U.S. Collegiate Selects Sign Two-Year Spengler Cup Extension

The U.S. Collegiate Selects (USCS) hockey team will return to Switzerland for the next two seasons. In a joint announcement Thursday, the Spengler Cup Organizing Committee and USA Hockey representatives confirmed a two-year agreement for the team to participate in the 2026 and 2027 editions of the tournament.

“We are once again looking forward to exciting and refreshing hockey,” Gianola said in a release. “The ‘college boys’ bring new energy and a positive spirit to our traditional tournament.”

The 2025 squad was the first of its kind in the tournament's 102-year history, comprised entirely of active NCAA Division I student-athletes. Their performance proved that college hockey could compete with top-flight European professional clubs. After an initial 3–2 loss to Team Canada, the Selects rattled off a 5–3 statement win over hosts HC Davos and a 5–3 semifinal victory over Sparta Prague. They pushed HC Davos to a 3–3 tie after two periods in the title game, but ultimately fell 6–3.

Nashville Predators prospect Aiden Fink (Penn State) led the entire tournament in scoring with 8 points (4G, 4A) in four games. Adam Gajan (Minnesota Duluth) was the lone goaltender to play two games for the USCS and has since earned his entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

With the U.S. Collegiate Selects now officially on the ticket, four of the six participating teams for the 98th Spengler Cup have been confirmed: HC Davos, Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League, and the SCL Tigers of the National League in Switzerland.