Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Ice Hockey to Compete in 2026 Ice Breaker Tournament
November 25, 2025 | Ice Hockey
The Bowling Green ice hockey team is set to compete in the 2026 Ice Breaker Tournament, co-hosted by Sacred Heart and UConn on Oct. 9-10, 2026. Along with the two host schools, Bowling Green and Penn State round out the field for the two-day tournament.Â
Bowling Green is returning to the tournament for the first time since 2019, when the Falcons hosted Ohio State, RIT and Western Michigan at the Huntington Center in Toledo.  2026 will mark the third time that Bowling Green has participated in the Ice Breaker Tournament, as they first competed in 2001, when it was hosted by Maine.Â
The tournament is set to be played at two of the newest arenas in college hockey, as UConn and Sacred Heart opened the doors to the Toscano Family Ice Forum and the Martire Family Arena, respectively, in 2023. 2026 will be just the third time that the tournament has been co-hosted and is the first time since North Dakota and Bemidji State co-hosted the 2023 tournament.Â
The annual Ice Breaker Tournament began in 1997, hosted by the University of Wisconsin and has rotated host schools ever since. The tournament consists of schools typically from different conferences and regions. The 2026 tournament will bring together programs from the American Hockey Association, Big Ten, CCHA and Hockey East.Â
The 2025 Ice Breaker tournament was hosted by Arizona State and consisted of Notre Dame, Quinnipiac, and Alaska. Hosts Arizona State were victorious in the 2025 tournament, beating Notre Dame in the championship game at Mullett Arena. Â
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Bowling Green is returning to the tournament for the first time since 2019, when the Falcons hosted Ohio State, RIT and Western Michigan at the Huntington Center in Toledo.  2026 will mark the third time that Bowling Green has participated in the Ice Breaker Tournament, as they first competed in 2001, when it was hosted by Maine.Â
The tournament is set to be played at two of the newest arenas in college hockey, as UConn and Sacred Heart opened the doors to the Toscano Family Ice Forum and the Martire Family Arena, respectively, in 2023. 2026 will be just the third time that the tournament has been co-hosted and is the first time since North Dakota and Bemidji State co-hosted the 2023 tournament.Â
The annual Ice Breaker Tournament began in 1997, hosted by the University of Wisconsin and has rotated host schools ever since. The tournament consists of schools typically from different conferences and regions. The 2026 tournament will bring together programs from the American Hockey Association, Big Ten, CCHA and Hockey East.Â
The 2025 Ice Breaker tournament was hosted by Arizona State and consisted of Notre Dame, Quinnipiac, and Alaska. Hosts Arizona State were victorious in the 2025 tournament, beating Notre Dame in the championship game at Mullett Arena. Â
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