History of the Men's Ice Breaker Tournament
The Ice Breaker Tournament was created by the Hockey Commissioners Association in order to celebrate the start of the season with teams from four different NCAA Division I conferences. The event has a legislative exemption from the NCAA which allows the four participants to play two additional games above the normal limit of 34. While sponsored by the HCA, the annual supervision of the event is assumed by the host institution and the staff of College Hockey Inc.
| Year | Host(s) | Site | Participants (Champion in Boldface) |
| 1997 | U. of Wisconsin | Dane County Coliseum (Madison) | BU, Clarkson, Michigan State, Wisconsin |
| 1998 | U. of Minnesota | Mariucci Arena (Minneapolis) | BC, Minnesota, Ohio State, St. Lawrence |
| 1999 | U. of Denver | Magness Arena (Denver) | Denver, Notre Dame, Providence, Union |
| 2000 | U. of Michigan | Yost Arena (Ann Arbor) | Colgate, Michigan, UNH, North Dakota |
| 2001 | U. of Maine | Alfond Arena (Orono) | Bowling Green, Clarkson, Maine, St. Cloud |
| 2002 | U. of Wisconsin | Kohl Center (Madison) | BU, Northern Michigan, Rensselaer, Wisconsin |
| 2003 | Michigan State | Munn Arena (East Lansing) | BC, Findlay, UMD, Michigan State |
| 2004 | New Hampshire | Whittemore Center (Durham) | UNH, Ohio St., St. Cloud, St. Lawrence |
| 2005 | Colorado College | World Arena (Colorado Springs) | Air Force, Colorado College, Maine, Union |
| 2006 | Miami University | Goggin Ice Arena (Oxford) | Colgate, Denver, Miami, Vermont |
| 2007 | U. of Minnesota | Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul) | BC, Michigan, Minnesota, Rensselaer |
| 2008 | Boston University | Agganis Arena (Boston) | BU, UMass, Michigan State, North Dakota |
| 2009 | Nebraska-Omaha | Qwest Center (Omaha) | Army, MA-Lowell, Omaha, St. Lawrence |
| 2010 | St. Louis Sports | Scottrade Center (St. Louis) | BU, Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Wisconsin |
| 2011 | U. of North Dakota | Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks) | Air Force, BC, Michigan State, North Dakota |
| 2012 | Kansas City Sports | Sprint Center (Kansas City) | Army, Maine, Omaha, Notre Dame |
| 2013 | U. of Minnesota | Mariucci Arena (Minneapolis) | Clarkson, Mercyhurst, Minnesota, UNH |
| 2014 | U. of Notre Dame | Compton Ice Arena (Notre Dame) | Minnesota, UMD, Notre Dame, RPI |
| 2015 | U. of Maine | Cumberland Cty CC (Portland) | LSSU, Maine, Michigan State, North Dakota |
| 2016 | U. of Denver | Magness Arena (Denver) | Denver, Air Force, BC, Ohio State |
| 2017 | Minnesota Duluth | Amsoil Arena (Duluth) | UMD, Minnesota, Michigan Tech, Union |
| 2018 | Mercyhurst | Erie Insurance Arena (Erie) | Mercyhurst, Miami, Notre Dame, Providence |
| 2019 | Bowling Green | Huntington Center (Toledo) | BGSU, RIT, Ohio State, W. Michigan |
| 2020* | No tournament due to COVID-19. | ||
| 2021* | Minnesota Duluth | Amsoil Arena (Duluth) | UMD, Michigan, MNSU, Providence |
| 2021 | Holy Cross | Hart Center (Worcester) | Holy Cross, Quinnipiac, Northeastern, BC |
| 2022 | Air Force/Denver | Cadet Arena (USAF) / Magness (Denver) | Air Force, Denver, Maine, Notre Dame |
| 2023 | Bemidji State/North Dakota | Sanford Center (BSU) / Engelstad Arena (UND) | Army West Point, Bemidji State, North Dakota, Wisconsin |
| 2024 | Minnesota | Orleans Arena (Las Vegas) | Air Force, Omaha, UMass, Minnesota |
| *The 2020 Ice Breaker, hosted by Minnesota Duluth, was not held due to COVID-19. The 2020 tournament was played in 2021 along with the original 2021 Ice Breaker hosted by Holy Cross. | |||
Tournaments Won (Thru 2024)
Boston College, 4; Minnesota, 3; Boston University, 3; Denver, 2; New Hampshire, 2; North Dakota, 2; Notre Dame, 2; Omaha (2), Air Force, 1; Colorado College, 1; Michigan, 1, Michigan State, 1; Michigan Tech, 1; Ohio State, 1; St. Cloud, 1; Vermont, 1.
Appearances (Thru 2024)
Boston College, 6; Minnesota, 6; Notre Dame, 6; Air Force, 5; Maine, 5; Michigan State, 5; North Dakota, 4; Boston University, 4; Denver, 4; Minnesota-Duluth, 4; Ohio State, 4; Wisconsin, 4; Army West Point, 3; Clarkson, 3; Michigan, 3; New Hampshire, 3; Omaha, 3; Providence, 3; RPI, 3; St. Lawrence, 3; Union, 3; Bowling Green, 2; Colgate, 2; Holy Cross, 2; Mercyhurst, 2; Miami, 2; St. Cloud, 2; UMass, 2; Bemidji State 1; Colorado College, 1; Findlay, 1; UMass Lowell, 1; Michigan Tech, 1; Minnesota State, 1; Northeastern, 1; Northern Michigan, 1; Quinnipiac, 1; RIT, 1; Vermont, 1; Western Michigan, 1.
