GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota junior defenseman Jake Livanavage will represent college hockey at the prestigious Spengler Cup this year after he was one of the first five players named to the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster on Thursday.
 
The 2025 Spengler Cup will be the first time a select team representing college hockey has ever competed in the event. The U.S. Collegiate Selects team will be comprised of active NCAA Division I players of any nationality representing all six conferences and the Division I independent programs.
 
Livanavage is an assistant captain for the Fighting Hawks this season and was named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s (NCHC) 2025-26 Preseason All-Conference Team. Last year as a sophomore, the native of Phoenix, Ariz. earned First-Team All-NCHC and Second-Team All-America honors after tallying four goals and 24 assists while playing in all 38 UND games. His 28 points were third on the team last year and sixth among NCHC defensemen.
 
As a freshman, Livanavage earned NCHC All-Rookie Team honors and helped North Dakota win the Penrose Cup as regular-season champions. He totaled 29 points (5g/24a) while playing in all 40 games. He’s handed out 24 assists both seasons so far at UND.
 
Livanavage has never missed a game in his collegiate career, racking up 57 points (9g/48a) in 78 career games. His 0.73 points per game average lead all active NCHC blueliners, while his 57 career points are tied for first among active NCHC defensemen and third among all active NCHC skaters. Livanavage has also blocked 119 shots in 78 career games (1.53 blocks per game), the most among active NCHC players.
 
The Spengler Cup has been held annually in Davos, Switzerland since 1923. It is a six-team invitational tournament traditionally featuring club and national teams from Europe and North America. It is hosted by the Swiss professional team HC Davos each year from Dec. 26-31 at Eisstadion Davos. The University of North Dakota competed in the 1982 Spengler Cup and the University of Minnesota participated in 1981.
 
Along with Livanavage, Penn State junior forward Aiden Fink, Penn State junior defenseman Mac Gadowsky, UConn junior forward Joey Muldowney and Minnesota State senior goaltender Alex Tracy are also among the ‘first five’ on the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster.
 
The U.S. Collegiate Selects team will be coached by Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky. Among the U.S. Collegiate Selects support staff is long-time (22 years) University of Denver Hockey athletic trainer Aaron Leu, also representing the NCHC.
 
The remaining 20 players on the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster will be announced in the coming months, with a total of 25 players on the squad competing at the Spengler Cup.  
 
Livanavage and North Dakota open the 2025-26 regular season this Friday hosting St. Thomas.