Physical media is dying. Or so they say. But if you’re a die-hard college hockey fan, specifically one who bleeds the colors of the NCHC (National Collegiate Hockey Conference), the Frozen Face Off DVD isn't just a plastic disc; it’s a time capsule. It’s the smell of cold arena air and the sound of skates carving into fresh ice at the Target Center or Xcel Energy Center.
Finding these nowadays? It’s a hunt.
Back when the NCHC split off from the old WCHA, there was this massive energy to brand everything. They wanted the Frozen Face Off to be the premier conference tournament in the country. To commemorate those early years, particularly the inaugural 2014 championship and the subsequent battles involving powerhouse programs like North Dakota, St. Cloud State, and Denver, official DVDs were produced. These weren't high-budget Hollywood productions. They were gritty, broadcast-style recaps and full-game archives meant for the fans who traveled across state lines in blizzards just to see a semi-final puck drop.
The Reality of Owning the Frozen Face Off DVD Today
Let’s be real for a second. Most people stream everything now. You want to see a highlight from 2016? You go to YouTube or NCHC.tv. But streaming is ephemeral. Digital rights change. Platforms go bankrupt or delete old archives to save on server costs.
Owning a physical copy of a specific tournament year—like the 2014 inaugural win by Denver or the 2015 St. Cloud State victory—is about permanence. I’ve seen these discs pop up on secondary markets like eBay or specialized hockey memorabilia forums, and they don't stay listed for long. Collectors know that these weren't pressed in the millions. These were niche items sold at merchandise stands and through university bookstores.
If you're looking for the Frozen Face Off DVD, you're likely looking for the specific commemorative releases that bundled the championship game with behind-the-scenes locker room footage. That's the stuff you can't find on a standard 30-second Twitter clip.
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Why collectors still care about the NCHC tournament history
The NCHC is widely considered the toughest conference in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. Since its inception, its teams have dominated the national landscape. When you watch a Frozen Face Off, you aren't just watching a conference trophy chase; you're often watching the eventual national champion.
Take the 2016-2019 stretch. The talent on the ice was absurd. We're talking about future NHL stars who were just kids then. Having that on a DVD means you have the "before they were famous" footage in high bitrate, without the compression artifacts you get from a 10-year-old YouTube upload.
It’s about the atmosphere. The NCHC put a lot of work into the fan experience in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The "Frozen Face Off" branding was everywhere. For a fan of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, for instance, seeing their 2016 run—a year they also took the National Championship—captured on a physical disc is a badge of honor.
The technical hurdle: Why hasn't it moved to Blu-ray?
Honestly, the demand wasn't there. By the time the Frozen Face Off really hit its stride as a staple of the March hockey calendar, the industry was already pivoting away from physical discs. You'll notice a lot of these are standard-definition DVDs. It’s a bit of a bummer if you’re used to 4K OLED screens, but there’s a certain nostalgia to that slightly soft, broadcast-quality image. It feels like 2014. It feels like the era of "old school" college hockey transitioning into the modern juggernaut it is now.
Where to actually find a copy (The Hunt)
You can't just walk into a Best Buy and grab a Frozen Face Off DVD anymore. Those days are long gone.
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Your best bet? Check the "Surplus" sections of university athletic departments. Places like the Ralph Engelstad Arena gift shop or the St. Cloud State fan store occasionally clear out old stock from the mid-2010s. I’ve heard of fans finding copies in the bargain bins during summer clearance sales.
- Secondary Markets: eBay is the obvious choice, but use specific search alerts. Don’t just search "hockey DVD." Use "NCHC Frozen Face Off" or "NCHC Championship DVD."
- Facebook Groups: There are several "College Hockey Jersey and Memorabilia" groups where the real deep-track collectors hang out. If you post a "Want to Buy" (WTB) for a specific year, someone might have one sitting on a shelf gathering dust.
- Local Minneapolis Thrift Stores: Since the tournament is a staple of the Twin Cities, local shops often get donations from former staff or superfans.
Misconceptions about NCHC physical media
People often confuse the "Frozen Four" with the "Frozen Face Off." Let’s clear that up. The Frozen Four is the NCAA national tournament. The Frozen Face Off is the NCHC conference tournament.
A lot of folks search for a Frozen Face Off DVD thinking they’re getting the national title games. You’re not. You’re getting the conference battle. For some, that’s actually better. The rivalries between Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota are often more intense than a random national semi-final against an East Coast team they haven't played all year.
Also, don't expect a 10-disc box set. Most of these releases were single-disc affairs focusing on the championship game and a 20-minute highlight reel of the entire tournament weekend.
The value of the "Extra" content
What made these DVDs worth it back in the day was the commentary. Sometimes you’d get the local radio calls synced over the video. If you’ve ever listened to a legendary college hockey announcer call a game-winning goal in overtime, you know that’s a hundred times better than the generic national TV announcers who barely know the players' names. That local flavor is what’s preserved on these discs.
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Future-proofing your hockey collection
If you do manage to snag a copy, rip it. Seriously. DVD rot is a real thing where the layers of the disc can delaminate over decades. If you find a rare 2014 or 2015 Frozen Face Off disc, create a digital ISO backup.
The NCHC has moved almost entirely to a subscription-based digital model with NCHC.tv. While the convenience is great, you don't "own" that content. If your subscription lapses, or if they decide to purge games from 2017 to make room for 2027, that history is gone. The Frozen Face Off DVD remains the only way to ensure you can watch those games when the internet goes down or the streaming rights expire.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
- Set up automated eBay alerts specifically for "NCHC DVD" and "Frozen Face Off" to catch new listings within minutes.
- Contact university archives at schools like Denver or UND; sometimes the media departments keep extra copies of old season highlight films and tournament discs that they are willing to sell to alumni.
- Check regional Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, as this is the geographic heart of the tournament’s history.
- Digitize immediately upon acquisition using a tool like Handbrake to ensure the footage survives even if the physical disc eventually fails.
- Verify the year before purchasing, as many sellers confuse the different NCHC post-season events or regional tournaments.
The window for finding these in "new" condition is closing fast, as the shift to digital-only highlights was completed years ago. For the true historian of the game, the search is worth the effort to preserve a piece of the NCHC's formative years.