With the Frozen Four returning to Washington, the Naval Academy ought to consider NCAA hockey.
After Denver just won the 2026 NCAA Championship, many people haven't even considered next season. But for Washington, DC, that can't come soon enough. The nation's capital hasn't hosted the Frozen Four since 2009, and they get the chance again in 2027. However, something is missing. While Army West Point has NCAA Division I hockey, but their counterparts at the Naval Academy do not.
The Midshipmen sponsor 36 NCAA Sports, including football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. However, their three club hockey team have received great support from fans and the Washington Capitals. In fact, the Army and Navy club programs faced off at Capital One Arena ahead of the 2024 Army-Navy football game.
As college hockey's stature continues to rise, it begs the question: Why doesn't Navy have Division I hockey. Their current club rink absolutely suffices for a Division I practice facility, with better facilities than some Division III programs.
Any question of a game night rink is answered by Capital One Arena, less than an hour away from Annapolis. The veneue is currently undergoing $800 million worth of renovations, slated to be completed in time for the 2027-28 NBA and NHL seasons.
According to Axios D.C. one of the key "internal enhancements" is giving athletes more space. More space could allow room for a potential Navy NCAA hockey team to gain their own foothold in the updated building.
There's even a natural conference home for Navy in Atlantic Hockey America (AHA), which just lost a team in Mercyhurst University. My coeditor Luke Jorden did an excellent update piece, which I have linked above. Additionally, Army West Point is in AHA, meaning that there would be Army-Navy Division I hockey at least twice per regular season. Imagine a conference playoff game against these two rivals!
I'm not saying that NCAA hockey at the Naval Academy is a slam dunk. However, with the Frozen Four coming back to the capital and a team leaving AHA, it's time for an exploratory period, similar to what the University of Illinois initiated back in 2018.
Besides, go Army, beat Air Force just isn't the same...