ST. PAUL, MINN. – The University of St. Thomas Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced Wednesday that the Tommies will become the 10th member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Tommies were admitted following a unanimous vote of approval by the NCHC Board of Directors and will begin competition in the NCHC in 2026.

STATEMENT FROM CCHA: Although we are disappointed that St. Thomas has decided to leave the CCHA following the 2025-26 season, we wish them well. They have been a positive member of the conference since its reconstitution. With the addition of Augustana as a full-time member beginning in the 2025-26 season, we look forward to advancing our conference's goals as an eight-team league.

St. Thomas men’s hockey made the unprecedented leap to Division I in 2021 and quickly made an impact in the college hockey landscape. The Tommies were the most improved team in the nation from 2021-22 to 2022-23 and continued to make strides during the 2023-24 season. This past year, St. Thomas earned its first win over a top-10 ranked opponent, upending future NCHC foe St. Cloud State 5-4 in the season opener. The Tommies also made headlines during the season when junior netminder Jake Sibell (Isanti, Minn. / Cambridge-Isanti) was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in Division I hockey. Additionally, St. Thomas hosted its first-ever CCHA playoff competition after finishing runner-up in the regular season standings.

The Tommies will continue to play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for the next two seasons and will join the NCHC in 2026-2027.