100 NAHL Alumni Hit the Ice for the NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship

March 25, 2026

The stage is set as the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship kicks off for the first-round games on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The North American Hockey League is proud to announce that 100 athletes with NAHL connections will be featured in the tournament across the 16 participating teams.

Regional play kicks off today in a single-elimination format. The round of 16 is divided among four regional sites. The Worcester, Massachusetts, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sites have their matchups today, while the Albany, New York, and Loveland, Colorado, sites kick off their games tomorrow. The four regional winners will move on to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bentley University features the most athletes with NAHL ties. 14 former players have laced up for the Falcons this season. The team will take on the University of Michigan on Friday night during the regional semifinals. Helping to lead the charge for the Falcons this season are former NAHLers. On the ice, former North Iowa Bull, Michael Mesic, has led the Falcons during the Atlantic Hockey Championship tournament spotlighting eight points, tallying five goals while making three assists. In addition, Mesic was named the Most Outstanding Player for the tournament. In net, former Minot Minotauro, Lukas Swedin, has produced a dominant freshman season. Swedin was named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team and as an Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year Finalist. The former Tauro featured a 1.16 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage during the postseason for the Falcons.

Another team to spotlight multiple NAHL alumni are the Minnesota State Mavericks, with 11 players with League of Opportunity ties. Earning recognition in the CCHA is former St. Cloud Norsemen Evan Murr. The blueliner took home a plethora of awards, winning CCHA Defenseman of the Year, being named as a CCHA Player of the Year Finalist, and being named to the All-CCHA First-Team. Murr has tallied 10 goals, while making 20 assists for Minnesota State this season. Playing in the crease for the Mavericks is former Johnstown Tomahawks netminder Alex Tracy. In his senior season, Tracy spotlights a 1.80 goals-against average and .927 save percentage with Minnesota State this season.

The Minot Minotauros feature the most former players in the 2026 Men’s Hockey Championship, with 11 former NAHLers playing across all 16 teams at the annual event.

To learn more about the bracket and how to watch the tournament, check out the championship hub.

Number of Athletes From Each NAHL Team*

Aberdeen Wings: 5

Amarillo Wranglers: 1

Anchorage Wolverines: 3

Austin Bruins: 9

Bismarck Bobcats: 6

Chippewa Steel: 2

Colorado Grit: 1

Danbury Hat Tricks: 1

Fairbanks Ice Dogs: 3

Jamestown Rebels: 1