NCHC Opening Weekend: Denver Sweeps as Contenders Emerge

The NCHC season opened with tight results: three of four series split, while defending national champion Denver swept Omaha. Denver’s depth and returning goalie Johnny Hicks stood out, while Arizona State and Colorado College also showed early promise. The opening weekend suggests the conference race will be fiercely competitive, but several teams still have questions to answer.

• 8 of 10 NCHC teams played; 3 of 4 series ended in splits.
• Denver swept Omaha; Johnny Hicks earned 2 wins in his return.
• Arizona State is 3-1 and averaging 3.8 goals per game.
• Colorado College allows 1.4 goals per game; Jackson Unger has a 1.38 goals-against average and .968 save percentage through 8 games.
• Denver is 2-3 when scoring fewer than 3 goals.

Strong starts are no guarantee of staying power. Denver is still adapting to injuries and nine new players, Colorado College has leaned heavily on Unger, and Miami’s split against a St. Thomas team entering the weekend with just one win raises questions about its consistency. North Dakota, meanwhile, has lost three straight.

• Denver remains a major contender, with Hicks back and contributions coming from beyond its top line.
• Arizona State is scoring and getting support from its depth under new coach Dave Hakstol.
• Colorado College has impressed defensively, while St. Cloud State, Miami and other challengers look to test the conference’s established powers.

As conference play continues, the key tests will be whether Arizona State can sustain its offense, Colorado College can maintain its defensive form, and Miami can translate its nonconference success against tougher opponents. Those results will help show whether the usual contenders will face a broader challenge this season.

Denver set the early pace, but the weekend offered no clear favorite beyond the defending champion. The teams that can pair depth with consistent goaltending and offense are best positioned to survive the NCHC’s demanding schedule.