teams. 
Coming in at #2 with 302 points and 12 first-place votes is the defending Penrose Cup champs for winning the regular season, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Like Denver, North Dakota returns its starting goaltender from last year. Jan Spunar is back for his sophomore season. Last season, he compiled a 20-5-1 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Cole Reschny, last season’s Rookie of the Year, also returns for his sophomore season following his 31-point rookie season.
Coming in at #3 with 273 points and 7 first-place votes is the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. They will have a new goalie this year after Adam Gajan signed a professional contract following last season. Ethan Dahlmeir takes over the reins. In limited time in net last season, he compiled a 5-2-0 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.33 goals-against average. However, when it comes to the Bulldogs, the name to talk about is Hobey Baker winner Max Plante, who scored 25 goals and had 27 assists. This year, he’ll not only team up with his older brother Zam Plante again, but also be joined by their younger brother, Victor Plante. There is a very good chance we could have a Plante Line in Duluth this season.
Coming in at #4 with 237 points is the Western Michigan Broncos. Following their 3rd-place finish last year and 5th straight trip to the NCAA tournament, they look to get back to the top of the mountain as the best team in the NCHC, as they were for the 2024-2025 NCHC season when they won the trifecta by winning the regular season, NCHC postseason, and the NCAA Championship. The Broncos will have big shoes to fill in goal this season, as Hampton Slukynsky and his 44 career wins over 2 seasons decided to join his brother in signing a professional contract with the Los Angeles Kings following last season. However, the Broncos have found themselves a great replacement for Slukynsky.
The Broncos jumped into the transfer portal and snatched up Quintin Miller, who transferred from Denver following the season after losing his job to Johnny Hicks halfway through last season. Miller had a 12-10-2 record, a .916 save percentage, and a 2.39 goals-against average before he got injured in late January.
Coming in at #5 with 175 points is the Miami (OH)) RedHawks. After a rough 2024-2025 season in which they won only 3 games, the RedHawks rebounded last season and went 18-16-2. A big part of their turnaround was the outstanding play in net by freshman goaltender Matteo Drobac. He compiled a 17-16-2 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average.
Coming in at #6 with 159 points is the Colorado College Tigers. This season, the Tigers welcome back several players from last year’s team, along with six newcomers. However, their big question mark heading into the season is goaltending. After Kaiden Mbereko graduated in May, the Tigers will look to replace a goaltender who has been a staple for the school for the last 4 seasons, with 54 wins in 121 games. Jackson Unger will get the first opportunity to fill those shoes. In limited action last season, he went 1-4-2 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.53 Goals-against average. Those numbers should improve with the return of Max Burkholder, who only played in 3 games last year on the Tigers’ blue line before a season-ending injury in October.
Coming in at #7 with 121 points is the newcomer to the league, the St. Thomas Tommies. They come over to the NCHC from the CCHA, where they have played since the 2021-2022 season, when they became a division 1 hockey program. Last season, they compiled a 20-13-5 record and finished 3rd in the conference. Since becoming a Division 1 program, they have improved their win total each season. In the first season, they only won 3 games but have won 11, 15, 19, and 20 in the following 4 seasons. They have a couple of players who have played in the NCHC. Most notably, their goaltender, Carsen Musser. During the 2024-2025 season, in limited action, he went 2-3-0 for Colorado College. Last season, he compiled an 11-6-3 record with an .892 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average.
Coming in at #8 with 102 points is the St. Cloud State Huskies. For the first time in 8 seasons, there will be a new man behind the bench for the Huskies. Nick Oliver takes over the reins from Brett Larson, who is now the head coach at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Oliver will have an experienced goalie returning to the net for the Huskies this season. Patrik Berzins returns following his 10-7-0 2025-2026 campaign, where he had a .909 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average.
Coming in at #9 with 73 points is the Arizona State Sun Devils. After missing the NCHC playoffs by 2 points last season, the Sun Devils look to move up the standings this year. The Sun Devils will look to Samual Urban in net this season after Connor Hasley graduated. Last season, in 15 games, he compiled a 4-10-1 record with a .904 save percentage and a 3.54 goals-against average.
Rounding out our team previews, coming in at #10 with 69 points is the Omaha Mavericks. This year, 11 newcomers will join the squad. Omaha will have a new main guy in net this season as Simon Latkoczy graduated. They will be looking toward Dawson Cowan, who in 12 games last season compiled a 4-8-0 record with a 901 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average.
Closing
After an exciting finish in mid-April in Las Vegas that saw Denver win the 8th NCAA National Championship for the NCHC in 11 years and a long offseason of missing hockey, NCHC fans, we have made it. Next Friday, October 2nd, the puck drops for the 2026-2027 season.
I will be back this season to take you along for the ride until the last NCHC team is standing. Let’s hope it’s in Washington, D.C., on April 10th with one of our teams raising the trophy for the 9th time in league history.
Look forward to our first weekend preview article coming your way in the middle of next week before the puck drops on Friday.
