We are entering the holiday break for college hockey and many teams have already gone idle. But if you’re an NCAA fan, there will be games of intrigue right around the corner as the World Junior Championship comes to Minnesota. Many of the best young players in college will be playing for their national teams and it won’t just be Canadians and Americans: Wilson Bjorck of Colorado College will suit up for Sweden, while UMass’ Vaclav Nestrasil will be playing for the Czechs, just to name two.
The most important thing for college teams is that their prized players don’t get hurt at the tournament, but on a more optimistic tip, coaches and fans can hope that these teens can bank serious big-game experience while playing in the vaunted international tourney. In the meantime, let’s see what the NCAA hockey world looks like heading into the break, spotlighting the teams and players you need to know right now.
1. Michigan Wolverines (16-4-0)
While there’s no guarantee that Canada and the U.S. will meet at the world juniors, a medal-round bout would be electric. It would also be conflicting for Wolverines fans, since Will Horcoff (PIT) would be facing Canadian pals Michael Hage (MTL) and Jack Ivankovic (NSH).
2. Michigan State Spartans (12-4-0)
The Spartans will also be well represented at the world juniors, with sublime freshman Porter Martone (PHI) returning for Canada with revenge on his mind for last year’s quarterfinal exit. Meanwhile, Shane Vansaghi (PHI) will be looking to help Team USA make it three golds in a row.
3. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (14-4-0)
With only one loss since Halloween, the Fighting Hawks have really turned it on and look like a legit threat out of the NCHC. North Dakota’s most recent business was a tidy sweep over Omaha and their next series, not until early January, is against winless Mercyhurst.
4. Wisconsin Badgers (12-2-2)
The Badgers are one to watch because they’re not getting the same headlines as some of their flashier Big Ten rivals – but Wisconsin’s record doesn’t lie. Coach Mike Hastings’ team is 3-1 against Michigan and Michigan State so far and seven Badgers have hit double-digit points already.
5. Denver Pioneers (12-6-1)
Thanks to their championship pedigree and coach David Carle, the Pioneers are going to get the benefit of the doubt this season: They’re not dead until they’re officially out of the Frozen Four. Denver has hit some adversity of late, but a non-conference series against Maine in the new year will be a tasty one.
6. Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (14-6-0)
Max Plante (DET) reclaimed the outright pole position in the NCAA scoring race over the weekend and now stands at 30 points through 20 games. He’ll be another one to watch for Team USA at the world juniors, where the offense will need players to step up after some big names (Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault) aged out of the tourney.
7. Dartmouth Big Green (11-1-0)
And then there were none. Dartmouth lost to New Hampshire on Sunday, meaning there are no more undefeated teams in D1. It was a great run for the Big Green, whose next challenge comes at the end of the month with another non-conference opponent, Arizona State. Two tilts with the Sun Devils could be revealing.
8. Harvard Crimson (7-3-1)
Two of Harvard’s losses came to Michigan, which doesn’t look so bad now. Otherwise, the Crimson have largely taken care of business. They haven’t played Dartmouth or Quinnipiac yet and both of those match-ups will truly inform who the top dogs are in the ECAC. Mick Thompson leads Harvard in scoring with 15 points in 11 games.
9. Boston College Eagles (10-5-1)
There’s some nice uniformity in Boston right now, as the Eagles’ top threats also happen to be Bruins draft picks. James Hagens, of course, was expected to be a driver, but big Dean Letourneau has exploded as a sophomore, putting up the type of points expected of a first-rounder. And success has followed for the team.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-5-0)
It’s kinda funny that Penn State makes the list after not playing for a couple weeks, but their NPI is right up there and the record is still pretty solid. Gavin McKenna, the 2026 NHL draft prospect, will get a chance to really cut loose at the world juniors for Team Canada and silence the haters.
