The influx of beaming CHL talent heading to the college hockey scene means a fiercer and much more competitive season is ahead for the NCAA, and teams who may have struggled to compete could have a sharper edge this upcoming year, but those who also dominated the league will only get stronger. But, with some of Canada’s major junior talent heading to the YUSA, here are the five NCAA hockey programmes who could be among the top five in the country, and chasing that national championship glory.
5. Boston College
Coming in at a solid number five, it is newly drafted Bruin James Hagens who will take the role as the number one guy at BC this year, and has a chance to prove himself to all the doubters who looked down on his true ability heading into the draft. BC are a team with impeccable speed, and talented NHL calibre players who will not only have grade A development at the programme, but will have all the fuel needed to head to the frozen four once again. Although they could've been considered a top three programme, their CHL additions haven't been too notable compared to others, and with those like Washington’s Ryan Leonard, and New York’s Gabe Perrault both potentially leaving the team to head to the NHL or even AHL, Boston will weaken, but with a solid Boston drafted core of players including Dean Letourneau, William Moore, and James Hagens, their weakening defensive core is easily backed up by their extremely raw and exciting offensive explosiveness.
4. Boston University
Taking the number four spot is BC’s arch rivals Boston University, a team who has had some success with CHL and USNTDP imports, but in addition, have managed to keep some of their stars for next season. Aiden Celebrini, Quinn Hutson, and Cole Eiserman are just some of the names who could continue on at BU next season, but those like Sacha Boisvert, Haoxi Wang, Charlie Threthewey, Jack Murtagh, and Ryder Ritchie are some of the CHL and USNTDP imports they have added to their already dangerous roster. Their deep forward core, and solid defensive core with players like Cole Hutson, on top of elite level recruiting and amazing goaltending, BU will once again be a threat, and their depth in talent across all areas on the ice is easily an issue for other teams, and could well be a dangerous force next season.
3.Penn State University
Previously being a lower ranked programme in the NCAA hockey scene, the addition of consensus 2026 number one pick Gavin McKenna, first round d-man Jackson Smith, and the potential addition of Flyers sixth overall pick Porter Martone, may make them a scoring force nobody can match. With elite goaltending, and upgraded defensive depth with newly acquired Mac Gadowsky the AHCA All-American defenseman, their scoring depth, and potential additions to come, along with their top tier facilities, coaching staff, and newfound depth and compete level, Penn State could jump up and find themselves already contending for next season, and with some NHL talent on the team, and some extremely high level prospects joining the team on top of others, the have a great chance this season, and may have the edge other don't quite have.
2. Western Michigan University
It is hard to avoid putting the NCAA national champions in this list, although no notable CHL or USNTDP prospects have committed, they still have the firepower, and coaching staff to go again. Beating out Denver who previously had a monstrous roster shows they still have a lot to give in their defending season. WMU have the veteran presence that not a lot of these competitors have, and with their physical and senior style of play they easily have something most teams don't have, and they have proven players who know how to win, the winning mentality, and championship experience which goes a long way in a tough league like the NCAA.
Michigan State University
Taking the number one spot for next season has to be Michigan State. With high level elite prospects all over the roster. Although the recent loss of the Hobey Baker winner to the Oilers Isaac Howard, their goaltending in the Red Wings Trey Augustine, and Columbus’ Melvin Strahl, they easily have arguably the top goaltending group in the NCAA, and along with their netminding, their deep veteran presences, and newly acquired burst of CHL talent, with energy and bags of potential like former top five pick Cayden Lindstrom, Ryker Lee, and Charlie Stramel, the Spartans look dangerous next year, and with some major prospects yet to commit from the CHL like Porter Martone, the Spartans could just entice another elite prospect, and a deep playoff run, on top of a worthy effort at dominance in the regular season, the Michigan State Spartans could be the team to watch, and could just dominate this year.
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