Thursday, February 20, 2025
Union College to Host 2025 Ice Breaker Tournament
Saint Anselm, Vermont, Wisconsin Set to Participate
Union College announced today, in conjunction with the Hockey Commissioner Association and College Hockey Inc., that it will serve as the host institution for the women’s 2025 Ice Breaker Tournament.
Saint Anselm, Vermont, and Wisconsin will also compete in the event, scheduled for Oct. 17-18, 2025, at Union’s new rink, Mohawk Harbor Arena.
The Ice Breaker Tournament, which began in men’s hockey in 1997, traditionally marks the beginning of the NCAA hockey season. The women’s tournament began in 2019 when Mercyhurst was the inaugural host at the Buffalo Harbor Center. The event brings together four teams, typically from different conferences, and is administered by the Hockey Commissioner Association and College Hockey Inc.
“We are extremely excited to be participating in and hosting the 2025 Ice Breaker Tournament and having the chance to showcase our new facility. It is an excellent chance for our team to play in a tournament setting against some great programs in NCAA women’s hockey, and I hope that this will continue to grow the game of college hockey in the Capital Region,” said Union Head Coach Tony Maci.
Under Maci’s leadership, the Garnet Chargers have broken the program’s single-season wins record and secured their first-ever victory over a top 10 opponent. The Union Garnet Chargers will open the 2025-26 season in their new facility, Mohawk Harbor Arena. Located on the Mohawk River, the 2,200-seat arena features upgraded locker rooms for both teams, as well as dedicated strength and conditioning and athletic training spaces. The rink is just steps from College Park Hall, providing easy access and a close-knit experience for student-athletes.
“Union College will be a fantastic host for the Ice Breaker Tournament. The entire athletic department at Union has worked tirelessly to make this new building a reality. I cannot wait to see the start of a new era at Union,” said ECAC Commissioner Doug Christiansen.
The Ice Breaker event will be part of a big weekend of hockey at the Mohawk Harbor Events Center, as the Union men’s hockey team will also play Niagara University in a two-game series Friday and Saturday night.
Information regarding purchasing tickets for the event will be announced at a later date.
Click HERE for Ice Breaker Tournament history, including previous locations, participants and champions.
Tournament History
| Year | Host | Site | Participants (Champion in Boldface) |
| 2019 | Mercyhurst | Buffalo Harbor Center (Buffalo, N.Y.) | Colgate, UConn, Mercyhurst, Minnesota Duluth |
| 2020 | Not held because of COVID-19 | ||
| 2021 | Not held because of COVID-19 | ||
| 2022 | Neutral Site | 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena (Lake Placid, N.Y.) | Clarkson, Holy Cross, St. Lawrence, Syracuse |
| 2023 | Sacred Heart | Martire Family Arena (Fairfield, Conn.) | Lindenwood, Northeastern, Sacred Heart, St. Cloud State |
| 2024 | Ohio State | Schottenstein Center (Columbus, Ohio) | Cornell, Ohio State, Penn State, Stonehill |
| 2025 | Union | Mohawk Harbor Arena (Schenectady, N.Y.) | St. Anselm, Union, Vermont, Wisconsin |