| Gender: | men |
| Division: | i |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Duration: | November 14, 2020– April 10, 2021 |
| Champ Stad: | PPG Paints Arena |
| Champ City: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Champ: | Massachusetts |
| Hobey Baker: | Cole Caufield |
| Hobey Baker Team: | Wisconsin |
The 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on November 14, 2020, and concluded with the Frozen Four on April 10, 2021. Due to the cancellation of the previous year's tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic, this was the 73rd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held, and was US college hockey's 127th year overall.
Due to concerns related to the pandemic, the start of the season was delayed until what would have normally been the 8th week of play. Despite having to contend with contend with cancellations and delays due to the pandemic, the season was completed. Massachusetts won their first national championship, ending the 4-year run of NCHC teams.
See main article: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings.
Due to difficulties in scheduling, Arizona State entered into a scheduling alliance with the Big Ten while LIU did the same with Atlantic Hockey. Both teams remained independent programs and will not be considered for conference championships.[1]
The PairWise Rankings (PWR) are a statistical tool designed to approximate the process by which the NCAA selection committee decides which teams get at-large bids to the 16-team NCAA tournament. Although the NCAA selection committee does not use the PWR as presented by USCHO, the PWR has been accurate in predicting which teams will make the tournament field. For Division I men, all teams are included in comparisons starting in the 2013–14 season (formerly, only teams with a Ratings Percentage Index of .500 or above, or teams under consideration, were included). The PWR method compares each team with every other such team, with the winner of each “comparison” earning one PWR point. After all comparisons are made, the points are totaled up and rankings listed accordingly. With 61 Division I men's teams, the greatest number of PWR points any team could earn is 60, winning the comparison with every other team. Meanwhile, a team that lost all of its comparisons would have no PWR points.
Teams are then ranked by PWR point total, with ties broken by the teams’ RPI ratings, which starting in 2013-14 is weighted for home and road games and includes a quality wins bonus (QWB) for beating teams in the top 20 of the RPI (it also is weighted for home and road). When it comes to comparing teams, the PWR uses three criteria which are combined to make a comparison: RPI, record against common opponents and head-to-head competition. Starting in 2013–14, the comparison of record against teams under consideration was dropped because all teams are now under comparison.[2]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most teams played a very small selection of intraconference games, if any at all. As a result, the PairWise rankings would not be used as the primary measuring tool for determining which teams would receive at-large bids for the NCAA tournament. The ranking would only be used to differentiate between teams within their own conferences.[3] The PWR will likely be used as the primary ranking system once a full NCAA season is played.
[4]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Class | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophomore | 31 | 30 | 22 | 52 | 4 | ||
| Senior | 29 | 8 | 39 | 47 | 22 | ||
| Senior | 31 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 2 | ||
| Senior | 28 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 24 | ||
| Sophomore | 23 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 19 | ||
| Senior | 29 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 10 | ||
| Junior | 29 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 12 | ||
| Senior | 31 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 26 | ||
| Senior | 29 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 0 | ||
| Sophomore | 28 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 4 | ||
| Junior | 29 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 8 | ||
The following goaltenders lead the NCAA in goals against average, minimum 1/3 of team's minutes played.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Class | Team | GP | Min | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 15 | 918:43 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 5 | .949 | 1.24 | |||
| Junior | 26 | 1522:07 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 10 | .924 | 1.54 | |||
| Junior | 26 | 1590:38 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 46 | 4 | .931 | 1.74 | |||
| Senior | 29 | 1705:52 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 51 | 5 | .934 | 1.79 | |||
| Sophomore | 24 | 1393:58 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 42 | 3 | .934 | 1.81 | |||
| Junior | 21 | 1205:00 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 38 | 5 | .930 | 1.89 | |||
| Senior | 29 | 1715:45 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 54 | 5 | .926 | 1.89 | |||
| Senior | 20 | 1253:29 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 2 | .922 | 1.91 | |||
| Senior | 25 | 1380:55 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 45 | 2 | .930 | 1.96 | |||
| Senior | 14 | 850:57 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 3 | .917 | 1.97 |
See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.
| Award | Recipient[8] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Caufield, Wisconsin | |||
| Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota | |||
| Thomas Bordeleau, Michigan | |||
| Cole Caufield, Wisconsin | |||
| Tony Granato, Wisconsin | |||
| Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota | |||
| All-Big Ten Teams | |||
| Position | Second Team | ||
| Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota | align=center | G | Strauss Mann, Michigan |
| Cameron York, Michigan | align=center | D | Owen Power, Michigan |
| Jackson LaCombe, Minnesota | align=center | D | Spencer Stastney, Notre Dame |
| Sampo Ranta, Minnesota | align=center | F | Thomas Bordeleau, Michigan |
| Cole Caufield, Wisconsin | align=center | F | Alex Steeves, Notre Dame |
| Dylan Holloway, Wisconsin | align=center | F | Linus Weissbach, Wisconsin |
| Position | |||
| Cameron Rowe, Wisconsin | align=center | G | |
| Owen Power, Michigan | align=center | D | |
| Brock Faber, Minnesota | align=center | D | |
| Matty Beniers, Michigan | align=center | F | |
| Thomas Bordeleau, Michigan | align=center | F | |
| Kent Johnson, Michigan | align=center | F | |
| Award | Recipient | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Calverley, RIT | ||||
| Nick Prkusic, Robert Morris | ||||
| Randy Hernández, Robert Morris | ||||
| Will Calverley, RIT | ||||
| Nick Jenny, Robert Morris | ||||
| Nick Jenny, Robert Morris | ||||
| Will Calverley, RIT | ||||
| Jacob Barczewski, Cansius | ||||
| Derek Schooley, Robert Morris | ||||
| Justin Cole, American International | ||||
| All-Atlantic Hockey Teams | ||||
| Position | Second Team | |||
| Jacob Barczewski, Cansius | align=center | G | Noah West, Robert Morris | |
| — | align=center | G | Zach LaRocque, Air Force | |
| Nick Jenny, Robert Morris | align=center | D | Joseph Maziarz, Mercyhurst | |
| Dan Willett, RIT | align=center | D | Brendan Michaelian, Robert Morris | |
| Will Calverley, RIT | align=center | F | Randy Hernández, Robert Morris | |
| Nick Prkusic, Robert Morris | align=center | F | Jon Bendorf, Mercyhurst | |
| Keaton Mastrodonato, Cansius | align=center | F | Carson Brière, Mercyhurst | |
| Position | ||||
| Noah West, Robert Morris | align=center | G | ||
| Brian Kramer, Robert Morris | align=center | D | ||
| Josef Mysak, Niagara | align=center | D | ||
| Randy Hernández, Robert Morris | align=center | F | ||
| Carson Brière, Mercyhurst | align=center | F | ||
| Austin Heidemann, Mercyhurst | align=center | F | ||
| Award | Recipient | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac | ||||
| Zach Tsekos, Clarkson | ||||
| Pierson Brandon, Colgate | ||||
| Ethan Haider, Clarkson | ||||
| Keith Petruzelli, Quinnipiac | ||||
| Kyle Betts, Cornell | ||||
| Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac | ||||
| David Jankowski, St. Lawrence | ||||
| All-ECAC Hockey Teams[11] [12] | ||||
| Position | Rookie Team | |||
| Keith Petruzelli, Quinnipiac | align=center | G | Ethan Haider, Clarkson | |
| Zach Metsa, Quinnipiac | align=center | D | Pierson Brandon, Colgate | |
| Connor McCarthy, Clarkson | align=center | D | Luc Salem, St. Lawrence | |
| Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac | align=center | F | Ty Smilanic, Quinnipiac | |
| Zach Tsekos, Clarkson | align=center | F | Alex Young, Colgate | |
| Cameron Buhl, St. Lawrence | align=center | F | Greg Lapointe, St. Lawrence | |
| Josh McKechney, Colgate | align=center | F | ||
See main article: 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | College | Conference | NHL team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Michigan | Big Ten | Buffalo Sabres | ||
| 1 | 2 | Michigan | Big Ten | Seattle Kraken | ||
| 1 | 4 | † | Michigan | Big Ten | New Jersey Devils | |
| 1 | 5 | Michigan | Big Ten | Columbus Blue Jackets | ||
| 1 | 10 | † | Boston University | Hockey East | Ottawa Senators | |
| 1 | 13 | † | Harvard | ECAC Hockey | Calgary Flames | |
| 1 | 18 | † | Minnesota | Big Ten | Winnipeg Jets | |
| 1 | 24 | † | Michigan | Big Ten | Florida Panthers | |
| 1 | 25 | † | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Columbus Blue Jackets | |
| 2 | 36 | † | Denver | NCHC | Detroit Red Wings | |
| 2 | 37 | † | Arizona State | Independent | Arizona Coyotes | |
| 2 | 40 | † | Massachusetts | Hockey East | Carolina Hurricanes | |
| 2 | 54 | † | St. Cloud State | NCHC | Minnesota Wild | |
| 2 | 57 | † | Minnesota | Big Ten | Toronto Maple Leafs | |
| 2 | 58 | † | Minnesota | Big Ten | Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| 2 | 61 | † | Denver | NCHC | Colorado Avalanche | |
| 3 | 66 | † | Notre Dame | Big Ten | Anaheim Ducks | |
| 3 | 70 | † | Denver | NCHC | Detroit Red Wings | |
| 3 | 73 | † | Clarkson | ECAC Hockey | Dallas Stars | |
| 3 | 79 | † | Cornell | ECAC Hockey | Dallas Stars | |
| 3 | 80 | † | North Dakota | NCHC | Washington Capitals | |
| 3 | 88 | † | New Hampshire | Hockey East | Buffalo Sabres | |
| 3 | 91 | † | Providence | Hockey East | Chicago Blackhawks | |
| 3 | 92 | † | Vermont | Hockey East | Colorado Avalanche | |
| 3 | 94 | † | Boston College | Hockey East | Carolina Hurricanes | |
| 4 | 98 | Massachusetts | Hockey East | Anaheim Ducks | ||
| 4 | 101 | † | Providence | Hockey East | Washington Capitals | |
| 4 | 104 | † | Minnesota | Big Ten | New York Rangers | |
| 4 | 109 | † | North Dakota | NCHC | Carolina Hurricanes | |
| 4 | 114 | † | Miami | NCHC | Detroit Red Wings | |
| 4 | 115 | † | Massachusetts | Hockey East | Nashville Predators | |
| 4 | 119 | † | Omaha | NCHC | Washington Capitals | |
| 4 | 125 | † | Omaha | NCHC | New York Islanders | |
| 4 | 126 | † | Michigan | Big Ten | Tampa Bay Lightning | |
| 5 | 137 | † | Harvard | ECAC Hockey | Vancouver Canucks | |
| 5 | 138 | † | Harvard | ECAC Hockey | Dallas Stars | |
| 5 | 158 | † | Arizona State | Independent | Philadelphia Flyers | |
| 6 | 162 | † | Michigan Tech | CCHA | Anaheim Ducks | |
| 6 | 164 | † | Michigan State | Big Ten | New Jersey Devils | |
| 6 | 171 | † | Vermont | Hockey East | Arizona Coyotes | |
| 6 | 182 | † | North Dakota | NCHC | Minnesota Wild | |
| 6 | 183 | † | Quinnipiac | ECAC Hockey | Washington Capitals | |
| 6 | 186 | † | Boston University | Hockey East | Edmonton Oilers | |
| 6 | 192 | † | New Hampshire | Hockey East | Tampa Bay Lightning | |
| 7 | 195 | † | Notre Dame | Big Ten | Seattle Kraken | |
| 7 | 204 | Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| 7 | 205 | † | Connecticut | Hockey East | Calgary Flames | |
| 7 | 206 | † | Penn State | Big Ten | Philadelphia Flyers | |
| 7 | 208 | † | Cornell | ECAC Hockey | New York Rangers | |
| 7 | 211 | † | Dartmouth | ECAC Hockey | Tampa Bay Lightning | |
| 7 | 213 | † | Boston College | Hockey East | Boston Bruins | |
| 7 | 215 | † | Wisconsin | Big Ten | Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| 7 | 216 | † | Boston University | Hockey East | Boston Bruins | |
| 7 | 220 | † | Massachusetts | Hockey East | Colorado Avalanche | |
| 7 | 223 | † | Quinnipiac | ECAC Hockey | Arizona Coyotes |