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Women’s Division I College Hockey: National Championship keys to the game

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(2) Ohio State vs. (1) Wisconsin
Sunday at 3 p.m. central on ESPNU and ESPN+

3 Keys for Wisconsin

  • Score first. Yes, the Badgers have come from behind a bunch lately, but just because they can doesn’t mean they should. Ohio State is going to grab ahold of every bit of momentum and power in this game they can and an early goal from them gives them a chance to push even more and really lean on their strong forecheck. It feels like every second of this game is going to matter and the Badgers don’t want to spent a bunch of that time playing catch up. In their win over UW early in the season, OSU went up 2-0 10 minutes into the game.
  • Win the neutral zone. Wisconsin wants to move quickly in transition and break out through the middle of the ice and Ohio State is one of the teams that is very good at tripping them up with that. They have a massive forecheck and want to slow UW from gaining the zone and getting set up.
  • Meet the moment. Wisconsin has come from behind, stuck to their game plan, played free and not gotten rattled all season. This is what they’ve been fighting for. Build off the crowd, don’t overthink it and trust the belief they’ve had in each other all season.

3 keys for Ohio State

  • Clean defense. The Buckeyes have to take care of the puck – no turnovers on defense, getting the puck out of the zone quickly and not giving up second- and third-chance opportunities in front of the net. Amanda Thiele has to play as well as she ever has in net, limit rebounds and be smart about where she directs the puck.
  • Special teams. In the game OSU beat Wisconsin, the Badgers’ only two goals came on the power play. They did a great job of shutting UW down, but let them back in with those opportunities. The game-winning goal came short-handed for OSU. They have to excel on both sides of penalty situations and they also have to play smart and limit their penalties, as well.
  • Lean in to the narrative. Wisconsin is the favorites and it appears they’ll have a big crowd of fans in the building. They’ve gotten all the attention and Ohio State would love nothing more than to play villain here. Embrace the underdog mentality, let the chip on their shoulder drive you and revel in when they can quiet the crowd.

NHL’s Rangers ink Northeastern blueliner Dorrington, who leaves Huskies after three seasons

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Jackson Dorrington skated three seasons on the Northeastern back end (photo: Jim Pierce).

The NHL’s New York Rangers have announced that the team has agreed to terms with Northeastern junior defenseman Jackson Dorrington on a three-year, entry-level contract.

Dorrington will report to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season.

Dorrington tallied two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 37 games for Northeastern this season.

In three collegiate seasons, the North Reading, Mass., native notched eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 105 games along with a plus-17 rating.

Dorrington was originally selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. His rights were acquired by the Rangers on Jan. 31, 2025 in the JT Miller trade.

Hockey seasons end for Aurora, Trine and St. Norbert in NCAA tourney

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Aurora’s NCAA tourney run came to an end Saturday against Geneseo. (Photo Credit: Steve Woltmann/Aurora Athletics)

At one point Saturday night on its home ice, Aurora had momentum and hopes of an NCAA Division III Frozen Four trip intact.

The fifth-ranked Spartans led SUNY Geneseo 3-0 late in the second period and 4-2 early in the third. And then the heartbreak unfolded.

The No. 4 Ice Knights wouldn’t go away and eventually tied the game. Then, with a little over four minutes to play, they took the lead and never looked back. A couple of empty-net goals in the final minutes made the 7-4 score look a little more decisive than it truly was.

With that, the Spartans’ special year comes to a close. It was a year where they won a program-record 24 games and played in the NCAA tournament for the first time.

This was a game that seemed destined to end differently early on. Chase Broda scored with under two minutes to play in the first and Juliano Santalucia scored only 30 seconds into the second to extend the Aurora lead to 2-0.

Later in the period, Landry Schmuck, the team’s leading goal scorer, found the back of the net for the 31st time this season to stretch Aurora’s lead to 3-0.

Geneseo refused to fold, pulling within one before the end of the second, but the Spartans answered four minutes into the third for a 4-2 lead thanks to a goal by Andrew Schultz.

What the Spartans couldn’t do, however, was hold the lead. Aurora finished with a 30-28 advantage in shots and JaCob Mucitelli made 28 saves. Santalucia also recorded an assist in addition to his goal.

The loss at home for Aurora was only its second of the season and the Spartans finished the year winning 14 of their final 17 games, losing only twice after the calendar flipped to 2025. Aurora ends the year at 24-5-1.

Thunder nearly pull off upset of top-ranked team

Forget that Trine was on the road against the No. 1 team in the country and two-time reigning champs.

That didn’t matter to the Thunder, who put up a fight right up until the end in a 3-2 overtime loss to Hobart Saturday night at The Cooler.

Playing in its second ever NCAA tournament game, the seventh-ranked Thunder, after a scoreless first period, struck first off a goal by Logan Furstenau. Sam Antenucci pushed the lead to 2-0.

That lead would hold until the third when the Statesmen scored twice to tie the game and send this showdown into overtime, where Trine’s dream of playing in the Frozen Four melted away.

Ronnie Petrucci was stellar in defeat, making 38 saves. The defense in front of him rose to the occasion as well, recording 16 blocks, the Thunder sticking to a defense effort that has served them well all season. Tim Organ led Trine with three blocks.

Even in defeat, it’s been quite a year for Trine, which won a program-record 21 games. The Thunder finish the year at 21-7-2. Include in that win total is Trine’s first ever NCAA tourney win as the Thunder opened the postseason with a 4-1 win over Oswego last weekend.

Green Knights fall short of Frozen Four bid

It was a matchup of two of D-III hockey’s premier programs. St. Norbert facing off against Utica on the road in a showdown featuring two programs with nearly 1,100 wins between them over the course of their histories.

Aurora’s NCAA tourney run came to an end Saturday against Geneseo. (Photo Credit: Steve Woltmann/Aurora Athletics)

This game had high stakes, a trip to the national semifinals on the line, and the No. 3 Green Knights led 3-2 going to the final period.

That’s when the momentum changed. The sixth-ranked Pioneers scored three goals in the third and skated to a 5-3 win.

For St. Norbert, which started the year 12-0 and ends it with 24 wins, only six losses and one tie, it was a heartbreaking ending to the season.

For a while, it looked like things would play out differently. Brock Baker gave St. Norbert the early lead before Utica tied it. It was 1-1 at the end of one.

Goals by Calvin Hanson and Carter Hottmann pushed the St. Norbert lead to 3-1 but Utica cut the lead to 3-2 going to the final period.

St. Norbert was outshot 38-27 but Hunter Garvey made 33 saves. Baker tallied an assist to go along with his goal.

The loss to Utica was the first for the Green Knights since Jan. 25. St. Norbert came into the night on an 11-game unbeaten streak.

While the Green Knights will have to wait another year to make a run at the program’s first national title since 2018, they did repeat as champions of the NCHA, which is quite the accomplishment considering three teams from the league made the NCAA tourney.

Wisconsin women’s hockey team leads the way with quartet of players named first team All-American for 2024-25 season

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The quarter of Wisconsin players to be named first team All-Americans for the 2024-25 season (photos: Wisconsin Athletics).

Wisconsin dominates the 2025 AHCA/CCM All-American teams announced Saturday by the American Hockey Coaches Association and chosen by the nation’s Division I head coaches.

First Team

Ève Gascon, SO, Minnesota Duluth
(Mascouche, PQ) Goalie
Caroline Harvey, JR, Wisconsin@*
(Salem, NH) Defense
Haley Winn, SR, Clarkson+
(Rochester, NY) Defense
Laila Edwards, JR, Wisconsin
(Cleveland Heights, OH) Forward
Casey O’Brien, GR, Wisconsin*
(Milton, MA) Forward
Kirsten Simms, JR, Wisconsin*
(Plymouth, MI) Forward

Second Team

Annelies Bergmann, SO, Cornell
(Detroit, MI) Goalie
Nicole Gosling, GR, Clarkson*
(London, ON) Defense
Emma Peschel, JR, Ohio State
(Edina, MN) Defense
Tessa Janecke, JR, Penn State+
(Orangeville, IL) Forward
Abbey Murphy, SR, Minnesota
(Evergreen Park, IL) Forward
Kristýna Kaltounková, GR, Colgate
(Vlasim, Czech Republic) Forward

* First Team in 2024
+ Second Team in 2024
@ Second Team in 2023

Western Michigan topples Denver on Bump’s double-OT winner, Broncos claim first NCHC Frozen Faceoff title

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Western Michigan erupts after Alex Bump’s double-OT winner gives the Broncos the NCHC playoff championship (photo: Tim Brule).

ST. PAUL, Minn. –- It’s pretty safe to say Western Michigan forward Alex Bump had a great time playing back in the arena where he already knew how to light up a scoreboard.

Bump’s second goal of the night and third of the weekend capped a brilliant tournament for both him and his Broncos, who roared back from a three-goal third-period deficit for a thrilling 4-3 victory in double overtime over the Denver Pioneers at Xcel Energy Center, clinching their first Frozen Faceoff championship.

“Yeah, I’ve scored a couple goals here,” Bump laughed. “It’s nothing new, but it’s always fun.

“It’s always great to come back and play in front of a bunch of friends and family.”

Going back to his high school days in nearby Prior Lake, all Bump has been doing is scoring goals in St. Paul. He had a total of seven in a previous state tournament appearance there over three games, and his impressive performance this weekend earned him most outstanding player honors and made Western Michigan just the second team in the NCHC’s 12-year history to win both the regular season and tournament championships in the same season – North Dakota did it in 2020-21.

“I’m just so proud of this group,” said Broncos coach Pat Ferschweiler. “We hung in there, and then I thought we took the game over at the end.

“That is a huge hill to climb, 3-0 down to Denver in the third; that’s such a great hockey team, and they’re so dangerous.”

Jake Fisher, Eric Pohlkamp and Zeev Buium all scored in succession in less than five minutes halfway through regulation to give Denver a three-goal lead, but unfortunately the three-time Frozen Faceoff winners could not make the lead stand and they failed to become the conference’s first repeat tournament champions.

“We looked a little tired in overtime,” said Pioneers coach David Carle. “But we’ll turn the page. We’ll make sure that our bodies are ready to go for Friday.”

Over most of the first 30 minutes of regulation, both teams played very good defense and clogged passing lanes up and down the ice.

Then the floodgates opened with three goals in a span of 4:41 for the Pioneers.

Fisher opened the scoring by putting home a backdoor rebound, then it was Pohlkamp wristing one home from the high slot after a nice drop pass from Rieger Lorenz to double the lead. Then Buium, a first-round draft pick of the hometown Minnesota Wild last year, made a sensational play at the blue line to stop a Broncos clearing attempt before skating in down the slot and beating Hampton Slukynsky stick-side out in front at 10:27. Just like that, it was a 3-0 lead for the defending Frozen Faceoff and national champions.

Who knew the chaos was just getting started?

With Denver starting to dial it back and play a little more defensive, Western Michigan finally got on the board in the opening minutes of the third period as Liam Valente found Zack Sharp on a nice cross-ice pass between the circles and Sharp finished it for his fifth goal, giving the NCHC regular-season champs some life.

Then with 6:41 to go, an offensive faceoff zone win by Owen Michaels got to Bump, who made it a one-goal game. But it was the tying goal by Tim Washe that came in truly stunning fashion. He left a soft liner from the right point go and DU goaltender Matt Davis (46 saves) misplayed it off his glove and it deflected into the net behind him to make it 3-3 with 3:40 left.

As the first overtime began, progressed and expired, it was clear the Broncos were the more energized team and the Pioneers were just about completely out of gas. Bump ended things just 22 seconds into the second overtime, finishing with three goals and one assist for the weekend.

“We’ve been saying it all year; we think we have a really special group in there, a great group of guys,” Washe said.

Hampton Slukynsky made 26 saves for the surging Broncos, who earned the final 1 seed in the NCAA tournament with the victory while Denver dropped to a No. 3 seed. They will be the only two NCHC teams in the national tournament – it is the first time the conference has failed to have at least three NCAA tournament representatives.

NCAA tournament brackets will be revealed Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT.

Howard’s double-overtime goal lifts Michigan State to thrilling win over Ohio State, second straight Big Ten playoff championship

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Michigan State has won back-to-back Big Ten playoff titles (photo: Michigan State Athletics).

EAST LANSING, Mich. — With less than 10 minutes to play in the Big Ten championship game at Munn Ice Arena, Michigan State watched a two-goal lead evaporate.

Two periods later, the Spartans became the first team in Big Ten conference history to secure consecutive playoff championships coupled with back-to-back regular-season titles.

Isaac Howard capped an impressive performance with the game-winning goal at 15:09 of double overtime, giving Michigan State a 4-3 win over Ohio State. Howard had a power-play goal in the first period and assisted on the Spartans’ two other goals as well, earning him MVP honors for the game.

“Ike’s fingerprints were all over this game,” said Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale. “I have a hard time believing there’s a better player in the country. He’s doing it on both sides of the puck. We used him on the kill but to score that goal [on a] heck of a play by Charlie Stramel to find him.

“It was great to see guys be rewarded, to try to do something that’s never been done … super proud of the guys.”

The Spartans led 2-0 early in the game on power-play goals by Karsen Dorwart and Howard, who assisted on each other’s tallies. Joe Dunlap got one back for the Buckeyes late in the first to make it 2-1 after one.

After a scoreless second period, the Spartans took a 3-1 lead just 42 seconds into the third period when Tanner Kelly tipped in a feed from Howard on the breakaway and for more than 10 minutes, it looked as though the game would that way.

But at 12:46, Damien Carfagna banked in a goal off of Trey Augustine’s skate to pull the Buckeyes to within one, and at 17:39, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine picked up Riley Thompson’s rebound to the game 3-3.

“When your backs are against the wall, you have no choice,” said Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik. “Our guys, we’re just going to keep going forward. To get that second one was huge and then we just felt it. We wished that period was a little longer. We were kind of in the roll there.”

The Buckeyes outshot the Spartans 11-9 in the first overtime, but the second OT belonged to Michigan State from nearly the get-go. The Spartans wore down the Buckeyes in the second OT, outshooting Ohio State 12-4. Even when the Buckeyes were able to clear the puck out of their own zone, they couldn’t sustain any offense and by the time Howard scored, the game winner felt like an inevitability.

On that goal, Stramel swept the puck from behind the Ohio State net and set up Howard in the slot. Once the puck was on his tape, the Big Ten player of the year and Hobey Baker finalist made no mistake.

“I remember kind of getting in the slot and ‘Strams’ was wheeling up and he made a great play to me,” Howard said. “I just went backhand, forehand, through the goalie’s armpit and then celebrated.”

Nightingale said that he was happy with the way his team “just stayed with it” when the Buckeyes evened the score and had their chances in overtime.

“There was no panic,” said Nightingale. “A lot of time that happens, the wheels can fall off. You’ve just got to believe in what we do and how we need to play to be a good hockey team.”

Both Ohio State (24-13-2) and Michigan State (26-6-4) will move onto NCAA tournament play, with the Spartans earning a No. 1 seed in regional action, wherever they’re sent. The Buckeyes and Spartans may find themselves placed in Toledo next weekend.

‘So excited to keep this journey going:’ Bentley wins first Atlantic Hockey America title, knocks off Holy Cross to qualify for NCAA tournament

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Bentley is off to the 2025 NCAA tournament, winners of the Atlantic Hockey America championship (photo: Bentley Athletics).

WORCESTER, Mass. — Bentley defenseman Sam Duerr scored with just over 10 minutes remaining in the third period, and goaltender Connor Hasley stopped 17 shots as the visiting third-seeded Falcons overcame a two-goal deficit in the first period to capture the 2025 Atlantic Hockey America championship with a 6-3 win over Holy Cross Saturday night at the Hart Center.

The championship is Bentley’s first-ever Division I crown and the first championship of any kind since the program won the 1982 ECAC Division III title over then-named Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass-Dartmouth). The program elevated to Division I with the discontinuation of Division II hockey but had never before won a league postseason championship game.

“I just thought about building something that this university could be proud of [when I was hired],” said Bentley coach Andy Jones. “I wanted to be proud of something that was sustainable, that the players could be proud of. I thought it was going to be significant challenge, and while it’s one thing to have a blueprint on how to do something, we’re just the guys standing behind the bench. I think our guys love each other, and I’m not tossing that word around lightly. It’s genuine love, and I think that’s how you see it in how he play. It’s how we sacrifice for each other.”

Holy Cross had won the ability to host the championship game by clinching Atlantic hockey’s regular season crown, but the packed house at the Hart Center wasn’t fully sent into a fever until the Crusaders scored twice on the power play. The first included the 24th goal of the season from Hobey Baker Award finalist Liam McLinskey before Matthew Kursonis added another strike with just over three minutes remaining.

The Crusaders previously won 19 of its 25 games where they scored the first goal, but the Falcons rebounded by scoring back-to-back goals in the early stages of the second period. The first came when Tucker Hodgson beat Thomas Gale while skating off of his defensive back line, and Nik Armstrong-Kingkade added a tying goal less than 40 seconds after Bentley drew its first strike.

Defenseman Nick Bochen roofed a backhander from Armstrong-Kingkade less than three minutes after the Falcons tied the score at 2-2 to give Bentley its first lead of the game.

“Our power play was excellent and kept us in it,” said Holy Cross coach Bill Riga. “But we lost our identity there, especially in the second period. It cost us three goals on plays that were uncharacteristic turnovers, and we missed a block on the fourth one. They did a great job of playing to their identity, and I thought they deserved to win tonight.”

Holy Cross was able to gain momentum by scoring a third power play goal in the third period, but the newly-minted tie score lasted until Duerr beat goaltender Thomas Gale through his five-hole for his eighth goal of the season.

AJ Hodges added a late dagger before Armstrong-Kinkade sealed the three-goal win with an empty-net goal.

The game had been billed as a top goaltending showdown between Connor Hasley, the national leader in shutouts, and Gale, named goaltender of the year. Both were exceptional, but Hasley saw 10 less shots than a Holy Cross defense that was outshot 24-13 over the last two periods.

Bentley, which continued setting a program record with its 23rd win of the season, now advances to its first NCAA tournament while gaining a measure of revenge over the team that defeated it in the 2006 Atlantic Hockey championship. Holy Cross, meanwhile, missed the tournament for the 19th consecutive season after advancing to its second final in three years.

“There was one thing that I really wanted to do with this program,” said Bentley captain Ethan Leyh, “and that was to get to the NCAA tournament. That was a goal I put out to myself, and I just believed it. With these 30 guys, they put everything into that goal. To be able to see it, it’s special, but the 30 guys in this locker room, the coaching staff, everyone worked there.

“We believed it, and we’re so excited to keep this journey going because we’re not done yet.”

BRACKETOLOGY FINAL: In the end, it should be easy for the committee to assemble a fair, successful bracket for NCAA tournament

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UMass will be in the NCAA tournament, but where will the Minutemen open play this coming weekend? (photo: UMass Athletics).

Every week for the last two and a half months, I’ve been making my best attempt to tell you what teams would be in the field each week and what each of the four regionals might look like.

Earlier today, I put forward a potential bracket that had not taken account the four championship games that were played this evening. It was a unique situation as, for the first time I can remember, the 16-team field was known with one night to play.

Yes, two automatic bids needed to still be filled, those were taken by Clarkson in the ECAC and Bentley in Atlantic Hockey America. But the other 14 teams in the field knew their fate prior to any pucks dropping on Saturday.

The bracket I presented at the time checked a lot of boxes, particularly keeping No. 1 seeds close to home, avoiding intra-conference matchups and maximizing attendance in all four regions.

Here is that bracket:

Manchester Region
1. Boston College
2. Providence
3. Denver
4. Holy Cross/Bentley

Toledo Region
1. Michigan State
2. Boston University
3. Ohio State
4. Clarkson/Cornell

Allentown Region
1. Maine
2. Connecticut
3. Penn State
4. Quinnipiac

Fargo Region
1. Western Michigan
2. Minnesota
3. Massachusetts
4. Minnesota State

So how much did the results of Saturday’s four conference championship games impact these brackets? The answer: Not a lot.

That said, for one last time, let’s go through the entire process. First, we use the Pairwise Rankings to determine the 16 teams in the field. Six of those teams are automatic qualifiers having won their postseason championship. The other 10 are the highest ranked non-qualifiers. That gives use the following 16 teams:

1. Boston College
2. Michigan State*
3. Maine*
4. Western Michigan*
5. Minnesota
6. Connecticut
7. Boston University
8. Providence
9. Denver
10. Ohio State
11. Massachusetts
12. Quinnipiac
13. Penn State
14. Minnesota State*
15. Cornell*
16. Bentley*

Now, let’s seed the bracket using bracket integrity (i.e. 1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 15, 3 vs. 14, etc.), taking nothing else into consideration for now.

1. Boston College
8. Providence
9. Denver
16. Bentley

2. Michigan State
7. Boston University
10. Ohio State
15. Cornell

3. Maine
6. Connecticut
11. Massachusetts
14. Minnesota State

4. Western Michigan
5. Minnesota
12. Penn State
13. Quinnipiac

The next step is to avoid intra-conference matchups in the opening round, in other words make every effort to keep teams from opening the tournament playing a conference opponent.

Right now, we have one: 6 Connecticut vs. 11 Massachusetts. A quick swap of Penn State and UMass will solve this and resolve another difficulty. By changing Penn State and UMass, you group Penn State with Maine and UConn. Penn State is the host school in Allentown and must play there, so grouping them with teams that are somewhat close is helpful.

That presents us with the following:

1. Boston College
8. Providence
9. Denver
16. Bentley

2. Michigan State
7. Boston University
10. Ohio State
15. Cornell

3. Maine
6. Connecticut
12. Penn State
14. Minnesota State

4. Western Michigan
5. Minnesota
11. Massachusetts
13. Quinnipiac

Now, let’s assign regional cities to each of the four brackets. Boston College, as the top seed, plays at the closest region, Manchester, N.H. The Toledo, Ohio, region is closest to second seed Michigan State. Allentown is closer to Maine than is Fargo, plus fourth-overall Western Michigan is much closer to Fargo. Thus, we have the following:

Manchester Region
1. Boston College
8. Providence
9. Denver
16. Bentley

Toledo Region
2. Michigan State
7. Boston University
10. Ohio State
15. Cornell

Allentown Region
3. Maine
6. Connecticut
12. Penn State
14. Minnesota State

Fargo Region
4. Western Michigan
5. Minnesota
11. Massachusetts
13. Quinnipiac

Is this the final bracket? Well, I see one further change that could bring some teams closer to campus and help drive attendance. Moving Minnesota State from Allentown to Fargo brings the Mavericks closer to home and does the same for Quinnipiac.

With that adjustment, I have my final bracket for this season. Will the committee agree? Tune in to ESPNU tomorrow (Sunday) at 3 p.m. ET for the NCAA Selection Show.

Manchester Region
1. Boston College
8. Providence
9. Denver
16. Bentley

Toledo Region
2. Michigan State
7. Boston University
10. Ohio State
15. Cornell

Allentown Region
3. Maine
6. Connecticut
12. Penn State
13. Quinnipiac

Fargo Region
4. Western Michigan
5. Minnesota
11. Massachusetts
14. Minnesota State

When all is said and done, all that changed from Friday to Saturday was a swap of Penn State and Quinnipiac in the PairWise. And because these two teams occupy the 12 and 13 spots, they simply swapped seeds in Allentown with Penn State now the 3 seed (will playConnecticut) and Quinnipiac the 4 (and thus playing Maine)

The final two teams into the field were 12 Quinnipiac and 13 Penn State. The first two teams left out were 15 Michigan and 16 Arizona State.

Cornell downs Clarkson to win ECAC Hockey tournament, nab conference autobid to NCAA tournament

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Cornell players celebrate a goal in the ECAC Hockey championship game Saturday afternoon in Lake Placid, N.Y., against Clarkson (photo: Cornell Athletics).

Ondrej Psenicka figured in on all three Cornell goals by scoring one and assisting on two as the Big Red defeated Clarkson 3-1 to win the ECAC Hockey tournament Saturday afternoon at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Cornell goaltender Ian Shane made 27 saves for the win between the pipes.

Nick DeSantis had a goal and an assist and Ryan Walsh also scored for Cornell. Jonathan Castagna chipped in two assists.

Erik Bargholtz tallied Clarkson’s goal and goalie Ethan Langenegger made 21 saves.

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Bonus interview with 2025 Patty Kaz winner Casey O’Brien

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On a bonus episode of the PodKaz from the Frozen Four in Minneapolis, Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski from USCHO.com chat with 2025 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, Wisconsin forward Casey O’Brien.

The PodKaz is a production of USCHO.com. Have a question for our mailbag? Reach out to Nicole (@NicoleHaase) or Todd (@ToddMilewski) on social media or email [email protected].

Find The PodKaz on:
Spotify
Spreaker
iHeart
Amazon
Apple

 

Lund leaves Northeastern after junior season, signs NHL contract with Sharks

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Cam Lund played a key role up front in his three seasons with Northeastern (photo: Jim Pierce).

Northeastern junior forward Cam Lund has signed a standard entry-level contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.

Lund, a native of Bridgewater, Mass., served as an alternate captain in his third season with the Huskies in 2024-25.

During his career, Lund appeared in 107 games for Northeastern, recording 36 goals and 57 assists for 93 points. Additionally, he helped Northeastern claim back-to-back Beanpot championships and the program’s first trip to the Hockey East semifinals since 2019.

Lund was named a Hockey East third team all-star following the conclusion of the 2024-25 regular season and was also named to the Hockey East all-rookie team in 2022-23. He’s a two-time Hobey Baker nominee and a semifinalist for the 73rd Walter Brown award, awarded to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.

In his junior campaign, Lund tallied 40 points in just 37 games played, ranking him among the top 20 in the country. He collected a team-high 18 goals and 22 assists, all marking career highs. Lund also concluded the 2024-25 season with 174 shots (fourth in the NCAA), 19 blocks and a team-high four power-play goals.

The Sharks drafted Lund in the second round (34th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Wisconsin’s Casey O’Brien named winner of 2025 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as top player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey

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MINNEAPOLIS — Wisconsin fifth-year forward Casey O’Brien was announced as the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner on Saturday, March 22. 

“It’s a surreal feeling. It’s one of those things that you dream of as a little kid, but you’re not sure it’s ever going to quite happen. This year, with the amazing team that we had, it could have been any of us. It’s just it’s so special,” said O’Brien.

The ceremony took place at the McNamara Alumni Center as part of the women’s Frozen Four weekend hosted by the University of Minnesota. O’Brien is the 28th winner of the award and the sixth winner from the University of Wisconsin, joining Ann-Renée Desbiens (2017), Brianna Decker (2012), Meghan Duggan (2011), Jessie Vetter (2009) and Sara Bauer (2006). 

An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.

The award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League honoree for the Princeton University women’s ice hockey team from 1981-82 through 1985-86. An accomplished athlete who excelled in ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse, Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990 at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.

O’Brien was selected from a group of three finalists that included junior defender Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) and junior forward Laila Edwards (Wisconsin). It was just the second time in history that the finalists were all from the same team. 

Despite the competition among teammates, O’Brien said she, Harvey and Edwards had all talked about it ahead of time and there would have been no animosity no matter who won.

“I think every one of us wanted the other two to win. It was this cool thing where everyone was just gonna be happy no matter who it was. When we were sitting up there, we were whispering, laughing, joking, and the vibes are just so light. We really didn’t care who it was, we were all just happy that it was coming back to Wisconsin,” said O’Brien.

A two-time National Champion and a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award last year, O’Brien was named WCHA Forward of the Year and Player of the Year this season. She was a first-team All-American selection in 2024 and repeated that accomplishment this season. She leads the country with 88 points and 62 assists. 

Those numbers are among the best this sport has ever seen. Her 88 points tie her with Jenny Potter (2003) and Alex Carpenter (2016) for seventh most in NCAA history. Her 62 assists are the third-most ever, trailing only Natalie Darwitz (2005) and Jennifer Botterill (2003).

“Congratulations to Casey, who definitely earned it. She has been one of our leaders all season, not only on the ice as people watched her throughout the winter and early spring here, but being one of our captains in the leadership and connecting the team and doing things necessary to get them in position to go for the national championship. It was a well earned honor for her, so I’m happy for her and her family and certainly for teammates that helped along the way,” said Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson.

In her acceptance speech, O’Brien thanked Johnson and Wisconsin assistants Jackie Crum, Dan Koch and Mark Greenhalgh, saying, “Thank you for assembling this ridiculous roster and for including me on it.”

It has been a record-breaking season for the Milton, Massachusetts, native and team co-captain. She set a new Wisconsin record for points in a season with her goal in the national semifinal on Friday, surpassing Meghan Duggan’s 87 points. 

In the past few weeks, O’Brien has also set her program’s record for both career points (274) and career assists (177). She set a school record for assists in a season with 62, breaking her previous school record of 50 set last season. She also passed Mike Eaves to become the highest point scorer in Badger hockey history – men or women. 

The Wisconsin forward also has four game-winning goals, two shorthanded goals and a faceoff winning percentage north of 60 — all while taking just one penalty. Her 527 faceoff wins lead the WCHA and rank second best in the country. 

“I went into this year with the mindset of this is the last time I’m going be in a Badger jersey, so I can’t take a single game for granted. The numbers came about just being consistent. I wasn’t really focused on the records or anything individual. I was just doing what I can help the team win. I’ve tried not to focus too much on any of that individual stuff,” O’Brien said.

With O’Brien as co-captain, this season Wisconsin has been ranked atop our poll since the second poll of the season on September 30. They are also statistically the best team, ranking first in team offense, team defense, power play and penalty kill. She has led them to their third straight national championship and O’Brien will be playing for her third national title.

In her acceptance speech she said, “My time at Wisconsin has exceeded my highest expectations….To stand here as a representative of our team and our season is humbling and the ultimate honor.”

In the offseason, she had wrist surgery to take care of a nagging injury and she wasn’t sure how that would affect her play. That she recovered to be even better this season makes the accomplishment even more impressive.

“It’s always a question mark coming out of surgery or off of injury, you know how you’re going to feel. Once I got that the first games under my belt, I knew it was gonna be a good season. I’m playing with some of the best players in the country, so it can’t be a bad season with when you’re playing with them,” O’Brien said.

Even winning the biggest individual honor in NCAA women’s hockey couldn’t distract O’Brien from her ultimate goal – winning the national championship on Sunday. \

“The focus is definitely on tomorrow’s big game.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRACKETOLOGY EXTRA: Friday’s results bounce Michigan, clinch spots for Quinnipiac, Penn State as field of 16 set heading to Saturday

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Penn State and Quinnipiac now know they’ll be part of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field, but Michigan is out (File photo: Jim Rosvold)

Rare is the occasion that with one day left in the college hockey’s conference tournament weekend that all 16 spots are accounted for, but after Friday’s results that is exactly the case.

Three bubble teams learned their fate as Michigan’s season is now officially over while Quinnipiac, on an otherwise bad day, joined Penn State in clinching its NCAA Tournament spots.

The Bobcats began the day’s slate knowing that a win over Cornell in the ECAC semifinals would sew up their NCAA Tournament bid. But Quinnipiac allowed a late shorthanded goal to tie the game and the Big Red won in overtime.

That result translated to the end of Michigan’s NCAA Tournament hopes. The Wolverines began the weekend on the bubble and if Quinnipiac did not win the ECAC tournament (among other things), they were the first team to fall below the cutline.

After Friday’s ECAC opener, eyes turned to the NCHC. If both Denver and Western Michigan, the two NCHC teams that have already punched their NCAA tickets, reached the NCHC final, that would also guarantee NCAA safety for both Penn State and Quinnipiac.

Denver defeated Arizona State and Western Michigan ended North Dakota’s season, and with that, we know the 16 teams for the NCAA Tournament:

1. Boston College
2. Michigan State
3. Maine*
4. Western Michigan
5. Minnesota
6. Connecticut
7. Boston University
8. Providence
9. Denver
10. Ohio State
11. Massachusetts
12. Penn State
13. Quinnipiac
14. Minnesota State*
15. Clarkson/Cornell (ECAC champion)
16. Bentley/Holy Cross (AHA champion)

The final two teams our are Michigan and Arizona State.

Without going into specifics of how I would move teams around as I would in a typical Bracketology column, I will leave you with my bracket based upon where each team is currently seeded in the PairWise.

Manchester Region
1. Boston College
2. Providence
3. Denver
4. Holy Cross/Bentley

Toledo Region
1. Michigan State
2. Boston University
3. Ohio State
4. Clarkson/Cornell

Allentown Region
1. Maine
2. Connecticut
3. Penn State
4. Quinnipiac

Fargo Region
1. Western Michigan
2. Minnesota
3. Massachusetts
4. Minnesota State

 

Trine hockey team making history and driven to continue NCAA tourney run

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Sam Antenucci and the Trine Thunder take on Hobart tonight in a national quarterfinal. (Photo provided by Trine Athletics)

This hockey journey for Trine has been interesting to say the least. 

The Thunder won only six games in the inaugural 2017-18 campaign. That win total improved by four games the following year.

Three years in, Trine recorded its first winning season, picking up 13 victories, The Thunder won only five games the next year, though the pandemic impacted that season.

But over the last four seasons, the Thunder have won 18 or more games and are in the midst of their second straight year of 20 or more wins. In fact, with 21 wins this season, the Thunder have set a new program record.

Not to mention the Thunder (21-6-2) are in the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time, and have reached the second round where they will face top-ranked Hobart (26-1-1) tonight for the right to go to the Frozen Four.

It’s been a heck of a ride so far.

“For four years, we’ve been grinding every year,” senior Bobby Price said. “It’s nice to get here (to the tournament). It’s satisfying, but it’s also not satisfying because the job isn’t done.”

Junior Sam Antenucci agrees while adding that everyone would have been on board for a tourney run had they been told that would be the case before the season began.

“If you told us in August that everything we did would lead to March, everyone would have been all for it,” Antenucci said. “It’s been something to look forward to, but there is also more work to be done.”

Bobby Price has helped play a key role in Trine’s success this year. (Photo provided by Trine Athletics)

Trine advanced last weekend with a 4-1 win over Oswego in its NCAA tourney debut, and now the Thunder face its biggest test ever as it takes on the nation’s best team. The Thunder come into the game ranked seventh in the nation in the USCHO.com poll.

Their success is hardly a surprise.

“The biggest thing is our mentality,” Price said. “It’s the next guy up, no matter who it is. Everyone is always ready to play. Everyone is buying into our systems and working hard.”

A rock solid commitment hasn’t hurt either.

“It’s the commitment to playing together and the commitment to win,” Antenucci said. “And our defensive details have gotten us to this point, too.”

Trine averages 3.6 goals per game and utilizes a balanced attack where 14 players have scored at least three goals. Logan Furstenau leads the way with 11 and has also dished out 10 assists. Alexander Babich is team’s leader in assists, tallying 18, and Michael DiPietra is right behind him with 17.

Price and Antenucci have been key contributors well. Price has tallied six goals and seven assists. Antenucci has recorded nine goals and 12 assists.

“This is one of the lowest scoring teams we’ve had, but at the same time, we are a great defensive team,” Antenucci said. “We are committed to the details of the defensive zone, blocking shots, and we get great goaltending performances from guys who can take over the net when needed.”

Kyle Kozma and Cristian Wong-Ramos have both logged more than 600 minutes in goal. Ronnie Petrucci has played nearly 500 minutes. The three have combined for more 588 saves.

One thing that has played a role in Trine’s success is the Thunder are battle tested. The NCHA consistently had four nationally ranked teams this season and three are in the NCAA tournament.

“You have opponents who are at the top of their game and that forces you to play at the top of yours,” Antenucci said. “If you can raise your game to the level you need to beat top teams in the conference, you can raise it to beat anyone in the country.”

Regardless of how the tourney plays out for Trine, its historic season has provided a huge boost to the profile of the program – to the point where the national tourney is now the expectation.

“It’s a stepping stone for us,” Price said. “Coming here now, you know going in the goal is to get to the national tournament.”

Four different players score to guide Western Michigan into NCHC championship game after win over North Dakota in semifinal tilt

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Iiro Hakkarainen scored WMU’s third goal late in the third period Friday night into an empty net (photo: Western Michigan Athletics).

ST. PAUL, Minn. -– With a No. 1 seed still within reach, Western Michigan continues to steamroll its way into another NCAA tournament.

Four different players scored goals and seven players had points overall as the Broncos knocked off North Dakota 4-2 Friday night at the Xcel Enercy Center, advancing to their second Frozen Faceoff championship game in four seasons and putting an end to North Dakota’s season.

“So certainly proud of our guys,” said WMU head coach Pat Ferschweiler, the NCHC coach of the year. “I thought we played a strong game. Happy with the win.”

Minnesota natives Alex Bump and Grant Slukynsky contributed to the outcome with a goal each, and Grant’s brother Hampton made 23 saves for the Broncos. Western Michigan is not only on the verge of their first NCHC Frozen Faceoff title, but they would also become just the second NCHC team to win both the regular-season and conference tournament titles in the same season; North Dakota accomplished the feat in 2020-21.

Newly named NCHC rookie of the year Sacha Boisvert scored twice to try to keep North Dakota’s season alive, but the Fighting Hawks just couldn’t sustain any heavy offensive zone pressure and they fell short of an NCAA tournament berth for the second time in the last three years with the defeat. Still, like they did a week ago in their road sweep of Omaha and all season long, UND just would not quit, and that’s what head coach Brad Berry was most proud of.

“I know we went through a little bit of diversity up and down here but couldn’t be more proud of these guys and the way they battled tonight,” Berry said.

Bump, a native of Twin Cities suburb Prior Lake roughly 30 miles southwest of St. Paul, got the scoring started for WMU with an unassisted goal as a well-aimed wrist shot found its way in down low past TJ Semptimphelter. It was the 21st of the season for the NCHC forward of the year as well as his 6th of the season against UND.

“He’s been our best player all year,” Grant Slukynsky said. “There’s no quit in his game.”

North Dakota found an answer late in the first to send the teams into the intermission in a tie game. After Tim Washe was sent off for slashing, the Fighting Hawks didn’t waste much time on their power play. Boisvert was found all alone in the low slot by Owen McLaughlin and Boisvert took the feed to finish off an easy score for his 17th goal of the season.

Warroad native Grant Slukynsky put the Broncos back ahead near the halfway point of the third when a shot from between the circles somehow bled through Semptimphelter. North Dakota finally ramped up the pressure afterward with their season on the line, but just could not get a puck in the net before Iiro Hakkarainen scored into an empty net with 1:54 to go. Boisvert scored his 2nd of the night with 50 seconds left to pull the Fighting Hawks back within one, but their hopes and season were finished when Sam Sjolund finished things off with another empty-net goal with 24 seconds left.

“Battled back. It was just not enough,” said UND forward Jake Schmaltz, whose collegiate career is now over. “At the end, it was just tough.”

Semptimphelter had 37 saves for UND in his final collegiate game.

Western Michigan will play in its second Frozen Faceoff championship game Saturday night against the defending champion Denver Pioneers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 CT.

Clarkson’s Martino chosen ECAC Hockey player of the year, Colgate’s Neumeier best rookie, Golden Knights’ Houle top coach

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Ayrton Martino led Clarkson offensively in 2024-25 (photo: Jim Meagher).

ECAC Hockey has announced its 2024-25 season awards.

Clarkson’s Ayrton Martino has been named player of the year Award for the 2024-25 season.

In 22 conference games, Martino led the league with 21 goals and added 17 assists for an incredible 38-point season. Seven of the senior’s goals were game winners and another three came as a hat trick. Averaging 1.73 points per game and ending the season with an impressive plus-18 rating overall (second in ECAC), Martino found himself at the top of most league stats throughout the season. He helped the Golden Knights secure second place in the regular season.

Colgate’s Michael Neumeier won the rookie of the year award for the 2024-25 season.

A unanimous decision for the ECAC all-rookie team, Neumeier was an asset to Colgate’s defensive front this season. Neumeier appeared in 21 league games, totaling five goals and 10 assists. He notched two game-winning goals and ended the season with an impressive plus-12 rating (ranking eighth in the ECAC).

Clarkson’s Trey Taylor is the best defensive defenseman for the second straight season.

The junior captain for the Golden Knights had a huge season, scoring six goals and 12 assists. He ended the season as Clarkson’s top scoring defenseman, with half of Taylor’s goals being converted on power-play opportunities. In front of the net, he ended the season sixth in the ECAC with 38 blocked shots.

Quinnipiac’s Jack Ricketts has been named the best defensive forward for the 2024-25 season.

Ricketts joined the Bobcats this year as a graduate student and had an impressive goal-scoring season, notching 14 goals (second in the ECAC) and five assists. He shone during the power play, and four of his goals came with the man advantage.

Clarkson’s JF Houle is the recipient of the Tim Taylor Coach of the Year Award for the 2024-25 season.

After returning to his alma mater, in his first season, Houle has made a tremendous impact on the Golden Knights’ season. After coaching various teams in the AHL, most recently being the Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens affiliate), Houle brought his skills and knowledge from this high level of play back to the bench in Potsdam.

He effectively led the Golden Knights to a second-place finish in the ECAC regular season and a consistent national ranking nearly every week. Clarkson secured a first-week bye in the playoffs and will compete for the ECAC championship in Lake Placid this weekend.

Previously, Clarkson’s Ethan Langenegger was announced as goaltender of the year.

All statistics correspond to the final regular-season statistics in ECAC Hockey play only.

‘Statement game’ for Minnesota State as Mavericks double up St. Thomas on home ice to capture third Mason Cup playoff title in four years

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Minnesota State is again Mason Cup champs after beating St. Thomas Friday night on home ice (photo: Jackson Forderer/SPX).

MANKATO, Minn. -– Last time Josh Groll scored a goal in a Mason Cup final, it didn’t count.

Groll’s overtime goal in the Mason Cup final against Bemidji State in 2022 was infamously overturned, despite the fact that the trophy had already been presented to his Minnesota State team and both teams were in their locker rooms.

In 2025, however, the Mavericks’ captain would not be denied. Groll’s empty netter with 43 seconds left in the game sealed the deal for Minnesota State and helped the Mavericks defeat St. Thomas 4-2 at the Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center.

“Thankfully our team was in a really good spot and it didn’t necessarily matter if I scored or not, since (Evan Murr) scored the game-winner right before me, there was no pressure this time to make sure it counted, and it felt great,” said Groll, a fifth-year senior who celebrated with junior Adam Eisiele in a unique way after raising the cup at the end of the game. “I mean, having Eisle hold me up like Simba in front of the crowd was pretty cool. Saluting the crowd was fun, and having the relief after scoring was great, especially in a tight moment of the playoffs where people were gripping their sticks a little bit.”

Groll’s goal helped Minnesota State (27-8-3) win their third Mason Cup trophy in four years, but it was Murr who had scored the game-winner midway through the third period. He broke a 2-2 deadlock with a cannon of a slapshot that beat St. Thomas goaltender Jake Sibell from the blue line.

“We had tried to do a faceoff play where we switched sides there, me and (fellow defenseman Ralfs) Bergmanis, but I was just trying to get pucks on net. We had a lot of bodies there in front and when I eventually picked my head up, I saw it was heading in line and the goalie didn’t see it coming. We had good net-front presence there and it was a special moment,” said Murr.

Minnesota State came into Friday’s game knowing they were in the tournament no matter what, thanks in part to the fact that St. Thomas is not eligible for the tournament this season. Despite the fact that it wasn’t really a “win-or-go-home” game for either team, there was a clear desire for both teams to give it all they had. Minnesota State was playing for yet another trophy after a disappointing season in 2023-24 in which they failed to win one.

“This was a statement game for us, especially going into next week and not winning it last year. It was something that stung for us,” Groll said. “It meant everything to us to win this and show up for our fans. It didn’t matter if we were playing next week or not, this game was everything for us and we hope it showed up on the ice.”

Meanwhile, the Tommies (19-14-5) were playing to win their first trophy at the Division I level.

“I thought it was a really good hockey game today,” St. Thomas coach Rico Blasi said. “I said it earlier in the week, games like that, you have to get some bounces. Obviously, you have to work for your bounces, but I thought our team worked for our chances to get some bounces that go our way. And their team got their bounces. So hats off to them, I know they’ll play well in the NCAA tournament and I wish them the best of luck.”

The Tommies actually scored first on Friday night, breaking a scoreless tie with Matthew Gleason’s second-period goal beating MSU goaltender Alex Tracy with a nice wrist shot past his blocker.

“I think it was a big confidence boost for our squad,” St. Thomas captain Lucas Wahlin said of scoring first. “I would say that was our goal coming out. They obviously came out the first 10 minutes and gave us their best, props to them, but we punched back the rest of the 10 minutes in the first and ended up getting the first goal of the game, which was huge for us. That was what we were looking for.“

St. Thomas’ lead didn’t last long. Four minutes later, the Mavericks’ Luigi Benincasa went bar-down to tie the on a power play. They took a 2-1 lead minutes later thanks to forward Kaden Bohlsen. Sibell had gone to the ice to make a save on an initial attempt by Zach Krajnik. However, he wasn’t able to corral the puck and couldn’t get back up in time to stop Bohlsen from pouting it in the back of a nearly open net.

The Tommies sent it to intermission tied with their own power play goal.

After Will Hillman was whistled for interference, Liam Malmquist–the CCHA’s leading scorer–netted a fantastic goal when he skated from one dot to the other in front of the net and buried a wrist shot past Tracy.

Minnesota State coach Luke Strand that despite giving up a lead near the end of the second period, he wasn’t worried about his team’s mentality.

“Going down 1-0 was probably good for us in some regard, to give us a good push,” said Minnesota State head coach Luke Strand. “St. Thomas did a great job. They’re a dangerous team that plays the right way, and they played good hockey. Going into the third, there was a neat feeling in the room. There was zero panic. We were comfortable where we were in the game. I don’t think you take moments like this for granted, and that’s a tribute to this group. And a big shoutout to our staff, because they were prepared for anything that happened.”

Tracy, the CCHA’s player of the year who is a finalist and semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award and Hobey Baker Award, respectively, finished the game with 29 saves. Sibell, a senior, made 31 saves for St. Thomas.

The Mavericks will now await their NCAA tournament fate, where they’ll likely be a No. 4 seed and will play against one of the nation’s top teams. Where they go and who they play is undecided, but the Mavericks aren’t too worried about those details at the moment.

“I think we’re in a great spot going into next week. Our conference is such a hard league, everyone plays so hard every night, we play such a heavy game, it’s playoff hockey any night we play, whether it’s October, January or March, it’s always going to be that way,” Groll said. “I think we’re ready for a game in the regional tournament. We’re playing playoff hockey and every little mistake matters. That’s our brand. We limit mistakes and capitalize on other teams’. We’re in a great spot and ready to play next week.”

Maine shuts the door on UConn for first Hockey East playoff title since 2004 as game at TD Garden ‘felt like a home game out there’

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Maine celebrates its first Hockey East playoff championship since 2004 (photo: Maine Athletics).

BOSTON — The population of Maine is listed at about a million and a half.

At least half of them were at TD Garden on Friday night.

Or at least that’s what it sounded like, as a crowd of 17,605 at TD Garden — heavily dominated by Maine hockey fans from Fort Kent to Kittery — watched their favorite team beat Connecticut 5-2 and win the Hockey East tournament for the first time in more than two decades.

“Greatest fans in college hockey, without a doubt,” said Maine senior defenseman David Breazeale, who had two assists on the night. “It felt like a home game out there. (It’s) an incredible feeling to have so much support from the whole state behind us. It’s amazing. (We) couldn’t do it without them.”

Friday’s win marked the sixth conference tournament title and first since 2004 for No. 2 Maine (24-7-6, 16-5-6 Hockey East), which became the first non-Massachusetts school to lift the Lamoriello Trophy since then. No. 4 UConn (22-11-4, 14-9-4) was making only its second league championship-game appearance and first since losing 2-1 in overtime to Massachusetts in 2022. The Huskies remain in search of their first Hockey East tournament title.

“Happy for the guys in the room, happy for the school, happy for the state of Maine,” fourth-year Black Bears coach Ben Barr said. “I didn’t know, coming into this job, the effect our community and this state has on our program. You saw it up there tonight. It felt like everybody in here was from Maine or had a Maine jersey on. (It’s) incredible what that does for us.”

Both teams were assured a spot in the NCAA tournament before Friday’s title game, thanks to their position in the PairWise. Maine, which broke a 12-year NCAA drought with last year’s appearance, will be in the NCAA tournament for the 19th time. This will be UConn’s first-ever berth.

“Maine jumped us early,” UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh said. “We wanted to score first to kind of take the crowd out of the game. That wasn’t the case.”

Showing no ill effects after a double-overtime semifinal win over Northeastern the previous night that ended near the stroke of midnight, Maine staked itself to a 2-0 lead after one period.

Lynden Breen scored the first goal of the night, giving Maine a 1-0 lead when he went 5-hole on UConn goalie Tyler Muszelik (19 saves) at 12:47. On a 2-on-1 with linemate Owen Fowler to his left, Breen decided to take it himself and snapped the puck between Muszelik’s pads to put Maine on the board.

Josh Nadeau expanded Maine’s lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 16:29. Nadeau scooped up a clear by goalie Albin Boija deep in the Black Bears’ end and took the puck across two zones, shedding defenders along the way, before firing it past Muszelik stick side for the score. It was the only power play of the night.

“I knew he could do it,” said Boija, who was named to the all-tournament team and was also named tournament MVP. “There was kind of an opening and he had good speed. He worked his magic.”

Boija made 27 saves Friday and 87 combined in three tournament games. His assist Friday was his second career assist and first since assisting Harrison Scott in a 2-1 loss at Vermont on March 1, 2024.

Scott made it 3-0 late in the second with his team-leading 18th goal of the season when, in the thick of a scrum in front of the crease, he swatted a loose puck out of the air baseball-style and into the net.

UConn, in no mood to be blown out by a team it had beaten twice during the regular season, got on the board at 3:11 of the final frame when Tabor Heaslip banged a loose puck past Maine goalie Albin Boija to cut the Black Bears’ lead to 3-1.

Taylor Makar shut the door on the Huskies at 9:21 of the third. Makar picked up the puck near the boards at the UConn blue line, skated in and found the back of the net to make it 4-1.

UConn’s slim chance of a comeback took a big hit when an apparent goal by Filip Sitar midway through the period — which would have cut Maine’s lead to 4-2 — was disqualified after video review due to a missed offside call. The Huskies got that goal back on Heaslip’s second of the night with 5:19 remaining.

Muszelik was pulled for an extra skater with about 2:38 remaining, but the Black Bears took advantage with an empty-net goal by Makar at 19:35.

Clarkson to play for ECAC Hockey playoff title, defeats Dartmouth in conference semifinals behind Langenegger’s 25 saves, five players with two-point nights

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Clarkson defeated Dartmouth Friday night and will meet Cornell in the ECAC Hockey title game Saturday night (photo: Clarkson Athletics).

Clarkson goaltender Ethan Langenegger made 25 saves and five Golden Knights players finished with two-point games as Clarkson defeated Dartmouth 4-1 in the second ECAC Hockey semifinal Friday night from Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Tristan Sarsland, Trey Taylor and Ayrton Martino all recorded a goal and an assist and Ryan Bottrill added a goal in the win.

Ellis Rockwood and Ryan Richardson each chipped in two assists for Clarkson.

For the Big Green, John Fusco broke Langenegger’s shutout bid at 15:32 of the third period and goalie Roan Clarke finished with 11 saves.

Saturday night, it will be Clarkson and Cornell playing for the ECAC Hockey championship and NCAA tournament automatic bid.

Women’s Division I College Hockey: Wisconsin takes down Minnesota 4-2 to set up a national championship rematch with Ohio State

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MINNEAPOLIS — It will be a rematch of the last three national championship games at No. 1 Wisconsin takes on No. 2 Ohio State Sunday at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus as the top-ranked Badgers defeated home team Minnesota 5-2 Friday evening to advance to their third-straight title game.

An early hit behind the play by the Gophers’ Abbey Murphy on Wisconsin’s KK Harvey earned Murphy a five minute major penalty, but the Badgers were unable to score with the player advantage. Minnesota used that kill to build momentum and eventually got on the board first as Peyton Hemp took advantage of the active boards behind the net, picking up a rebound and putting it past Ava McNaughton to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead.

The Badger have now given up the first goal in each of their last four games and have had to come from behind to get the win. Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson praised his team’s resiliency, but confessed “I’d like to try it the other way” about scoring first.

As the first period wound down, the Gophers were on the power play but Wisconsin’s top-ranked penalty kill won the puck and took off down the ice where Laila Edwards buried a short-handed toe drag and snipe from the top of the far circle to tie the game 1-1.

“(Caroline) Harvey makes a great stop, gets it up to me and I gave it to Casey. She’s obviously a threat, so she pushed the defense back, gave it to me, and I just took a shot on net. We don’t go down early too often so when we did, it’s a little unsettling, but we took care of business,” said Edwards.

Three minutes into the second, Harvey took a pass from Casey O’Brien from below the goal line, took a touch to let the defender pass her and picked the corner to put Wisconsin up 2-1. With the assist, O’Brien tied Meghan Duggan for the Badger program record for most points in a season at 87.

Kirsten Simms gave UW a 3-1 lead at the midpoint of the period, but Minnesota responded immediately as Nelli Laitinen fed Josefin Bouveng, who raced down the near boards and scored on a snipe of her own to make it a 3-2 game.

Harvey looked like she was going to increase the Wisconsin lead, late in the second, picking up her own rebound off a block, but the puck went across the goal mouth and off a post without crossing the line. The Gophers took it the other direction and Harvey took a penalty for body checking Murphy into the boards. Minnesota challenged, but the penalty remained a minor and the Gophers lost their time out but went on the power play with 46 seconds left in the period.

Chloe Primerano was called for interference just 11 seconds later, making it 4-on-4. With just two seconds left in the frame, O’Brien streaked up the left side and flicked the puck near post to put her Badgers up 4-2 and give her sole possession of the record for most points in a season at Wisconsin with 88.

“I got a nice pass from Laney [Potter] coming up and I knew the clock was winding down and so I was just trying to get a shot on net. I used the defense as a screen, so I was lucky that went in, but I think to go up into the third period with that kind of lead gave everybody a lot of confidence and then we closed it out,” said O’Brien.

“I was just focused on contributing as much as I could to the team’s success, and, yeah, it’s cool, but that’s not what the focus on. It’s on the team and the next game, it’s really all it is,” she said of setting the new mark.

Wisconsin extended their lead early in the third on a 2-on-1 as Kelly Gorbatenko fed Edwards, who went forehand, backhand to beat Gopher goalie Hannah Clark and make it a 5-2 game.

“They’re super-dangerous on the rush. We knew that and we gave up way too many odd players rushes against and unfortunately most of them ended up in our net,” said Gopher coach Brad Frost.

Edwards secured the 6-2 win with an empty-netter, securing a hat trick and giving her the national lead in goals with 34.

The junior has come up big with the Badgers and at international tournaments, but said those things happen because she’s surrounded by the best players in the world.

“I’m playing, living my dream right now. I’m playing the sport I love with the people I love, so it’s great. If you look at all three of my goals, they started with someone else’s hard work and just smart hockey, so it’s a lot of fun and we’re really excited for the next game,” said Edwards.

Wisconsin will face Ohio State on Sunday, March 23 at 3 pm central in the national championship game. The teams have met in the title game each of the last two season, with Wisconsin winning 1-0 in 2023 and Ohio State taking a 1-0 victory last season. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and stream on ESPN+.

Johnson praised his team, who still has just one loss this season – to the very Ohio State team they’ll face in the title game.

“They’ve earned everything that has been thrown their way. They’ve been consistent. They’ve played well all year and we’ve always had this bull’s eye, especially this year, right in front of us and everybody comes after us, and it’s challenging. It’s difficult, so I give them a lot of credit,” he said.

“We’ve had different players at different times step up and make a play […] I’m really proud of the way they’ve been able to be consistent all year long and they deserve to be in this championship game, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”

 

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