BC Bulletin

College Hockey TV Ratings All Going in Same Direction, Up: Puck Drop

Your daily briefing on what's going on in college hockey, everything from the assists on the ice to the Zamboni.
Christopher Walsh|
Michigan State sophomore Shane Vansaghi scores a key goal in the Spartans' 4-2 win at then-No. 1 Boston University on Oct. 18, 2025,
Michigan State sophomore Shane Vansaghi scores a key goal in the Spartans' 4-2 win at then-No. 1 Boston University on Oct. 18, 2025, | Michael Caples/Michigan State University

ESPN announced that Game 1 of the No. 3 Michigan State at No. 1 Boston University series last Friday drew the biggest audience for a college hockey game since 2018, and was the fourth most-watched regular season game ever on ESPN networks.

The game, won by the Spartans on ESPN2 en route to a dramatic sweep, featured 34 players who had already been selected in the NHL draft.

Although specific numbers weren't provided, this came on the heels of the ratings being up both for the Frozen Four and national championship games in both men's and women's college hockey last spring.

The men's national championship, with Western Michigan defeating Boston University, was up 30 percent from the previous year. It was the second-best championship audience since 2018, when Quinnipiac defeated Minnesota in the title game. Meanwhile, the women's national championship between Wisconsin and Ohio State game was up 22 percent

Hockey ratings appear to be up in general. For example, on the NHL season opener ESPN opened with a tripleheader, up 37 percent from last year. The middle game, the Penguins-Rangers delivered ESPN’s second-best opening night game on cable behind the Blackhawks-Penguins in 2023.

Last year's Four Nations Face-Off championship game featuring Canada and the US delivered 9.3 million viewers for ESPN's largest hockey audience to date.

Could it mean more national television coverage for college hockey? Absolutely if the numbers keep rising and the interest continues to grow. Remember, back in July Gavin McKenna’s commitment announcement to Penn State was made on SportsCenter, and then his first games at Arizona State were shown on NHL Network.

  1. Puck Drop: Thursday, October 23, 2025
  2. Wednesday's Scores
  3. Thursday's Games
  4. Did You Notice?
  5. On This Date in Hockey History:
  6. This Date in Hockey History:
  7. Hockey Quote of the Day
  8. We'll Leave You With This ...

Puck Drop: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Games between ranked opponents are bolded. All times ET.

Wednesday's Scores

No Games Scheduled

Thursday's Games

MEN
Non-Conference
No. 2 Western Michigan at No. 3 Michigan, 7 p.m.

Exhibition
U.S. Under-18 Team at Niagara, 11 p.m.

Did You Notice?

• The NCAA has served notice to its membership that the 5-for-5 eligibility rule change that has been circulated isn’t coming to college sports for the foreseeable future. Part of the message included: "The Division I Cabinet determined that, for the remainder of the current academic year and for the rosters competing during the 2026-27 academic year, it will maintain existing eligibility rules as they pertain to student-athletes competing in no more than four seasons of athletics competition in a particular sport over a consecutive five-year period. The Cabinet is studying these policies, along with several related eligibility rules, and will later consider what changes, if any, to implement for future academic years."

• Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is the latest to be critical of the the NCAA allowing G-League players to be eligible to go back and play at the collegiate level, like London Johnson committing to Louisville. “To me, it's ridiculous. It's embarrassing. I love my job. I don't respect my profession. And I don't respect whoever is doing this — whoever made those decisions — because they're afraid some lawyer is going to sue them. You hit a sore spot for me. The transfer portal is enough. We have no rules. And now we've just taken no rules and added more no rules." Hockey is going through something similar with players like Jack Beck playing professionally for four games in the American Hockey League before joining Arizona State this season, while Bemidji State added Hudson Thornton and Connor McClennon.

• Why Gophers hockey needs to take care of business this weekend against UMD

• Former Michigan Standout: Oilers’ Isaac Howard Ready for Bigger Role

• Former U.S. Development Program Team center: Devils’ Jack Hughes’ Latest Milestone Adds to Stardom

On This Date in Hockey History:

This Date in Hockey History:

October 23, 1913: Hall of Fame right wing Gordie Drillon was born in Moncton, New Brunswick.

October 23, 1925: Hall of Fame coach and general manager Fred Shero was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

October 23, 1970: Alaska Anchorage defenseman Jeff Batters was born in Victoria, British Columbia.

October 23, 1974: Former Brown center Curt Bennett and his teammate Eric Vail both netted hat tricks as the Atlanta Flames crushed the Detroit Red Wings 10-1. Bennett also had two assists.

October 23, 1986: The Edmonton Oilers traded former Notre Dame defenseman Don Jackson, former Maine goaltender Mike Golden and Miloslav Horava to the New York Rangers in exchange for former Boston University left wing, Clark Donatelli, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Jim Wiemer and Ville Kentala.

October 23, 1998: Don Brose notched career win No. 500 as Minnesota State defeated Canisius 11-3.

October 23, 1993: Former Boston University forward Keith Tkachuk had his first career hat trick in a wild 9-6 victory for the Winnipeg Jets win in Philadelphia.

October 23, 1999: Former Lake Superior State goaltender John Grahame notched his first NHL victory as the Boston Bruins won at San Jose, 3-1.

October 23, 2000: Former Boston College left wing Marty McInnis scored a hat trick and former St. Cloud State center Matt Cullen had three assists, however the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim took a 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

October 23, 2003: Former Colorado College defenseman Tom Preissing scored his first NHL goal on a power play to help the San Jose Sharks tie the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hockey Quote of the Day

"I never want this journey to end."
Jennifer Botterill

We'll Leave You With This ...

Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of Alabama Crimson Tide On SI, which first published as BamaCentral in 2018, and is also the publisher of the Boston College, Missouri and Vanderbilt sites . He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004 and is the author of 27 books including “100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” and “Nick Saban vs. College Football.” He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.

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