NCAA Hockey Equipment Partner Changes You Need to Know This Year

For college hockey fans and hockey equipment enthusiasts alike, this time of year always brings a special kind of excitement. As NCAA Division I programs return to campus and hit the ice for the first practices of a new season, the energy isn’t just about the players, the coaches, or the schedules. It’s also about the gear. 

For equipment watchers, late August and early fall represent the unveiling of each team’s new identity on the ice. Updated color schemes, new stick graphics, and sometimes even new equipment partners. These partnerships often define how a program looks and feels for years to come, and every season brings its share of surprises.

This year has already proven to be a fascinating one, with several programs unveiling new partnerships that change the look and feel of their gear setups.

For starters, the Clarkson Golden Knights gave the college hockey community its first major hint back in mid-August. In a photo shared from inside their equipment room, sharp-eyed fans spotted racks of new Bauer gloves and pads, a clear signal that Clarkson had switched suppliers. The move officially ended their run with CCM, marking a new chapter for the Golden Knights and providing their players with a different set of tools for the 2025–26 campaign.

Not long after Clarkson’s reveal, Northeastern University added another layer of intrigue. The Huskies posted a photo of their locker room, filled with new gear in anticipation of the players’ return. 

Observant fans quickly noticed Bauer equipment throughout the room, confirming that Northeastern, too, had parted ways with CCM. In their case, it was something of a return to familiar territory. Northeastern had been a Bauer program prior to their four-year deal with CCM, and with this being the final season at historic Matthews Arena, it seems fitting that the Huskies would come full circle, skating in Bauer once again.

On the flip side, the Merrimack Warriors did the opposite, making the leap from Bauer to CCM. For years, Merrimack was a staple Bauer program, with their gloves, helmets, and sticks consistently reflecting that partnership. 

But when players took to the ice this fall for their first practice, it was clear that change had arrived. With many players outfitted head-to-toe in CCM gear, Merrimack now boasts a new look, and their partnership signals a significant refresh in branding for a team that had been visually tied to Bauer for such a long stretch.

As significant as those changes were, perhaps the most historic move of the offseason came from the Bowling Green Falcons. The orange and brown program, long synonymous with Warrior, made headlines as the first NCAA Men’s Division I team to partner with TRUE as their official equipment supplier. The announcement was a surprise for many, given the program’s deep ties to Warrior, but it has already made waves. TRUE sticks, gloves, and pants are now in the possession of Falcon players, and perhaps most surprisingly, many have even opted for TRUE skates. 

Typically, regardless of a college program’s equipment supplier, Bauer skates dominate Division I rosters. But Bowling Green’s early practices have shown a remarkable level of buy-in to TRUE’s full lineup, a testament to the company’s growing influence in the sport.

Adding another twist to this year’s gear news, the Minnesota Golden Gophers didn’t switch partners, but they did expand their relationship with CCM in a major way. 

After a few years already with CCM on the equipment side, Minnesota announced that the company will also become their new official jersey supplier, replacing Nike. For one of the NCAA’s most storied programs, this move reinforces their commitment to CCM while giving the brand additional visibility on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

With all these developments, it’s clear that the 2025–26 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory for equipment enthusiasts. 

Every year brings small surprises, but this one has delivered an unusually high number of changes, highlighted by Bowling Green’s historic partnership with TRUE. While the season is just getting underway, there’s always the possibility that more unannounced deals will surface as additional teams take the ice and fans get their first glimpses of locker rooms across the country.

For now, though, this year’s wave of announcements has already set the bar high. From Clarkson’s move to Bauer, to Northeastern’s return to Bauer, to Merrimack’s jump to CCM, and Bowling Green’s groundbreaking partnership with TRUE, each shift tells its own story about the ever-changing world of college hockey gear. 

Combined with Minnesota’s expanded agreement with CCM, it’s safe to say that this has been a year to remember for those who care as much about what players are wearing as how they’re playing. A year from now, the 2026-27 season will have some competition to live up to.

Photo Credit: Northeastern Men's Hockey & Merrimack Men's Ice Hockey