The Ice Breaker Tournament (also called the Ice Breaker Invitational or the Ice Breaker Cup) is a college Division I men's ice hockey tournament played annually at the start of each season.
The tournament began play in 1997 as an exhibition and was created as an early-season showcase for top-ranked teams from four separate conferences. After the first year the games became an official part of the NCAA season and counted towards the standings. The participants are selected partially based upon their pre-season rankings with one of the four usually serving as the host. Twice, in 2010 and 2012, local sports commissions served as hosts when there was no local university available. Only Minnesota has played in consecutive Ice Breaker Tournaments (2013, 2014). The tournament is typically held during the opening weekend of college hockey season.
Due to the 2020 edition being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was held twice in 2021 in successive weeks. The first tournament (East) had a predetermined schedule rather than utilizing an elimination format; the winner and placement was determined by highest record in the two games. The second tournament (West) returned to the normal championship/consolation format.
The 2022 edition was co-hosted by Air Force and Denver, necessitating a predetermined schedule rather than an elimination format. The 2025 edition was hosted by Arizona State.
Yearly results Year Champion Runner-up Third place Fourth place Venue (Host)2025Arizona StateNotre DameQuinnipiacAlaskaMullett Arena (Arizona State)2024OmahaMinnesotaMassachusettsAir ForceOrleans Arena (Minnesota)2023North DakotaBemidji StateWisconsinArmySanford Center (Bemidji) Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks)2022DenverMaineAir ForceNotre DameCadet Ice Arena (Colorado Springs) Magness Arena (Denver)2021 (West)MichiganMinnesota StateMinnesota DuluthProvidenceAMSOIL Arena (Duluth)2021 (East)Boston CollegeQuinnipiacNortheasternHoly CrossDCU Center (Holy Cross)2019Ohio StateRITWestern MichiganBowling GreenHuntington Center (Bowling Green)2018Notre DameProvidenceMiamiMercyhurstErie Insurance Arena (Mercyhurst)2017Michigan TechMinnesota–DuluthMinnesotaUnionAMSOIL Arena (Duluth)2016Air ForceOhio StateBoston CollegeDenverMagness Arena (Denver) 2015 North Dakota Maine Michigan State Lake Superior State Cumberland County Civic Center (Maine) 2014 Minnesota Rensselaer Minnesota–Duluth Notre Dame Compton Family Ice Arena (Notre Dame) 2013 Minnesota New Hampshire Clarkson Mercyhurst Mariucci Arena (Minnesota) 2012 Notre Dame Nebraska–Omaha Maine Army Sprint Center (Kansas City Sports Commission) 2011 Boston College North Dakota Michigan State Air Force Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota) 2010 Boston University Notre Dame Wisconsin Holy Cross Scottrade Center (St. Louis Sports Commission) 2009 Nebraska–Omaha Massachusetts–Lowell St. Lawrence Army Qwest Center (Nebraska–Omaha) 2008 Boston University Michigan State Massachusetts North Dakota Agganis Arena (Boston University) 2007 Minnesota Michigan Boston College Rensselaer Xcel Energy Center (Minnesota) 2006 Vermont Miami Denver Colgate Goggin Ice Arena (Miami) 2005 Colorado College Maine Air Force Union World Arena (Colorado College) 2004 New Hampshire St. Lawrence St. Cloud State Ohio State Whittemore Center (New Hampshire) 2003 Boston College Findlay Michigan State Minnesota–Duluth Munn Ice Arena (Michigan State) 2002 Boston University Rensselaer Wisconsin Northern Michigan Kohl Center (Wisconsin) 2001 St. Cloud State Maine Bowling Green Clarkson Alfond Arena (Maine) 2000 New Hampshire Colgate Michigan†North Dakota† None† Yost Ice Arena (Michigan) 1999 Denver Providence Notre Dame Union Magness Arena (Denver) 1998 Boston College St. Lawrence Minnesota Ohio State Mariucci Arena (Minnesota) 1997 Michigan State Wisconsin Boston University Clarkson Dane County Coliseum (Wisconsin)
† Michigan and North Dakota declined to participate in a shootout to determine a winner
Team records Team # of times participated Titles Conference Boston College 6 4 Hockey East Minnesota 5 3 Big Ten Boston University 4 3 Hockey East New Hampshire 3 2 Hockey East North Dakota 5 2 NCHC Michigan State 5 1 Big Ten Notre Dame 5 1 Big Ten Ohio State 4 1 Big Ten Air Force 3 1 Atlantic Hockey Denver 3 1 NCHC Michigan 3 1 Big Ten Nebraska–Omaha 2 1 NCHC St. Cloud 2 1 NCHCArizona State11NCHC Colorado College 1 1 NCHC Michigan Tech 1 1 CCHA Vermont 1 1 Hockey East Maine 4 0 Hockey East Minnesota–Duluth 4 0 NCHC Clarkson 3 0 ECAC Hockey Rensselaer 3 0 ECAC Hockey St. Lawrence 3 0 ECAC Hockey Union 3 0 ECAC Hockey Wisconsin 4 0 Big Ten Army 3 0 Atlantic Hockey Bowling Green 2 0 CCHA Colgate 2 0 ECAC Hockey Holy Cross 2 0 Atlantic Hockey Providence 2 0 Hockey East Quinnipiac 2 0 ECAC Hockey Alaska 1 0 IndependentBemidji State10CCHA Findlay 1 0 CHA Lake Superior State 1 0 CCHA Massachusetts 1 0 Hockey East Massachusetts–Lowell 1 0 Hockey East Mercyhurst 1 0 Atlantic Hockey Miami 1 0 NCHC Minnesota State 1 0 CCHA Northeastern 1 0 Hockey East Northern Michigan 1 0 CCHA RIT 1 0 Atlantic Hockey Western Michigan 1 0 NCHC
References