Quinnipiac placed a bid to host college hockey’s annual Ice Breaker Tournament in October of 2016, according to Quinnipiac Director of Athletics and Recreation Jack McDonald.

The Ice Breaker Tournament, which marks the traditional start to the men’s college hockey season each year, features four teams from four different major conferences.

McDonald added that Quinnipiac has reached verbal agreements with Army and Boston College, and that another team from the Big Ten Conference would join the tournament, as well. Possible candidates from the Big Ten include Minnesota, Wisconsin and Penn. State.

Quinnipiac sent a proposal to College Hockey Inc. to host the tournament on Oct. 29, outlining a plan to bring the event to the TD Bank Sports Center for the first time, according to McDonald.

“Because of the success we had hosting the women’s ice hockey   Frozen Four last year, they sort of have encouraged us to bid,” McDonald said.

Notre Dame hosted the tournament this past year, while the University of Maine will play home to the event in 2015.

According to www.collegehockeyinc.com, the tournament is “a terrific opportunity to put the spotlight on college hockey just as the season gets underway.” The Ice Breaker “also provides a tough early season test for some NCAA championship contenders.”

The tournament, which is currently in its 18th season, allows each team to play two games that are exempt from college hockey’s 34-game schedule.

“It would be an opportunity to bring some teams who have never been to the TD Bank Sports Center here,” McDonald said. “It could be a great opportunity for the university.”