The University of Notre Dame’s men’s hockey program unveiled its non‑conference slate for the upcoming 2025‑26 season, setting the stage for a series of high‑profile matchups that will kick off in early October. The Irish will open the campaign at home against Niagara on October 8 and 9, marking the first meeting between the two programs in several years.
Opening Series and Rivalry Highlights
A marquee rivalry returns later that month when Notre Dame hosts Boston College for a single‑game showdown on November 27, a date that promises to draw a packed crowd at the campus arena and reignite a historic rivalry.
In addition to those marquee dates, the Irish will welcome Western Michigan and Bowling Green to campus for home games later in the non‑conference stretch, giving fans another chance to see the team in action before the Big Ten schedule is released.
While the full conference slate will be announced at a later date, the early non‑conference lineup already offers a blend of regional rivals and traditional opponents, setting up a compelling narrative for the season and building excitement among the student body and alumni.