The sad song of CCHA nonconference frustration played on for St. Thomas, Lake State, Bemidji State and Ferris State over the holidays, but old reliable Michigan Tech stunned Michigan State to claim the historic Great Lakes Invitational.

Much of the college hockey world has slipped into holiday mode – taking care of exams and nursing bruised bodies for a couple of weeks – but a handful of schools are getting in a final weekend of action.

During the 2023-2024 college ice hockey season, there will be 64 NCAA Division I men’s programs across 21 states, led by New York and Massachusetts with 11 teams each.

Each year in men's college hockey, the freshman class is often chock full of high-end future NHL talent. This year will be no different with multiple high-end NHL Draft eligible players, several players who have already been selected in the first round and many more that have been drafted by NHL teams.

The chatter about prospects grows louder, breakout contender lists grow, and ‘way too premature’ articles begin to flood social media—that’s right hockey is almost back.