University of New Hampshire Athletics
Mike Souza at the 2025 Spengler Cup
Souza to Represent UNH at Prestigious Spengler Cup as Head Coach of U.S. Collegiate Selects
7/29/2026 12:27:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
The 98th Spengler Cup to take place on Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland
DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire men's hockey head coach Mike Souza will represent UNH at the 98th Spengler Cup as the head coach of U.S. Collegiate Selects on Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. Souza returns to the coaching staff of the Selects as he was an assistant coach last year when the team advanced to the championship game of the Spengler Cup, which is the world's oldest invitational hockey tournament.
Souza will be joined by University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey head coach Scott Sandelin and Cornell University men's hockey head coach Casey Jones, who will be the assistant coaches for the 2026 USCS squad.
"I am incredibly honored to once again represent college hockey and UNH at the prestigious Spengler Cup," said Souza. "To showcase college hockey in a professional tournament like the Spengler Cup is an absolute privilege. Every aspect of the tournament is a unique experience for all involved, most importantly the student-athletes. In addition, I am especially excited about the opportunity to work alongside Scott Sandelin and Casey Jones, two of the most respected coaches in our game. Their experience and success will be extremely valuable as we look to improve on last year's runner-up finish."
The U.S. Collegiate Selects will be made up of 25 student-athletes from all six NCAA Division I conferences. The competition runs from December 26-31, with the six participating teams playing a minimum of two contests apiece. Group Cattini consists of hosts and defending champions HC Davos, Frölunda HC and the U.S. Collegiate Selects, while Group Torriani features SCL Tigers, Adler Mannheim and Ilves Tampere.
The U.S. Collegiate Selects open play on Saturday, Dec. 26 against Frölunda HC of Sweden before facing host HC Davos on either Dec. 27 or Dec. 28.
Souza is now in his ninth season as head coach at UNH, which included a 20-15-1 record in 2023-24 for the program's best finish in 11 years.
A native of Wakefield, Mass., Souza played at UNH from 1996-00 totaling 66 goals and 90 assists for 156 points, as the Wildcats reached the national championship game in 1999. He went on to play professionally in the AHL and ECHL, before heading overseas to play in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. His coaching career began as an assistant at Brown University (2011-13), before heading to the University of Connecticut (2013-15) and eventually his alma mater as an associate head coach (2015-18).
For more information on the Spengler Cup, visit www.spenglercup.ch/en.
The Wildcats start the 2026-27 season at Quinnipiac on Friday, Oct. 2 and begin the home season versus Michigan State on Oct. 23-24.
Individual game tickets for the 2026-27 University of New Hampshire men's hockey season are on sale now for all 19 home games by visiting UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling (603) 862-4000.
Souza will be joined by University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey head coach Scott Sandelin and Cornell University men's hockey head coach Casey Jones, who will be the assistant coaches for the 2026 USCS squad.
"I am incredibly honored to once again represent college hockey and UNH at the prestigious Spengler Cup," said Souza. "To showcase college hockey in a professional tournament like the Spengler Cup is an absolute privilege. Every aspect of the tournament is a unique experience for all involved, most importantly the student-athletes. In addition, I am especially excited about the opportunity to work alongside Scott Sandelin and Casey Jones, two of the most respected coaches in our game. Their experience and success will be extremely valuable as we look to improve on last year's runner-up finish."
The U.S. Collegiate Selects will be made up of 25 student-athletes from all six NCAA Division I conferences. The competition runs from December 26-31, with the six participating teams playing a minimum of two contests apiece. Group Cattini consists of hosts and defending champions HC Davos, Frölunda HC and the U.S. Collegiate Selects, while Group Torriani features SCL Tigers, Adler Mannheim and Ilves Tampere.
The U.S. Collegiate Selects open play on Saturday, Dec. 26 against Frölunda HC of Sweden before facing host HC Davos on either Dec. 27 or Dec. 28.
Souza is now in his ninth season as head coach at UNH, which included a 20-15-1 record in 2023-24 for the program's best finish in 11 years.
A native of Wakefield, Mass., Souza played at UNH from 1996-00 totaling 66 goals and 90 assists for 156 points, as the Wildcats reached the national championship game in 1999. He went on to play professionally in the AHL and ECHL, before heading overseas to play in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. His coaching career began as an assistant at Brown University (2011-13), before heading to the University of Connecticut (2013-15) and eventually his alma mater as an associate head coach (2015-18).
For more information on the Spengler Cup, visit www.spenglercup.ch/en.
The Wildcats start the 2026-27 season at Quinnipiac on Friday, Oct. 2 and begin the home season versus Michigan State on Oct. 23-24.
Individual game tickets for the 2026-27 University of New Hampshire men's hockey season are on sale now for all 19 home games by visiting UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling (603) 862-4000.
Sunday, March 08
Tuesday, March 03
Tuesday, February 24
Sunday, February 22