How to Watch College Hockey in 2026-27
Quick answer (as of October 7, 2026): It depends on the conference. Hockey East and ECAC: ESPN Select streams every home game. Big Ten: Big Ten Network (DIRECTV 610) and FS1 (DIRECTV 219) carry TV games, and B1G+ streams most of the rest. NCHC: NCHC.tv. CCHA: Midco Sports Plus. Atlantic Hockey America: FloHockey. NCAA Tournament and Frozen Four: ESPN networks. The Frozen Four is April 8 and 10, 2027, in Washington, D.C.
DIRECTV channel numbers from American TV's DIRECTV channel guide. Streaming details from each conference and service, reviewed October 7, 2026.
Related guides: What Channel is ESPNU on DIRECTV?.
The 2026-27 NCAA Division I men's hockey season opened October 2, and there's no single place to watch it. Each conference has its own TV and streaming deal, so the best way to watch depends on which team you follow. Here's a conference-by-conference guide, the DIRECTV channels that carry national games, and what you'll need for the NCAA Tournament and the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.
Want ESPN, ESPNU, Big Ten Network, FS1 and your regional sports network in one TV package? Call 1-855-690-9884 to compare DIRECTV options for your ZIP.
How to watch college hockey by conference
| Conference | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Hockey East (11 teams) | NESN regional games (at least 50 this season) | ESPN Select streams every home game |
| ECAC Hockey (12 teams) | SNY carries a package of games (check SNY's schedule) | ESPN Select streams every home game |
| Big Ten | About 31 games on Big Ten Network and FS1 | B1G+ for the rest ($12.99/mo or $89.99/yr); Notre Dame home games on Peacock |
| NCHC | No national TV package; some local TV | NCHC.tv streams about 200 games |
| CCHA | No conference TV package | Midco Sports Plus 2 (listed at $24/mo or $129/yr; season specials may apply) |
| Atlantic Hockey America and independents | No conference TV package | FloHockey (check FloHockey for current pricing) |
As of October 7, 2026. B1G+ and Midco prices from bigtenplus.com and midcosports.com. Game counts come from the conferences and networks. Check each service for current pricing and your local guide for TV listings.
College hockey channels on DIRECTV
National college hockey games air on a handful of sports networks. Here's where to find them on DIRECTV and the lowest package that includes each one:
| Network | DIRECTV channel | Lowest package |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | 206 | ENTERTAINMENT |
| ESPNU | 208 | CHOICE |
| Big Ten Network | 610 | CHOICE |
| FS1 | 219 | ENTERTAINMENT |
| FS2 | 618 | ULTIMATE |
| CBS Sports Network | 221 | ULTIMATE |
Channel numbers and packages from American TV's DIRECTV channel guide (updated October 2026). Regional sports networks and some channel numbers vary by market, so check your local guide.
DIRECTV CHOICE also adds your regional sports network where available, which matters for regional college hockey broadcasts. The MySports Genre Pack is a lower-cost sports option that includes BTN, FS1, FS2 and ESPN, plus ESPN Unlimited, which unlocks the ESPN app's streaming-only games. More on Big Ten Network: what channel Big Ten Network is on DIRECTV.
Hockey East and ECAC: ESPN Select is the key
If you follow Boston College, BU, Maine, UMass, Providence, Northeastern or another Hockey East school, or an ECAC team such as Cornell, Harvard, Quinnipiac or Clarkson, nearly every home game streams on ESPN Select, the streaming tier formerly called ESPN+. As of October 7, 2026, ESPN Select costs $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year on its own. ESPN Unlimited, which includes ESPN Select content, is $31.99 a month. The ESPN and FOX One bundle is $39.99 a month. See the ESPN and FOX One bundle and what happened to ESPN3.
In New England, NESN simulcasts dozens of Hockey East games, and SNY carries ECAC games in the New York area.
Big Ten hockey: BTN, FS1 and B1G+
Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame make the Big Ten one of the most-watched college hockey conferences. About 31 games air on Big Ten Network or FS1. Most other games stream on B1G+, the conference's subscription service. Notre Dame's home games stream on Peacock. Some Minnesota games also air on local broadcast TV in the Twin Cities.
NCHC, CCHA and Atlantic Hockey America
The NCHC, home to defending national champion Denver plus North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and newcomer St. Thomas, streams about 200 games on NCHC.tv and has no national TV deal. Check NCHC.tv for this season's subscription prices. Some schools also have local TV deals, such as St. Cloud State games on CW Twin Cities. CCHA games stream on Midco Sports Plus (the CCHA is in the Midco Sports Plus 2 and All In plans), and Atlantic Hockey America plus independent programs stream on FloHockey. Alaska Anchorage streams some games free on YouTube.
Not sure which package covers your team's network? Call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check DIRECTV channels and regional sports coverage at your address.
NCAA Tournament and Frozen Four 2027
ESPN networks carry the NCAA men's hockey tournament under a deal that runs through the 2031-32 season. Key dates:
- Regionals: March 25-28, 2027, in Hartford, Conn.; Loveland, Colo.; Springfield, Mass.; and Fargo, N.D.
- Frozen Four: semifinals April 8 and championship April 10, 2027, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Expect tournament games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, with streaming in the ESPN app.
Streaming tips for hockey night
Hockey moves fast, so a stable connection matters more than raw speed. Use Ethernet for your streaming device when possible, and check our guide to a good internet speed for streaming. Following the NHL too? See how to watch the 2026-27 NHL season on DIRECTV.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is college hockey on?
It depends on the conference. National games air on ESPN, ESPNU, Big Ten Network, FS1 and CBS Sports Network, and regional networks like NESN and SNY carry many others. Most remaining games stream on ESPN Select, B1G+, NCHC.tv, Midco Sports Plus or FloHockey.
Can I watch Hockey East games on ESPN?
Yes. Every Hockey East home game streams on ESPN Select, and NESN carries regional TV games.
Where is the 2027 Frozen Four?
Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., with semifinals on April 8 and the championship on April 10, 2027, on ESPN networks.
Do I need a streaming service to watch college hockey?
For many teams, yes. TV covers national and some regional games, but most regular-season games stream on conference or ESPN services.
Questions? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 7, 2026. TV schedules, streaming services, channel numbers and prices vary by market and can change without notice. Taxes may apply. ESPN, NESN, SNY, Big Ten Network, FOX, Peacock, NCHC.tv, Midco, FloHockey, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.