# Ice Breaker Tournament

The Ice Breaker Tournament (also called the Ice Breaker Invitational or the Ice Breaker Cup) is a college Division I men's ice hockey tournament played annually at the start of each season.
The tournament began play in 1997 as an exhibition and was created as an early-season showcase for top-ranked teams from four separate conferences. After the first year the games became an official part of the NCAA season and counted towards the standings. The participants are selected partially based upon their pre-season rankings with one of the four usually serving as the host. Twice, in 2010 and 2012, local sports commissions served as hosts when there was no local university available. Only Minnesota has played in consecutive Ice Breaker Tournaments (2013, 2014). The tournament is typically held during the opening weekend of college hockey season.
Due to the 2020 edition being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was held twice in 2021 in successive weeks. The first tournament (East) had a predetermined schedule rather than utilizing an elimination format; the winner and placement was determined by highest record in the two games. The second tournament (West) returned to the normal championship/consolation format.
The 2022 edition was co-hosted by Air Force and Denver, necessitating a predetermined schedule rather than an elimination format. The 2023 edition was co-hosted by Bemidji State and North Dakota.

## Yearly results

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Third place | Fourth place | Venue (Host) |
| 2024 | Omaha | Minnesota | Massachusetts | Air Force | Orleans Arena (Minnesota) |
| 2023 | North Dakota | Bemidji State | Wisconsin | Army | Sanford Center (Bemidji) Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks) |
| 2022 | Denver | Maine | Air Force | Notre Dame | Cadet Ice Arena (Colorado Springs) Magness Arena (Denver) |
| 2021 (West) | Michigan | Minnesota State | Minnesota Duluth | Providence | AMSOIL Arena (Duluth) |
| 2021 (East) | Boston College | Quinnipiac | Northeastern | Holy Cross | DCU Center (Holy Cross) |
| 2019 | Ohio State | RIT | Western Michigan | Bowling Green | Huntington Center (Bowling Green) |
| 2018 | Notre Dame | Providence | Miami | Mercyhurst | Erie Insurance Arena (Mercyhurst) |
| 2017 | Michigan Tech | Minnesota–Duluth | Minnesota | Union | AMSOIL Arena (Duluth) |
| 2016 | Air Force | Ohio State | Boston College | Denver | Magness Arena (Denver) |
| 2015 | North Dakota | Maine | Michigan State | Lake Superior State | Cumberland County Civic Center (Maine) |
| 2014 | Minnesota | Rensselaer | Minnesota–Duluth | Notre Dame | Compton Family Ice Arena (Notre Dame) |
| 2013 | Minnesota | New Hampshire | Clarkson | Mercyhurst | Mariucci Arena (Minnesota) |
| 2012 | Notre Dame | Nebraska–Omaha | Maine | Army | Sprint Center (Kansas City Sports Commission) |
| 2011 | Boston College | North Dakota | Michigan State | Air Force | Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota) |
| 2010 | Boston University | Notre Dame | Wisconsin | Holy Cross | Scottrade Center (St. Louis Sports Commission) |
| 2009 | Nebraska–Omaha | Massachusetts–Lowell | St. Lawrence | Army | Qwest Center (Nebraska–Omaha) |
| 2008 | Boston University | Michigan State | Massachusetts | North Dakota | Agganis Arena (Boston University) |
| 2007 | Minnesota | Michigan | Boston College | Rensselaer | Xcel Energy Center (Minnesota) |
| 2006 | Vermont | Miami | Denver | Colgate | Goggin Ice Arena (Miami) |
| 2005 | Colorado College | Maine | Air Force | Union | World Arena (Colorado College) |
| 2004 | New Hampshire | St. Lawrence | St. Cloud State | Ohio State | Whittemore Center (New Hampshire) |
| 2003 | Boston College | Findlay | Michigan State | Minnesota–Duluth | Munn Ice Arena (Michigan State) |
| 2002 | Boston University | Rensselaer | Wisconsin | Northern Michigan | Kohl Center (Wisconsin) |
| 2001 | St. Cloud State | Maine | Bowling Green | Clarkson | Alfond Arena (Maine) |
| 2000 | New Hampshire | Colgate | Michigan† North Dakota† | None† | Yost Ice Arena (Michigan) |
| 1999 | Denver | Providence | Notre Dame | Union | Magness Arena (Denver) |
| 1998 | Boston College | St. Lawrence | Minnesota | Ohio State | Mariucci Arena (Minnesota) |
| 1997 | Michigan State | Wisconsin | Boston University | Clarkson | Dane County Coliseum (Wisconsin) |
† Michigan and North Dakota declined to participate in a shootout to determine a winner

## Team records

| Team | # of times participated | Titles | Conference |
| Boston College | 6 | 4 | Hockey East |
| Minnesota | 5 | 3 | Big Ten |
| Boston University | 4 | 3 | Hockey East |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 2 | Hockey East |
| North Dakota | 5 | 2 | NCHC |
| Michigan State | 5 | 1 | Big Ten |
| Notre Dame | 4 | 1 | Big Ten |
| Ohio State | 4 | 1 | Big Ten |
| Air Force | 3 | 1 | Atlantic Hockey |
| Denver | 3 | 1 | NCHC |
| Michigan | 3 | 1 | Big Ten |
| Nebraska–Omaha | 2 | 1 | NCHC |
| St. Cloud | 2 | 1 | NCHC |
| Colorado College | 1 | 1 | NCHC |
| Michigan Tech | 1 | 1 | CCHA |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | Hockey East |
| Maine | 4 | 0 | Hockey East |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 4 | 0 | NCHC |
| Clarkson | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
| Rensselaer | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
| St. Lawrence | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
| Union | 3 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
| Wisconsin | 4 | 0 | Big Ten |
| Army | 3 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
| Bowling Green | 2 | 0 | CCHA |
| Colgate | 2 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
| Holy Cross | 2 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
| Providence | 2 | 0 | Hockey East |
| Bemidji State | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
| Findlay | 1 | 0 | CHA |
| Lake Superior State | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 0 | Hockey East |
| Massachusetts–Lowell | 1 | 0 | Hockey East |
| Mercyhurst | 1 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
| Miami | 1 | 0 | NCHC |
| Minnesota State | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
| Northeastern | 1 | 0 | Hockey East |
| Northern Michigan | 1 | 0 | CCHA |
| Quinnipiac | 1 | 0 | ECAC Hockey |
| RIT | 1 | 0 | Atlantic Hockey |
| Western Michigan | 1 | 0 | NCHC |