Montreal Defeats Concordia To Capture 2026 Miller Waste U Sports Women's Hockey Championship

The Montreal Carabins defeated the Concordia Stingers 5-2 to capture the 2026 Miller Waste U Sports Women's Hockey Championship. Tournament MVP Maude Desroches turned aside 40 of 42 Concordia shots to help the Carabins to victory. The story is here.

UQTR Captures U Sports 2026 University Cup

The University of Quebec-Trois-Rivieres defeated host Saint Mary's 3-2 in overtime to capture the 2026 U Sports University Cup. Felix Lafrance notched the overtime winner for the Patriotes. The championship game was played before 7,386 fans at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. The story is here

NHL, CHL And AHL Nearing 19-Year-Old Player Agreement

The NHL, CHL and AHL are reportedly nearing an agreement that would allow for 19-year-old players, that have been selected in the 1st round of the NHL Draft, to play in the AHL on a full-time basis. The change could come into effect as early as next season. The NHLPA will still need to rubber stamp the agreement. The story is here. 

Justin Bourne Is Right. Gary Bettman Is Wrong. It's Time To Change The NHL Playoff Format!

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman likes the playoff format just as it is. Playoff series are contested within the division first, before eventually moving on to a conference final. Justin Bourne suggests a conference playoff format where it's 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5. 

In the current playoff format, you can have a really strong division (ie. Central Division) where three of the league's top teams reside. One of those teams (Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota) is out in the first round. On the flip side, you have a really weak division (ie. Pacific Division) where only one team (Anaheim) has more wins than losses. Sub-.500 teams are being rewarded for a mediocre regular season, while some elite teams will be at home watching those mediocre teams play in the second round. Why does the NHL have a regular season that doesn't reward performance for the playoffs? The NHL really needs to rethink their playoff format. Justin Bourne's thoughts via Sportsnet are here. 

Hamilton Is Getting An AHL Team. How About Bringing Back A Historic Name?

The New York Islanders are planning to move their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Islanders to Hamilton, Ontario in time for the 2026-27 season. The team will play at the recently renovated TD Coliseum. Hamilton last had an AHL team in 2014-15 when they were known as the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Hamilton Bulldogs name transitioned to the junior OHL, until the arena renovation prompted a relocation to Brantford as the Brantford Bulldogs. 

So what name will the franchise be given? How about the Tigers? The name has historic history in the city, as the Hamilton Tigers played in the NHL from 1920 to 1925. While it would be close in name to the city's pro football franchise (the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were established in 1950 when the Hamilton Tigers and Hamilton Wildcats franchises merged), it would bring back a historic hockey name that has great significance in the city. 

You can find out more about the AHL's Hamilton return here.

Recent Scouting Report On 2026 NHL Draft Top Prospect Ivar Stenberg

Here is a recent detailed scouting report on 2026 NHL Draft top prospect Ivar Stenberg (by McKeen's Hockey). 

NAHL Confirmed To Houston

An elite junior level franchise has been confirmed for the Houston area for the 2026-27 season, as the NAHL's North Iowa Bulls will relocate to the still under construction Deep South Ice & Sports Center in Richmond, Texas. The team will be known as the Houston Bulls. 

The Deep South Ice & Sports Center is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026 and will feature an 1,800 seat main arena with 14 suites and 2 party decks, as well as a second NHL-size practice arena. Mason City, Iowa will maintain the North Iowa Bulls in the lower level NA3HL, as they rebrand from the Mason City Toros. The story is here.

Sportsnet Projects Ivar Stenberg As Top Player Available In 2026 NHL Draft

Sportsnet has projected Sweden's Ivar Stenberg (LW) as the top player available for the 2026 NHL Draft. In both their February and most recent March projections, Stenberg finished as the number one rated prospect. Canada's Gavin McKenna (LW) was projected as the next best available player in both months.  

T.J. Hughes To Toronto? The Top College Free Agent Would Be A Great Addition

With some holes at the centre position and a team with not a lot of top prospects on the horizon, the Toronto Maple Leafs should absolutely pull out all the stops to sign the top college free agent, Hamilton native T.J. Hughes of the Michigan Wolverines. The Maple Leafs should sign any college free agent that shows NHL potential in addition to Hughes, but Hughes is the best place to start to find a potential impact NHL player. There is more here on Hughes and other college free agents from The Leafs Nation.

World Cup of Hockey Returns (Hopefully On A Permanent Basis Every Four Years!)

The NHL and NHLPA announced Monday that Calgary, Edmonton and Prague will serve as hosts of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. The World Cup was last played in 2016. The 2028 World Cup will be sandwiched between the recently completed 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina and the 2030 Winter Olympics in Nice (for best-on-best international competition). The story is here. 

Wisconsin Head Coach Mark Johnson Makes NCAA History

Congratulations to Wisconsin women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson on becoming the first coach in NCAA women's hockey history to reach 700 wins! The historic mark was achieved on March 14 when Wisconsin posted a 6-0 victory over Quinnipiac. You can find out more here.

Potential Move To Canadian Tire Centre Is The Best Path Forward For Ottawa Charge

With a new (and smaller arena) coming to Lansdowne 2.0 in Ottawa, the PWHL's Ottawa Charge are looking to make a move from TD Place to the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata (current home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators). If a lease agreement can be locked in by the Charge at the CTC, it's the best path forward for the franchise to keep growing their fanbase. If a move to the CTC comes for the Charge, it appears it will be in partnership with the Senators (which could lead to the Charge eventually moving to the Senators planned arena in the LeBreton Flats area, near downtown Ottawa). The move out to Kanata may deter some Charge fans from making the commute, but the positives outweigh the negatives to be able to play in a current NHL arena. The Charge has a history in the CTC, with a previous game vs. Montreal drawing over 11,000 fans on December 6, 2024. Another game at the CTC vs. Montreal is scheduled for April 4. Tickets are selling very well for the game and there's a hope that a new attendance record will be set for professional women's hockey in Ottawa. Here is some more information on the potential Charge arena move.

FloHockey's Called Up Podcast-What The NHL's Five Worst Teams Need To Pick At The Top Of The 2026 NHL Draft

Just released today, here is a great discussion by FloHockey's Called Up podcast regarding what the NHL's five worst teams need to pick at the top of the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

NHL To Houston? Houston Hockey Legend Thinks It Could Happen Soon

Houston hockey legend Marty Howe thinks the NHL could establish a franchise in Houston within the next three years. The NHL would very much like to get to one of North America's most populated cities and when the time comes for the NHL to expand again, Houston and Atlanta have been often mentioned as two locations that could gain the 33rd and 34th NHL franchises. Who could own an NHL franchise in Houston and where would they play? Tilman Fertitta (owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets) and/or billionaire Dan Friedkin are often mentioned as prospective owners of a franchise. The Toyota Center in downtown Houston (current home of the NBA's Houston Rockets) could and would serve as the venue for an NHL expansion franchise. Find out more here.

Ownership A Major Factor In Nick Schmaltz's Decision To Sign Long-Term With Utah Mammoth

When Utah Mammoth star Nick Schmaltz signed long-term with the franchise earlier this week ($64 million over 8 years), he credited ownership as being a significant factor in his decision. Salt Lake City has truly become a destination for NHL players! You can read more on this story here.

If Edmonton Oilers Players Are Pointing Fingers At Each Other, It's Time To Stop!

The Edmonton Oilers are in a "win now" window for the Stanley Cup, but if reports are accurate that they have been pointing fingers at and blaming one another regarding performance, it's time to stop! This team will face a quick exit from this year's playoffs (if they qualify) if they don't fully come together as a team. There's more on this situation here.

Second St. Louis Area Team Joins NCAA Division 1 Men's Hockey

Maryville University has been granted NCAA Division 1 status for their men's hockey team, with exhibition play against Division 1 teams starting in 2026-27 and full status starting in the 2027-28 season. Maryville University joins fellow St. Louis area school, Lindenwood University in NCAA Division 1 competition. Lindenwood made their NCAA Division 1 debut in the 2022-23 season. The two schools are separated by just 17 miles. You can find out more here.

Iowa Heartlanders 2026-27 Voluntary Suspension-What Comes Next?

The ECHL's Iowa Heartlanders have voluntarily suspended play for the 2026-27 season and will re-evaluate their business to see if they can continue to play in the ECHL in the future. Even with a modern Xtream Arena that opened in 2020, attendance has been poor for pro hockey in the Coralville-Iowa City area. So what comes next? There hasn't been evidence that the University of Iowa is genuinely interested in starting an NCAA D1 hockey program at Xtream Arena. Continuing in the ECHL for the Heartlanders likely doesn't make sense. What may make sense for the region and the arena is placing a junior USHL franchise in Xtream Arena. There are currently five Iowa franchises in America's top junior hockey league and a franchise in Coralville-Iowa City may have a chance for success, with built-in regional rivalries and the fact the USHL features players on their way to NCAA D1 and the NHL. The current ownership of the Iowa Heartlanders would be smart to look at transitioning their operation to the USHL and move their ECHL franchise rights elsewhere. News on the Heartlanders voluntary suspension from the ECHL is here.

Shattuck-St. Mary's School-Hockey Video Tour

BarDown and TSN have recently released a video tour of the hockey program/school at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota. The school is widely regarded as the top hockey prep school on a global level and features alumni such as current NHL stars Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini. Enjoy the feature here.