Michigan Blanks MSU in Opener, 3-0

Michigan held on to its No. 1 ranking with a 3-0 win in Big Ten play last night at third-ranked Michigan State. It was the Wolverines' first shutout of MSU at Munn Ice Arena since February 2000.

Malcolm Spence scored just over five minutes into the contest to give Michigan a 1-0 lead, before Aidan Park and Jayden Perron closed out the scoring in the third period. Jack Ivankovic made 23 saves for the Wolverines (16-3-0 overall, 7-2-0 Big Ten), who have won five straight games, while Trey Augustine finished with 24 stops for the host Spartans (11-4-0, 4-3-0).

The two archrivals will close out their home-and-home series tonight at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor (7 p.m. ET, BIG+).

ADDENDUM: Anthony Romani scored in both the second and third periods, including the game-winning goal, and Trey Augustine made 30 saves as MSU rebounded for a 3-1 win in the rematch at Michigan. The Spartans scored the final three goals of the game, and outshot the Wolverines, 33-31, on the night. The two schools will meet again on Feb. 6 in Ann Arbor, and then again on Feb. 7 in Detroit.

Minnesota Outlasts Ohio State, 6-3

Brodie Ziemer scored two goals, including the game's lone power-play tally, and Brody Lamb notched a goal and an assist as Minnesota defeated host Ohio State, 6-3, last night in the lone NCAA Division I men's hockey game on the schedule.

Following a scoreless opening period at Value City Arena, Minnesota held a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. After Max Montes tied the game for OSU early in the final frame, Lamb scored less than two minutes later to put the visiting Golden Gophers ahead for good. Minnesota then added two empty-net goals in the final two minutes for the final margin.

Michigan State transfer Luca Di Pasquo made 32 saves in net for Minnesota (8-9-1 overall, 4-3-0 Big Ten), while Kristoffer Eberly stopped 22 shots for the Buckeyes (5-10-0, 1-6-0), who have lost six straight contests. The two teams close out their two-game Big Ten series tonight in Columbus (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN).

ADDENDUM: Jake Karabela's goal just over a minute into overtime broke OSU's losing streak and lifted the Buckeyes to a 6-5 victory over the Golden Gophers on Friday. Karabela also assisted on Adam Eisele's tying goal midway through the third period that forced the extra session. Eberly stopped 14 shots on the evening for OSU, while Nathan Airey finished with 32 saves for Minnesota. The Buckeyes also finished 2-for-3 on the power play, and won 41 of 59 total faceoffs.

 

Alaska Blanks St. Lawrence in Lake Placid

Alaska Fairbanks won its first game since Oct. 18 with a 2-0 victory over St. Lawrence yesterday in the semifinal round of the 2025 Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, N.Y.

William Fleet and Michael Citara provided all the offense needed for the Nanooks (3-8-1 overall) with second-period goals, while Lassi Lehti made 19 saves for his first shutout of the season and the third of his UAF career. Colin Winn recorded 23 stops for the Saints (2-12-1) as SLU lost its sixth straight contest.

Alaska will play for the tournament title tonight against Clarkson, a 2-0 winner over UMass Lowell in the other semifinal, at Herb Brooks Arena.

ADDENDUM: The Nanooks claimed the Adirondack Winter Invitational championship with a 3-2 triumph over Clarkson in the title contest. Lehti finished with 21 saves in net, while Citara scored UAF's first two goals and Rylen Roersma tallied the game-winner late in the third period. UMass Lowell took third place by beating St. Lawrence, 7-2.

Hockey Thanksgiving 2025

 

USA Tops CHL in First Round of Prospects Challenge

University of Notre Dame commit Sammy Nelson scored one goal and set up another as the USA National Team Development Program defeated Team Canadian Hockey League, 4-2, on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary in the first round of the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. It was the first time the NTDP had defeated the CHL head-to-head in this, the second edition of the tournament 

Boston University commit Brady Knowling made 42 saves in net for the NTDP to earn First Star of the Game accolades. The U.S. also killed off all five CHL power plays on the night. The two squads will complete their two-game series tonight at VisitLethbridge.com Arena, home of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, in Alberta (8 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

ADDENDUM: The CHL rebounded from a two-goal deficit to win Game Two by a 4-3 score, but Minnesota-Duluth commit Victor Plante scored just under six minutes into 3-on-3, sudden-death "super overtime" to lift the NTDP to the series victory. 

Michigan Takes Over No. 1 National Spot

Michigan took over the top spot in the USCHO.com NCAA Men's Division I hockey poll this week. 

The Wolverines garnered 42 out of a possible 50 first-place votes to move up from No. 2, after sweeping Ohio State over the weekend. Michigan (13-3-0 overall, 6-2-0 Big Ten) has also scored 83 goals over 16 games, and is averaging a nation-high 5.19 goals per outing.

Former No. 1 Michigan State, which had held the top spot the previous five weeks, dropped to third place after being swept by Wisconsin, which itself ascended from No. 7 to No. 2.

Rounding out the top ten were Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, Western Michigan, Quinnipiac, Penn State and Maine.

Princeton Edges Clarkson, 4-3

Princeton University extended its home winning streak this season to five games with a 4-3 triumph over conference rival Clarkson University last night at Hobey Baker Rink. Tigers junior forward Kai Daniells notched the game-winning goal in the third period, his second straight game-winner and sixth goal of the weekend, to complete Princeton's comeback from a two-goal first-period deficit.

"We've got to make our own breaks," said Princeton head coach Ben Syer afterwards, "to compete and believe in ourselves and do it together."

Owen van Steensel (power-play) and Luke Pakulak scored 48 seconds apart to open the scoring for Clarkson midway through the opening period. Luc Pelletier then scored on a breakaway midway through the second stanza for the Tigers, shortly after he burst out of the penalty box after serving two minutes for tripping.

"That goal gave us a little bit of life, hope, whatever you want to call it," said Syer.

Kevin Anderson tied the contest early in the final frame, before Julian Fachinelli gave Princeton its first lead just under four minutes later. 

"We knew if we stuck to our game, we were too good not to break through," said Daniells post-game. "When we stick to our structure and play our game, we're as good as anyone in the conference."

Daniells then made it 4-2 with less than three minutes left, wristing a shot home from the high slot after skating right to left.

"He has skill," said Syer of Daniells. "When he plays hard, he's a different player, and he earned his goals this weekend. He didn't cheat the game, and he set the tone for the entire team."

Remi Gelinas tallied an extra attacker goal in the final minute to pull Clarkson within one, but Daniells won a faceoff with 1.6 seconds left in Princeton's defensive zone to seal the victory.

"I'm proud of them," said Syer about his team. "They competed and didn't quit. They stayed with it."

Conor Callaghan made 23 saves for the Tigers, and also added an assist on Pelletier's goal. 

"He was good," said Syer of Callaghan, who has started the last five games in net for the Tigers. "He made some timely saves, and he was real good for us."

Shane Soderwall, the 2024-25 NCAA Division III Player of the year at Curry College, stopped 24 shots for the Golden Knights, wo have lost their last five games overall, three of them by two goals or less. 

Princeton outshot Clarkson, 28-26, while the two schools went a combined 1-for-7 on the power play. The Tigers and Golden Knights will meet again on Jan. 30 in Potsdam, N.Y. to complete their season series.

Princeton (5-2-0 overall, 2-2-0 ECAC Hockey) steps out of conference play next weekend for two games at CCHA opponent Bowling Green. Clarkson (4-10-0, 1-5-0) will take part in the Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, N.Y., along with Alaska Fairbanks, St. Lawrence and UMass Lowell. 

"It's going to be exciting, " said Daniels, who added that he has friends on this year's Bowling Green squad. "It's some school time off, to get out and play some hockey."

Daniells Scores Five in Princeton Win

Kai Daniells had two goals on the season entering Princeton's game on Friday evening against ECAC Hockey rival St. Lawrence at Hobey Baker Rink. He left with seven.

Daniells, a junior forward from Whistler, B.C., scored five goals to lift the Tigers over the visiting Saints, 7-4. He tallied Princeton's second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh goals, two in the second period and three in the third. His goal with just over three minutes remining in regulation stood up as the game-winner, while his final goal was scored into an empty net in the final minute of play. Tyler Cristall notched two goals on the night for the Saints who lost their fourth straight conference contest.

According to College Hockey News, Daniells is the first NCAA Division I men's hockey player to score five goals in one game since Minnesota Duluth's Mike Connolly did so back on Feb. 5, 2011 in a 6-4 win over Minnesota. UMD went on to win the national title that season. Daniells is also the first Tiger to score five goals in one night since John Cook scored five against Northeastern on Nov. 30, 1962, according to Princeton's athletic web site. 

The Tigers (4-2-0 overall, 1-2-0 ECAC Hockey), who have won four consecutive home games to start the 2025-26 campaign, will now host Clarkson on Saturday evening, while SLU (2-10-2, 1-4-0) will visit Quinnipiac.

Princeton Outlasts Stonehill, 3-2

Luc Pelletier's late second-period goal stood up as the game-winner as Princeton edged independent Stonehill, 3-2, last night at Hobey Baker Rink. It was the first-ever meeting in NCAA Division I men's hockey between the host Tigers, who improved to 3-2-0 overall and 3-0-0 at home, and the visiting Skyhawks, who fell to 1-11-0.

Julian Facchinelli staked Princeton to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period with his first career collegiate goal, but Anthony Galante responded just 24 seconds later for Stonehill. Brendan Gorman put the Tigers up again early in the second stanza, with Pelletier scoring from the right circle later in the period to make it 3-1. Joseph Grainda pulled the Skyhawks within a goal early in the final frame, but couldn't get the equalizer as time ran out with Stonehill goaltender Connor Androlewicz (32 saves) off for an extra attacker.

Conor Callaghan stopped 27 shots for the Tigers, who outshot Stonehill, 35-29. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play. 

Stonehill returns to action on Tuesday at home against fellow independent Alaska Anchorage, while Princeton will host ECAC Hockey rivals St. Lawrence and Clarkson next weekend. 

BC Women Drop BU, 5-2, in Opener

Sage Babey scored one goal and set up two others as Boston College topped visiting Boston University, 5-2, tonight in NCAA women's hockey action, in the first game of a home-and-home series.

After BU (2-9-0 overall, 2-4-0 Hockey East) tied the contest at two on a late second-period power-play goal by Lola Reid, BC (6-6-1, 5-2-1) ripped off three unanswered goals over the final 20 minutes for the win at Conte Forum. Grace Campbell stopped 43 shots for the victorious Eagles, while Michelle Pasiechnyk posted 18 stops for the Terriers as BU outshot BC, 45-23.

The two MBTA Green Line adversaries will renew their rivalry Friday night at BU's Agganis Arena.

MSU Hockey Tops Both Polls Again

Michigan State University remained atop the major NCAA Division I men's hockey polls for a fourth straight week. The Spartans earned all 50 first-place votes in this week's USCHO.com poll, and also again topped the USA Hockey poll while garnering all 34 of those first-place ballots.

No. 1 MSU is coming off a two-step sweep of visiting Big Ten rival Penn State over the weekend, winning by 2-1 and 5-0 scores at Munn Ice Arena. Tiernan Shoudy notched the game-winning goal in overtime in the opener, before Charlie Stramel scored two goals and set up two others in the clincher. Spartan netminder Trey Augustine stopped 60 out of 61 shots against on the weekend, including 36 saves for the shutout in the second contest.

MSU (7-1-0 overall, 2-0-0 Big Ten) returns to conference action on Nov. 14-15 with two games at Notre Dame.

Yale Defeats Quinnipiac in Home Opener

Yale University broke a seven-year, 17-game losing streak to its local rival last night, with a 4-2 win over  No. 5 Quinnipiac at venerable Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Conn. The Bulldogs rebounded from a two-goal deficit with four unanswered goals, including the game-winner from captain David Chen with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, to claim their 2025-26 home opener. It was also the ECAC Hockey conference opener for both schools.

After Antonin Verreault  and Charlie Leddy staked the visiting Bobcats to a 2-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the contest, David Andreychuk got the Bulldogs on the board just over three minutes later with his first career collegiate goal. Yale then tied the contest at two apiece on James Shannon's first-ever NCAA goal late in the second stanza.

Chen stole the puck deep in the Quinnipiac zone and scored on a backhand in tight to put Yale up, 3-2, for the first time late in the final frame, before Ronan O'Donnell closed out the scoring on an empty-net tally in the final minute of play. Noah Pak made 25 saves for the Bulldogs (1-1-0 overall, 1-0-0 ECACH) in victory, while Dylan Silverstein had 19 stops for the Bobcats (5-3-2-) in defeat. Quinnipiac outshot Yale, 27-23, and also won 37 out of 56 faceoffs, while the two teams combined to go 0-for-8 on the power play.

The win was Yale's first over Quinnipiac since a 3-2 triumph on Feb. 9, 2018, also at Ingalls Rink. Last night's victory was also the first ever for first-year Yale head coach Joe Howe.

Alaska Ties at Quinnipiac

Alaska (Fairbanks) snapped a four-game losing streak and completed a five-game road trip with a 2-2 tie at No. 5 Quinnipiac on Tuesday night at the M&T Bank Arena in Hamden, Conn. The visiting Nanooks then outscored the home team in the ensuing shootout, three to two, although the result will be officially recorded as a tie for NCAA purposes.

Chris Pelosi opened the scoring for the host Bobcats with a first-period power-play goal. Misha Danylov then tied matters for the Nanooks halfway through the third period, before Ethan Wyttenbach scored just under four minutes later for Quinnipiac. Alaska then knotted the contest again with less than two minutes remaining in regulation on a power-play tally by Peyton Platter, with the primary assist going to Michael Citara. It was the Nanooks' fourth power-play goal in two games, and Citara's fourth assist in that same span.

Lassi Lehti finished with 39 saves in net for the Nanooks, while Matej Marinov made 14 stops for the Bobcats, as Quinnipiac outshot Alaska, 41-16. The Bobcats also won 34 of 57 total face-offs.

Alaska (2-8-1 overall) returns home to face Simon Fraser in an exhibition contest on Saturday, while Quinnipiac (5-2-2) will enter ECAC Hockey conference play on the road at Harvard and Brown this weekend.

Princeton Sweeps Visting Alaska Fairbanks

Princeton University men's hockey started off its 2025-26 campaign with a two-step sweep of visiting NCAA independent Alaska Fairbanks at Hobey Baker Memorial Rink this weekend. The Tigers recorded a 5-2 victory on Halloween night, and followed that up the next night by outlasting the Nanooks, 6-3. It was the first meetings between the two schools since 1985, when Alaska won two games in Fairbanks. This weekend's sweep was Princeton's first to start a season at home since 1955-56.

On Friday, Jaxon Ezman scored back-to-back goals early in the third period to break open the game for the Tigers, who also got a goal and 10 faceoff wins from Kai Daniells. Arthur Smith made 20 saves in net for host Princeton, while Lassi Lehti made 29 stops for the Nanooks, who were outshot, 34-22. 

Saturday's game was tied at one entering the final 20 minutes, before the two sides combined for seven goals. Princeton broke open a 3-3 contest with two goals 10 seconds apart in the final four minutes of play, with Jake Manfre scoring twice in that span, including the game-winning goal and an empty-net tally. Smith finished the night with 26 saves, while Brendan Gorman scored two goals and set up another for the Tigers, who also got three points from Ezman. Freshman goaltender Calvin Vachon finished with 31 saves for Alaska, while Nanook captain Chase Dafoe scored two power-play goals and Michael Citara posted three assists. Alaska, despite scoring three power-play goals in four attempts in the rematch, fell to 2-8-0 overall, while Princeton improved to 2-0-0.

Alaska finishes up a five-game road trip on Tuesday at Quinnipiac, while Princeton will visit Ivy League rivals Brown and Yale next weekend to begin ECAC Hockey conference play. 

 

Happy Halloween 2025

MSU Remains First in Men's Hockey

Michigan State remained in the top spot in the USCHO.com poll for NCAA Division I men's hockey for the second straight week.

The Spartans received 45 out of 50 first-place votes this week after sweeping host Northern Michigan last weekend. Rounding out the top five spots in the poll were Michigan, Western Michigan, Penn State and Boston University.

MSU is now 5-1-0 overall on the 2025-26 season, and returns to action next weekend (Nov. 7-8) with two conference home games at Munn Ice Arena against Big Ten opponent Penn State.

BC, BU Team Up to Boost Sharks to First Win

BC and BU teamed up to beat New York City.

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) scored three goals and set up two others, and Will Smith tallied two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as the San Jose Sharks defeated the host New York Rangers, 6-5, tonight at Madison Square Garden. It was the first victory of the 2025-26 NHL campaign for the Sharks (1-4-2), who also got two assists from Smith, plus a goal from Adam Gaudette (Northeastern).

Adam Fox (Harvard) and Conor Sheary (UMass) had one assist apiece for the Rangers (3-4-2), who are now 0-4-1 at home so far this season.

Spartans Sweep No. 1 BU on the Road

There will be a new No. 1 team in NCAA Division I men's college hockey next week. Michigan State University saw to that. 

The third-ranked Spartans knocked No. 1 Boston University from its pedestal following a two-step sweep this weekend at Agganis Arena in Boston.

On Friday, MSU (3-1-0 overall) got goals from four different players, and 18 saves from Trey Augustine, en route to a 4-2 victory, MSU's first win at BU since the 1950s. Gavin O'Connell and Matt Basgall also set up two goals apiece for the visiting Spartans. Mikhail Yegorov made 30 stops for the host Terriers. 

On Saturday, BU (2-2-1) scored three times in the third period to tie the contest, but Basgall connected just under four minutes into overtime to lift MSU to a 4-3 win, its third straight triumph overall. Augustine made 31 saves for the Spartans, who also got a goal and an assist from Porter Marone, while Yegorov made 30 stops for BU.

MSU plays another non-conference series next weekend at Northern Michigan before opening its Big Ten slate, while BU will enter Hockey East play with a home-and-home series against UConn.

Devils Top Oilers, 5-3, in Matinee

The New Jersey Devils continued their early-season roll by besting the Edmonton Oilers, 5-3, today in an NHL matinee at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Brett Pesce (New Hampshire) assisted on the Devils' game-opening goal in the second period, while Jack Roslovic (Miami) had an assist for the Oilers on their first goal, after the Devils had taken a 2-1 lead. Luke Glendening (Michigan) notched four hits in all and also helped set up New Jersey's third goal, which came shorthanded. 

New Jersey outshot Edmonton, 30-23, on the afternoon, while the Oilers won 29 out of 50 faceoffs overall. The two teams will finish their two-game season series on Jan. 20 in Alberta.

Michigan State, Penn State Bounce Back

Two top Big Ten teams bounced back from Thursday losses with NCAA non-conference victories on Friday.

No. 2 Michigan State, which fell to New Hampshire by a 4-3 count on a late goal Friday, rebounded for a 2-0 win the next night at Munn Arena. Matt Basgall and Patrick Geary scored for the Spartans, with both goals set up by Charlie Stramel, while Trey Augustine made 13 saves for MSU (1-1-0 overall).

No. 4 Penn State fell to visiting Clarkson, 6-4, on Friday despite getting four goals from JJ Wiebusch. The Nittany Lions (3-1-0) came back the following evening for a 5-2 triumph, as Ben Schoen scored twice and Joshua Fleming made 21 stops at Pegula Ice Arena.

MSU is off to No. 3 Boston University for two games next weekend, while PSU will host LIU for a pair of games.

BC Men's Hockey Tops Minnesota, 3-1

Boston College men's hockey has broken into the victory column for 2025-26. One week after dropping their season opener to visiting Quinnipiac, the 11th-ranked Eagles won on Thursday at No. 12 Minnesota, 3-1.

Will Vote staked BC to a 1-0 lead, and after Minnesota's Brody Lamb tied it in later in the first period, the Eagles got the game-winner from Will Moore in the second stanza and an empty-net insurance tally from Drew Fortescue late in the final frame.

BC freshman goaltender Louka Cloutier made 18 stops in his first career NCAA start for the win, while Nathan Airey had 31 stops for the Golden Gophers (1-2-0 overall), who were outshot, 34-19, by the Eagles (1-1-0). It was BC's first triumph over Minnesota since a 6-1 win in a national semifinal in Tampa in 2012, the last time the Eagles won the NCAA title. 

The two schools will complete their two-game series on Friday at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis.

Penn State Sweeps ASU to Start 2025-26 Season

Penn State men's hockey is off to a good start. The Nittany Lions, who made their first-ever NCAA Frozen Four last spring, opened their 2025-26 campaign with a two-step sweep at Arizona State, winning 6-2 on Friday before rebounding for a 4-2 victory on Sunday at Mullett Arena.

Sophomore forward Charlie Cerrato finished with two goals and four assists for PSU (2-0-0 overall), with five of those points coming on Friday. Projected No. 1 overall 2026 NHL draft choice Gavin McKenna fired home the game-winning goal Saturday on the power play, after providing a two-assist collegiate debut the night before. Kevin Reidler, in his first season with the Nittany Lions after spending his freshman campaign at Omaha, stopped 80 of 85 shots over the weekend, making 45 stops on Saturday as PSU rebounded from a 2-0 second-period deficit.

Bennett Schimek and Samuel Alfano posted a goal and an assist apiece for the Sun Devils (0-2-0), who also got 82 saves overall from Bentley transfer Connor Hasley.

WMU Tops 2025-26 Preseason Polls

Defending national champion Western Michigan University tops the 2025-26 preseason NCAA Division I men's hockey polls at both USCHO.com and collegehockeynews.com. 

USCHO's top ten is rounded out by Boston University, Michigan State, Denver, Penn State, Boston College, Maine, Minnesota, Providence and UConn, all of whom made the NCAA tournament last spring. As for CHN, it's top 10 behind WMU is comprised of Michigan State, BU, Penn State, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, Quinnipiac, Denver and Arizona State.

WMU, which is seeking to become the first repeat NCAA Division I men's hockey national champion since Minnesota-Duluth did so in 2018 and 2019, officially opens its 2025-26 slate on Oct. 9-10 with a home-and-home series against in-state rival Ferris State.

Mark Bavis: 24 Years Later

 

Almost a quarter-century since my friend Mark Bavis was lost on 9/11. He skated for Boston University and was a scout for the NHL's Los Angeles Kings at the time of his passing on United 175. Still hard to believe all this time later. Rest in peace, Mark.

Ken Dryden 1947-2025

One of the greatest goaltenders in the history of hockey, Ken Dryden (Cornell), passed away late last week at the age of 78 following a longtime bout with cancer. He was a six-time Stanley Cup champion, a Hockey Hall of Famer, and an author, attorney, executive, and politician following his playing days.

A 1967 graduate of Cornell University, he fashioned a 76-4-1 career record with the Big Red to go with 13 shutouts, a 1.59 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. A three-time First All-America selection, he still holds the program record for career victories. He also backstopped Cornell to the 1967 NCAA title and three ECAC tournament crowns, and since 1996 the Ken Dryden Award has been awarded to the best goaltender in ECAC Hockey as voted by the league's coaches.

Following his scholastic career, Dryden played eight years in the National Hockey League, all with the Montreal Canadiens. He led them to six Stanley Cup championships in that time, including four straight titles from 1976 to 1979.  

In 397 career regular-season NHL appearances, Dryden complied a 258-57-74 record with a 2.24 GAA, .922 save percentage, and 46 shutouts, winning both the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year and the Hart Trophy as Player of the Year in 1972. He also earned five Vezina trophies as the top NHL goaltender in the regular season in his tenure. 

In postseason play, he finished 80-32 in 112 Stanley Cup playoff contests (2.41, .915, 10 ShO), and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL playoff MVP in 1971 as rookie. He played briefly for the Montréal Voyageurs (AHL) prior to joining the Canadiens, and also represented Canada at the 1969 World Championship and the 1972 Summit Series, before retiring in 1979. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, and his No. 1 sweater at Cornell and No. 29 with Montreal have both been retired.

During his playing career, Dryden, who hailed from Hamilton, Ont., earned his law degree from McGill University, before later serving in Canadian government as a parliamentarian. He was also president of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2003, and a published author whose best-known work was his best-selling 1983 treatise on hockey, "The Game." He also advocated for the prevention of concussions, and was the color commentator on ABC-TV in 1980 for "The Miracle on Ice" game in Lake Placid.

Dryden was predeceased by his older brother, Dave, who also served as an NHL goaltender with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers.

Three Chosen for U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Three former NCAA players have been chosen as part of the Class of 2025 for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Tara Mounsey (Brown), Zach Parise (North Dakota) and Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) will all be inducted into the hall in Eveleth, Minn. on Dec. 10. 

Mounsey, a member of the 1998 United States national team that won the first-ever gold medal in Olympic women's hockey, patrolled the blueline at Brown University from 1996 to 2000, notching 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in her third and final collegiate campaign, and tallied 48-22—70 points overall in her college career. A three-time All-Ivy First Time selection, and a two-time All-America and First Team All-ECAC choice, she also helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and two silvers at the IIHF Women's World Championship. Brown's Best Defensive Player Award, which she co-earned in 2000, has been renamed for her. Mounsey also played two years of field hockey at Brown, where she finished as the program’s all-time leader with 36 goals and 87 points.

Parise collected 434-455—889 points in 19 National Hockey League campaigns as a forward with New Jersey, Minnesota the New York Islanders and Colorado. He also collected 39-44—83 points in 122 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, and helped New Jersey, which drafted him 17th overall in 2003, to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. In two years at the University of North Dakota, he registered 49-67—116 points in 76 NCAA outings and was a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, plus a First Team All-America selection as a sophomore. He also represented the U.S. on numerous international occasions, earning gold at the 2002 IIHF U-18 Under World Junior Championship and the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship, and silver at the 2010 Olympics.   

Pavelski tallied 476 goals and 592 assists for 1,068 points over 18 NHL seasons at forward with San Jose and Dallas. He also added 74-69—143 points in 201 Stanley Cup Playoff outings, establishing a postseason record for the most career goals scored by an American, while also playing in two Stanley Cup Finals. Drafted in the 7th round (205th overall) by San Jose in 2004, he skated two NCAA seasons with the University of Wisconsin, recording 39-62—101 points overall in 84 contests while leading the Badgers to the 2006 national title. In international play, he skated in two Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal with the U.S. in 2010, while serving as captain of Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Penn State to Host Outdoor Games in January

Outdoor hockey is coming to Hockey Valley early next year.

NCAA hockey will move outside for a doubleheader on Jan. 31, 2026 at historic Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. The Penn State University men's team will entertain Big Ten rival Michigan State, while the Nittany Lions women's team will face Atlantic Hockey America opponent Robert Morris. Game times will be announced at a future date.

The PSU men's team went 22-14-4 overall last season, won the Allentown regional, and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Frozen Four. The PSU women went 31-6-1 last year, claimed their third straight AHA title, and also made the NCAAs for the third consecutive campaign.

Ivy League Ups Hockey Limit to 30 Games

The Ivy League last week announced that its member ice hockey schools (Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Yale) will be allowed to play 30 games starting this season, up from 29 games. 

According to collegehockeynews.com, the NCAA limit for non-Ivy schools will remain at 34 games. Those allowable numbers, for all schools, do not include exemptions such as for games played in Alaska, or contests such as the NCAA tournament.

All six hockey-playing Ivy League schools, on both the men's and women's sides, play predominantly in ECAC Hockey.  

Allain Retires as Yale Men's Coach

Keith Allain (Yale) is stepping down as head coach of his alma mater, retiring after 18 seasons of guiding the Bulldogs. 

Allain, 66, oversaw the Yale men's hockey team from 2006 to 2025, and compiled an overall record of 282-254-54 (.524). In that time, he led the Bulldogs to nine winning seasons, six NCAA tournament berths, four years of 20 or more wins, and the 2013 national championship. His teams also claimed two ECAC Hockey regular-season titles and two ECAC Hockey tournament championships in his tenure, and he earned the Tim Taylor Award in 2008-09 as ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year.

A native of Worcester, Mass., Allain served as an assistant coach with Yale in 1984-85 before moving on to the professional ranks. He served as an assistant with the NHL's Washington Capitals from 1993 to 1997, then later served as goalie coach with the St. Louis Blues and with Worcester (AHL). He also worked as an assistant coach for the United States at multiple Olympic Winter Games and World Cups of Hockey, and is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

A 1980 graduate of Yale, Allain tended goal for the Bulldogs for four seasons, and still ranks among the school's leaders in career saves (2,337) and single-game saves (55). Yale assistant coach Joe Howe (Colorado College) will now succeed Allain as interim head coach for the 2025-26 campaign.

Big Ten Changes Playoff Format

The Big Ten conference announced last week that it has altered its postseason format for men's ice hockey, starting with the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

According to USCHO.com, the Big Ten will now ice a two-week, single elimination playoff championship, as opposed to the three-week affair that began with a best-of-three first round of the past few years. The top seed in this year's tournament will receive a bye for the first round, while the No. 2, 3, and 4 seeds will host the No. 4, 6 and 7 seeds, respectively, on March 11. 

Semifinals for the four remaining schools will take place on March 14 at the home arena of the higher seeds. The title game is slated for the following weekend (March 20-22) at the site of the highest remaining seed.

Michigan State has won the last two Big Ten championships, and along with them earned the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

2025 NCAA Coaching Carousel Continues

There are a number of new assistant coaches in new places for the upcoming 2025-26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey campaign, with transactions having taken place since the Frozen Four in St. Louis in April:

Coach (Alma Mater) New School         Last Team

Chris Brown (Wisc. River Falls) Cornell            Alaska

Cam Clarke (Ferris State) Cornell            Norwich 

Matt Curley (Clarkson) Alaska             Des Moines (USHL)

Rick Bennett (Providence) Maine              Quinnipiac

Shane Madolora (RIT) RIT                Vermont 

Andrew Magera (Penn State) Lindenwood         Bemidji State 

Josh Mitchell (RIT) RIT                Waterloo (USHL)

Jordy Murray (Wisconsin) Colorado College   Michigan Tech

Andrew Ogilvie (Notre Dame) Notre Dame         Colorado College 

Paul Pooley (Ohio State) Colorado College   Notre Dame

L.J. Scarpace (Michigan) Michigan Tech      Detroit(NHL)

Marco Treviño     Robert Morris      Tri-City (USHL)

Coaches listed by last name, not date of hire. Moves made at same school not included.

Also, Lindenwood hired Keith Fisher, former longtime Penn State assistant coach, as its new head coach.

Wisconsin's Thomas Passes at 77

Former NCAA and NHL netminder Wayne Thomas (Wisconsin) passed away earlier this week at the age of 77. The Ottawa native was the first University of Wisconsin player to skate in the National Hockey League, and the first former Badger to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Thomas backstopped the Badgers for two seasons, compiling a 23-13-1 record with a 2.84 goals-against average and three shutouts over 38 games from 1968 to 1970. He also helped Wisconsin to the 1970 NCAA semifinals, where it finished in third place, while personally earning WCHA Second Team All-Star status that season. 

Undrafted, Thomas went on to play in 243 career NHL regular-season games with Montreal, Toronto and the New York Rangers, fashioning a 103-93-34 record with a 3.34 GAA and 10 shutouts. He also appeared in 85 career regular-season outings in the American Hockey League, winning a Calder Cup championship with Nova Scotia in 1972, before winning the Stanley Cup the following year with Montreal. 

Thomas, who retired as an active player following the 1980-81 NHL season, went on to work one year as a goalie coach and then three years as an assistant coach with the Rangers. He then served two seasons as head coach of the International Hockey League's Salt Lake Golden Eagles, leading them to the 1987 Turner Cup title while also earning IHL Coach of the Year accolades that season. After one year as an assistant with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, he spent two years as head coach of Peoria (IHL) before serving the next six seasons as an NHL assistant, three with the St. Louis Blues and three with the San Jose Sharks.

Thomas moved into the front office with the San Jose organization in 1995-96, where he remained until his retirement in 2014-15. In that span he served as assistant general manager and vice-president of hockey operations with the Sharks, and as GM in the AHL with Kentucky, Cleveland and Worcester.

Michigan State's Howard Jumps to NHL

Reigning Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Isaac Howard won't be returning to Michigan State University for his final collegiate season. 

Howard, 21, who led the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles the last two years, has signed with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers after his rights were traded to the two-time Western Conference champions by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had drafted him 31st overall in 2022.

A native of Hudson, Wisc., Howard led MSU in scoring as a junior last season with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games, and then claimed the Hobey Baker Award. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound left wing, he had earlier been named as the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year, and went on to help Team USA to its first gold medal at the IIHF Men's World Championship since 1933. 

A product of the U.S. National Development Team Program, Howard collected 34-54—88 points in 73 career games over two years with MSU, helping the Green and White to two NCAA tournaments, after transferring from Minnesota-Duluth. He is the third Spartan to ever win the Hobey Baker Award, following center Kip Miller (1990) and goaltender Ryan Miller (2001).

CHL's McKenna to Play at Penn State

The best player in the Canadian Hockey League will be playing in the NCAA this upcoming season.

Gavin McKenna, who led the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Western Hockey league playoff title and an appearance in the 2025 Memorial Cup final, will skate at Penn State University for the 2025-26 campaign. The six-foot center from Whitehorse, Yukon tallied 41 goals and 88 assists for 129 points in just 56 games this past season, and was named the CHL Player of the Year. In three years with the Tigers, he posted 79-165—244 points in 133 career WHL regular-season outings, plus 12-33—45 points in 25 postseason appearances. He also helped Team Canada to gold medals at both the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

McKenna, 17, who is projected to be selected first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, is the highest-profile signing to date since the NCAA allowed CHL/major junior players to be eligible to play American college hockey late last year. 

Penn State, which finished 22-14-4 overall last season (9-11-4 Big Ten Conference), is also coming off the first NCAA Frozen Four appearance in the school's varsity history.

BC's Hagens Taken Seventh Overall in NHL Draft

Five players who skated in the NCAA last season were chosen last night in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

James Hagens (Boston College) went seventh overall to the Boston Bruins.  A 5-foot-11 center from Hauppauge, N.Y. Hagens tallied 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points in 37 games as a freshman last season in helping the Eagles to the 2024-25 Hockey East regular-season championship. He also scored a game-winning goal against Bentley in the NCAA tournament, as BC ultimately finished one win short of making a second straight Frozen Four.

Logan Hensler (Wisconsin) was taken 23rd overall by the Ottawa Senators. A 6-foot-2 defenseman from Woodbury, Minn., Hensler collected 2-10—12 points in 32 games last season with the Badgers.

Will Horcoff (Michigan) was tabbed at 24th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. A 6-foot-4 center from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the son of former Michigan State and NHL player Shawn Horcoff, he recorded 4-6—10 points in 18 appearances last season with the Wolverines.

Sascha Boumedienne (Boston University) was picked 28th overall by the Winnipeg Jets. A 6-foot-1 defenseman from Stockholm, Boumedienne registered 3-10—13 points in 40 outings in helping the Terriers to their third straight Frozen Four and first NCAA title game since 2009.

Cullen Potter (Arizona State) was chosen by the Calgary Flames with the 32nd and final selection of the first round. A 5-foot-10 center from Hortonville, Wisc., and the son of four-time U.S. Olympian and former Minnesota-Duluth skater Jenny Potter, and former Minnesota forward Rob Potter, he registered 13-9—22 points 35 contests last season with the Sun Devils.

The draft concludes on Saturday with Rounds 2-7.

ADDENDUM: The full list of college-related players drafted on both days can be found here.

Kessel Named Princeton Women's Hockey Coach

Courtney Kessel (New Hampshire) has been selected as the new women's ice hockey head coach at Princeton University. She succeeds Cara Gardner Morey, who resigned in May to take over as general manager of the expansion PWHL Vancouver club, after eight years at the helm of the Tigers.

Kessel, 35, who served as an assistant coach at Princeton from 2019 to 2023, spent the last two seasons as head coach of the PWHL's Boston Fleet. Prior to Princeton, where she helped the Tigers to the 2019-20 ECAC Hockey regular-season title, she helmed the Toronto Furies (CWHL) and the Ontario Selects U14 in 2018-19. She also helped guide Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship as an assistant coach.

A native of Etobicoke, Ont., Kessel skated four years at UNH from 2007 to 2010, and served as team captain as a senior. She tallied 31 goals and 42 assists for 73 points in 111 career NCAA games at forward/defense with the Wildcats, before going on to play professionally with the Brampton Thunder of the CWHL from 2011 to 2017. She finished her playing career with one season in Europe, and also participated in three World Championships with Canada, winning two silver medals and one gold medal.

Four NCAA Alumni Named to Hockey Hall of Fame

Four of this year's eight inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, as announced yesterday, have NCAA ties.

• Jennifer Botterill (Harvard) - Tallied 340 points in four seasons with the Crimson and was a four-time First Team All-America Selection. Also earned gold medals in five World Championships and three Olympic Games with Team Canada.

• Brianna Decker (Wisconsin) - Notched 244 points in four campaigns with Badgers, earning All-America accolades twice while also helping Wisconsin to 2011 NCAA title. Six-time gold medalist at World Championships, while also collecting one gold and two silver Olympic medals with Team USA.

• Duncan Keith (Michigan State) - Played parts of two season with Spartans, then went on to win three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. Earned two Norris Trophies as NHL's best defenseman and the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup Playoff MVP. Played in four NHL All-Star Games, and also won two Olympic gold medals and a World Championship silver medal with Team Canada.

• Jack Parker (Boston University) - Legendary head coach and former BU forward spent 40 years at helm of his alma mater, winning 897 games overall and three NCAA championships with the Terriers. Also guided BU to four ECAC tournament titles and two ECAC regular-season crowns, before winning eight Hockey East regular-season championships and six Hockey East tournament titles, along with 21 Beanpot Tournament trophies. Three-time Spencer Penrose Award winner as the NCAA Coach of the Year.

The HHOF induction ceremony will be held in November.

30 Years Since Devils First Stanley Cup Title

The New Jersey Devils won their first-ever Stanley Cup 30 years ago today at the Meadowlands, completing a four-game sweep of the visiting Detroit Red Wings with a 5-2 victory. Former NCAA players on that NHL championship squad included (by last name): 

• Neal Broten (Minnesota)

• Danton Cole (Michigan State)

• Shawn Chambers (Alaska Fairbanks)

• Tom Chorske (Minnesota)

• Kevin Dean (New Hampshire)

• Jim Dowd (Lake Superior State)

• Bruce Driver (Wisconsin)

• Bill Guerin (Boston College)

• Randy McKay (Michigan Tech)

• Mike Peluso (Alaska Anchorage)

• Brian Rolston (Lake Superior State)

• Chris Terreri (Providence)

New Jersey also won the Stanley Cup again in 2000 and 2003, while also making the final in 2001 and 2012.

Abbotsford Wins First-Ever AHL Calder Cup

The Abbotsford Canucks are the 2024-25 champions of the American Hockey League.

The Canucks rebounded from a 2-0 first-period deficit tonight to score three unanswered goals and win the decisive Game Six of the 2025 Calder Cup Final by a 3-2 count at Charlotte. Abbotsford thus won the best-of-seven series, four games to two. It is the first overall league championship for Abbotsford, primary affiliate of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, who had previously earned this year's AHL Western Conference title.

John Leonard (Massachusetts) and Jack Devine (Denver) scored early for the Eastern Conference champion Checkers, who were seeking their first Calder Cup crown since 2019. Christian Wolanin (North Dakota) assisted on Abbottsford's first goal late in the opening session, before the Canucks connected twice in the second stanza to close out the scoring and claim the championship, despite being outshot, 30-20, on the evening.

Joining Wolanin as former NCAA skaters who lifted the Calder Cup with the Canucks this season were Phil Di Giuseppe (Michigan), Ty Glover (Western Michigan), Akito Hirose (Minnesota State), Jujhar Khaira (Michigan Tech), Victor Mancini (Omaha), Cole McWard (Ohio State), Ty Mueller (Omaha), Max Sasson (Western Michigan) and Nathan Smith (Minnesota State). 

Canucks Take Two-Game Lead in AHL Final

Kyle Criscuolo (Harvard) and Jack Devine (Denver) tallied third-period goals to bring the visiting Charlotte Checkers within one, but the Abbotsford Canucks held on for a 3-2 victory in Game Four of the 2025 Calder Cup Final. The Canucks now lead the best-of-seven series, three games to one.

Ty Mueller (Omaha) notched two assists for Abbotsford, including one on the game-winning goal. Christian Wolanin (North Dakota) also had an assist for the Canucks, while Devine and Eamon Powell (Boston College) set up goals for Charlotte.

Abbotsford can wrap up its first-ever AHL championship with a win in Game Five at home on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

ADDENDUM: Charlotte rebounded for a 4-3 win in overtime in Game Five to stay alive, while also cutting Abbotsford's series lead to three games to two. Game Six is Monday night in North Carolina (8 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

Panthers Win Second Straight Stanley Cup

For the second straight season, the Florida Panthers are NHL playoff champions.

The Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup tonight, defeating the visiting Edmonton Oilers by a 5-1 count. The Panthers won the best-of-seven series in six games, a year after besting Edmonton in seven contests in the 2024 final, with both clinching contests coming at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

This year's Panthers roster included several former NCAA players in A.J. Greer (Boston University), Evan Rodrigues (Boston University), Mackey Samoskevich (Michigan), Nate Schmidt (Minnesota) and Nico Sturm (Clarkson). 

Edmonton was seeking its first Stanley Cup since 1990, and the first by a Canadian-based NHL club since 1993. Florida, which entered the league in 1993-94, was skating in its third NHL final overall, having first played for the Cup in 1996.

DU's Benning Lifts Charlotte in OT

Mike Benning (Denver) scored from the left point in overtime on Sunday to lift the Charlotte Checkers to a 3-2 win over the visiting Abbotsford Canucks in Game Two of the 2025 Calder Cup Final. The AHL's championship series is now tied at one game apiece. John Leonard (Massachusetts) and Wilmer Skoog (Boston University) scored Charlotte's other goals.

Benning, 23, from St. Albert, Alberta, was a member of DU's 2022 NCAA championship team, and tallied 31 goals and 52 assists for 83 points in three seasons on defense with the Pioneers. He has spent the last two seasons with Charlotte, his first two campaigns as a pro, and has notched 4-4—8 points in 13 AHL playoff games so far this spring.

The next three games of this year's best-of-seven final are slated for the Abbotsford Centre in British Columbia, starting Tuesday night.

Happy Father's Day 2025

 

Trois-Rivières 2025 ECHL Champions

Exactly one week ago, the Trois-Rivières Lions finished their 2024-25 season with a title.

The Lions, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, completed a five-game triumph over the Toledo Walleye to earn their first-ever Kelly Cup as ECHL playoff kings with a 4-1 victory at home at the Colisée Vidéotron on June 7. Chris Jandric (North Dakota) tallied the game-winning goal in the deciding contest.

Trois-Rivières rebounded with four straight wins in the final, after Toledo took the opener in Ohio. The Lions, who began play in 2021-22, are the second Canadian team in league history to win the ECHL playoff title, following the now-defunct Newfoundland Growlers, who did the same in 2019.

Besides Jandric, who also played for Alaska Fairbanks in his college career, other former NCAA players on this year's Lions' playoff squad included Jakov Novak (Northeastern), Cory Thomas (Canisius) and Kirby Proctor (Omaha).

Oilers Tie Stanley Cup Final at Two

The Edmonton Oilers have made the best-of-seven 2025 Stanley Cup Final a best-of-three.

The visiting Oilers rebounded from a three-goal deficit after 20 minutes on Thursday to eventually take a 4-3 lead on a third-period goal by Jake Walman (Providence), before ultimately outlasting the Florida Panthers in overtime, 5-4. The Panthers had won the previous two games of the NHL's championship series, after the Oilers claimed the opener in OT.

Game Five is in Edmonton tomorrow night, while Game Six is slated for Florida on Tuesday evening.

ADDENDUM: Florida took Game Five by a 5-2 count, and can clinch its second straight Stanley Cup championship on Tuesday evening at home.

 

BC's Kreider Dealt to Ducks

Chris Kreider (Boston College) is finished playing for the New York Rangers. The veteran left wing waived his no-trade clause today, and has been dealt to the Anaheim Ducks after spending the last 12 full NHL seasons in Manhattan. New York received center Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round draft pick in return.

Kreider, 34, who was drafted 19th overall by the Rangers in 2009, has tallied 326 goals and 256 assists for 582 points in 883 career NHL regular-season games, all with the Rangers. He tallied a career-high 52 goals in 2021-22. He has also recorded 48-28—76 points in 123 Stanley Cup Playoff contests, and helped New York to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

A 6-foot-3, 230-pound native of Boxford, Mass., Kreider was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team and Hockey East Second Team selection in his three years at Boston College, where he helped the Eagles to both the 2010 and 2012 NCAA titles. He tallied 50-43—93 points in 114 career college games, and also recorded 10 power-play goals, 10 game-winning goals, and four short-handed goals with BC. 

In international play, he represented the U.S. at the 2010, 2011 and 2018 IIHF World Championships, and at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning gold at the 2010 WJC.

UMass' Makar Wins Second Norris Trophy

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (Massachusetts) is this year's recipient of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman.

It is the second Norris Trophy ever for Makar, 26, who recorded 30 goals and 62 assists for 92 points during the 2024-25 campaign, the second straight season he has reached the 90-point threshold in his NHL career. He had previously won the award in 2022. Colorado went 49-29-4 this year, but fell to Dallas in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In six NHL seasons to date, Makar has notched 116-312—428 points in 395 regular-season games, all with the Avalanche, who drafted him fourth overall in 2017 after two years of junior hockey with Brooks (AJHL). He has also registered 22-63—85 points in 79 career Stanley Cup playoff contests, and was a key member of Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup title team when he also claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy that spring as NHL playoff MVP.

Makar, who hails from Calgary, skated at UMass from 2017-19, notching 21-49—70 points in 75 total outings while helping the Minutemen to the 2019 NCAA championship game. In his second and final collegiate season, he won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the NCAA's top player, and was also a First Team All-America selection.

BU's Hutson wins Calder Trophy with Montreal

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (Boston University) has been named the recipient of the 2024-25 Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the National Hockey league.

The North Barrington, Ill. native, a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, tallied six goals and 60 assists for 66 points while playing in all 82 games this past season, twice earning NHL Rookie of the Month accolades. His 66 points is the most-ever by a Montreal rookie, and the fourth-most by an NHL freshman defenseman all-time. He also helped the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup Playoff berth since 2020 this spring, where the Habs fell to Washington in the first round.

Hutson, 21, who is the first Canadiens player to claim the Calder Trophy since Ken Dryden (Cornell) in 1972, was drafted in the second round (62nd overall) by Montreal in 2022 after skating with the NTDP. He spent the prior two seasons at BU, where he helped the Terriers to consecutive NCAA Frozen Fours (2023, 2024) while tallying 30-67—97 points in 77 games overall. He was also a two-time NCAA First Team All-America selection, and a two-time Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist.

Panthers Take Lead in 2025 Stanley Cup Final

Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) tallied a goal and an assist as the Florida Panthers routed the visiting Edmonton Oilers, 6-1, tonight in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. 

The Panthers, who scored three power-play goals in the victory, now lead the best-of-seven series, two games to one, having won the last two games after dropping the opener. Game Four is Thursday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Abbotsford Claims AHL Western Crown

Jujhar Khaira (Michigan Tech) and Phil Di Giuseppe (Michigan) scored goals, and Christian Wolanin (North Dakota)and Akito Hirose (Minnesota State) added assists, as the Abbotsford Canucks won the AHL's Western Conference title tonight with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Texas Stars. Abbotsford claimed the best-of-seven series in six games.

The Canucks, who earned their first-ever Robert W. Clarke Trophy with the victory, are also the first primary affiliate of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks to claim a conference crown in 10 years. Abbotsford will now take on the Eastern Conference champion Charlotte Checkers in the 2025 Calder Cup Final, starting Friday in North Carolina.