LAS VEGAS, NV – The 2026 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship begins this week, with 19 Muskegon Lumberjacks alumni competing across the 16-team field. The tournament culminates on April 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where one team will be crowned National Champion.
 
The No. 1 overall seed belongs to Big Ten champion Michigan. The Wolverines roster includes three Lumberjacks alumni: Kienan Draper (2018–19), Miles Gust (2022–23), and Stephen Peck (2022–24).
 
"It's been a great season," said Peck. "At the start of the year, I told my coach, Brandon Naurato, I'd be whatever type of player he needed. Whether that's in the lineup or supporting from the bench."
 
As a freshman, Peck found himself stepping into a larger role midway through the season. "We were ranked No. 1 at the time, and going on that run without losing, I was really pleased with the opportunities I got and how I developed," he said.
 
 
Despite entering the tournament as the top seed, Peck says the Wolverines are staying grounded. "You can't ignore it, but once the tournament starts, everyone is on the same level. Every team is good, so we're just taking it one game at a time."
 
UConn enters the field as the No. 16 seed, featuring Lumberjacks alumni Jake Richard (2021–22) and Ethan Whitcomb (2021–24).
 
"It was kind of a weird situation for us," Whitcomb said. "We were on the bubble heading into Hockey East playoffs. After a tough loss to Merrimack in the final, we needed some help, but with Michigan winning the Big Ten, we were able to grab the last bid."
 
 
Now back in the tournament after a first-round win over Quinnipiac last year, the Huskies are focused on making the most of their opportunity. "All year, we've just been fighting for more time together," Whitcomb said. "We're such a close group. We love each other and just want to keep this going as long as possible."
 
Whitcomb and Richard were teammates in Muskegon before reuniting at UConn. "It's been awesome to see how much he's grown," Whitcomb said of Richard. "He's a great teammate and a special player."
 
 
Both Peck and Whitcomb bring valuable postseason experience from their time in Muskegon. Whitcomb appeared in 17 Clark Cup Playoff games, helping the Lumberjacks reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024, while Peck played a key role on the 2025 Clark Cup Championship team.
 
  When asked what they could take from those experiences into the NCAA Tournament, both emphasized the heightened intensity of playoff hockey. "Just understanding how much more important these games are," Whitcomb said. "At this point, it's do or die."
 
Peck added, "No matter what happens, you have to stay positive. If you make a mistake, move on to the next shift and control what you can. There's a lot of noise this time of year, so I'll do what I can to keep positive energy on the bench."
 
The Muskegon Lumberjacks organization congratulates all 19 alumni competing in this year's tournament and wishes them the best in their pursuit of a national championship.

The full list of Lumberjacks participating in the Tournament:
University of Michigan
Kienan Draper
Miles Gust
Stephen Peck
 
UConn
Jake Richard
Ethan Whitcomb
 
Bentley
Lukas Swedin
 
North Dakota
Cody Croal
David Klee
Ben Strinden
Tyler Young
 
Cornell
Luke Devlin
George Fegaris
Xavier Veilleux
 
Western Michigan
Ty Henricks
 
Denver
Paxton Geisel
Peyton Nelson
 
Merrimack
Filip Nordberg
 
Minnesota-Duluth
Hunter Anderson
Jake Toll
   
About the Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud and dedicated members of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The club's goal is to create an environment where student-athletes develop into successful young men, both on and off the ice. This includes playing the game the right way while maintaining academic excellence in the classroom and staying actively involved in the West Michigan community. The organization is committed to providing high-quality, affordable, and top-notch family entertainment while serving as positive role models for the youth and local community.