• Loading stock data...
Thursday, January 22, 2026

NCAA Ice Hockey Final Sets ESPN Ratings Record

  • Quinnipiac’s overtime win over Minnesota was the most-viewed Frozen Four game on ESPN platforms since 2011.
  • The title game had 808,000 average viewers, up 100% over last year’s championship game.
Apr 6, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Quinnipiac celebrates after beating Michigan in the semifinals of the 2023 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Last Saturday’s NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey title game between Quinnipiac and Minnesota was the most-viewed Frozen Four game on ESPN platforms since 2011, the network announced Tuesday. 

The Bobcats’ overtime victory over the Gophers pulled in 808,000 average viewers during ESPN’s broadcast, up 100% over ESPN’s 2022 men’s ice hockey final coverage. This year’s championship game reached a high of 1.1 million peak viewers. 

The game aired on ESPN2 and was streamed via the ESPN app, as the network did with all games during the men’s ice hockey tournament. For Quinnipiac, its 3-2 victory over Minnesota secured the Connecticut school’s first NCAA title in program history. 

The state of Connecticut celebrated another national championship as UConn secured its fifth men’s basketball title in program history, solidifying its status as a bonafide college blue blood. Only UCLA, Kentucky, and North Carolina have more championships.

Quinnipiac’s campus in Hamden is just a short drive from UConn’s campus in Storrs — but the two schools couldn’t be more different. Quinnipiac is a small, private college with an undergraduate enrollment of about 6,000, while UConn is a sprawling public university with more than 18,000 students.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Playoff Ratings Surge As NBC, ESPN Set Network Records

Both NBC and ESPN set network records with their Sunday playoff games.
Dec 13, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Charles Barkley interviews Kentucky Wildcats forward Mouhamed Dioubate after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

Charles Barkley Wants Balanced Schedule for ‘Inside the NBA’ on ESPN

“We’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months.”

NFL Divisional Round Ratings Open With Record High—and a Dip

CBS generated the biggest Saturday audience on U.S. television in 32 years.
Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; NCAA president Charlie Baker looks on during halftime between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

NCAA President Charlie Baker Is a Twitter Reply Guy

In between serious posts, Baker shares his favorite movies, athletes, and more.

Featured Today

Sports Goes All In on Non-Alcoholic Drinks Boom

Athletes, teams, and leagues are pouring money into the NA beverage category.
Tulsa Portal House
January 16, 2026

Inside the Tulsa Portal House: ‘This Will Translate to Wins’

The Golden Hurricane set up an over-the-top battle station for football recruiting.
Black Rabbit
January 10, 2026

The Netflix Star Who Makes Sure NBA Players Have Clean Towels

How a Nets staffer landed a breakout role on “Black Rabbit.”
January 9, 2026

NHL Ditched Its Dress Code. Hockey’s Fashion Era Arrived Quickly

With no dress code, impeccably dressed players are seeing big-money deals.

Winter Storm Is Disrupting Sports, but NFL Could See a TV Boost

A growing collection of teams and leagues are cancelling and postponing games.
January 20, 2026

Former NBC Reporter Michele Tafoya Files to Run for Senate

Former NBC and ESPN reporter Michele Tafoya has filed to run for Senate.
Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'quan McMillian reaches in on Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks who has the ball and whose knee is on the ground during overtime at Empower FIeld at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 17, 2026.
opinion
January 21, 2026

NFL Should Make Refs Full-Time Employees

The league’s CBA with the NFL Referees Association expires in May.
Sponsored

ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025: Inside the Technology Shaping the Future of..

At ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025, ESPN showcased how AI, immersive tech, and a rebuilt direct-to-consumer platform are redefining the future of sports media.
Netflix
January 20, 2026

Netflix Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, With Boost From NFL Games

Record-setting NFL games were a highlight during the quarter.
January 20, 2026

Netflix Converts Bid for TNT Sports Parent WBD to All-Cash

The shift is designed to reduce the time before the deal closes.
Rachel DeMita
exclusive
January 20, 2026

Rachel DeMita Bringing ‘Courtside Club’ Show to SiriusXM

DeMita has more than 1 million followers across all platforms.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow (60) waits to snap the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium
January 20, 2026

Netflix, Amazon NFL Games Lift U.S. Streaming Record to New Peak

Record-setting NFL games brought streaming to a new high.