Devils Done After 5-4 Double OT Loss

The New Jersey Devils 2024-25 campaign came to end with a 5-4 loss in double overtime at Carolina on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes win the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series, four games to one, becoming the first NHL team to end a playoff series this spring.

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) assisted on both the tying and winning goals for Carolina, which fought back from 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to oust New Jersey for the fifth time in the postseason since 2002. Jackson Blake (North Dakota) also scored for the Hurricanes, assisted by Mark Jankowski (Providence). Paul Cotter (Western Michigan) assisted on New Jersey's final goal, while Seamus Casey (Michigan) made his NHL playoff debut for the Devils with two blocks and one hit.

Also in the Eastern Conference, Ottawa stayed alive and forced a Game Six by blanking host Toronto, 4-0. Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) notched a goal and two assists for the Senators, while Anthony Stolarz (Omaha) took the loss for the Maple Leafs on 15 saves.

In the Western Conference, Vegas took a three games-to-two lead over visiting Minnesota with a 3-2 OT victory, as Jack Eichel (Boston University) assisted on two goals for the victorious Golden Knights. Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored his fifth goal of the series for the Wild in defeat.

Also out west, Edmonton won its third straight game, this time at Los Angeles, in collecting a 3-1 victory over the host Kings to take a three to two series lead. Zach Hyman (Michigan) led the Oilers with six shots on goal.

BU's Sullivan, Penguins Part Ways

The Mike Sullivan era is over in Pittsburgh. The Boston University graduate and the NHL's Penguins have parted ways after almost 10 full seasons at the helm.

Sullivan, 57, from Marshfield, Mass., served as head coach of Pittsburgh over the past decade, after being appointed during the 2015-16 NHL campaign and leading the Penguins to an overall regular-season record of 409-255-89 (44-38 postseason), and back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017. The Pens, however, have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2022. He previously served as head coach with the Boston Bruins from 2003 to 2006, going 70-56-15 (3-4) with his home state team, giving him a career NHL record of 479-311-127 (47-42). 

Drafted 69th overall by the New York Rangers in 1987, Sullivan skated at center for BU from 1986 to 1990, recording 61 goals and 77 assists for 138 points in 141 games. He also captained the Terriers to the NCAA semifinals as a senior before embarking upon a 12-year professional career that saw him play in 709 career regular-season outings with San Jose, Calgary, Boston and Phoenix, where he registered 54-82—136 points in 709 outings, while adding 4-8—12 points in 34 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He also played 95 games combined in the IHL and AHL, and represented the United States in the 1997 IIHF World Championship.

Sullivan briefly served as head coach of Providence (AHL) in 2002-23, before joining Boston as an assistant. He also served as an assistant coach with Tampa Bay, the Rangers, and Vancouver, and as a development coach with Chicago. He also briefly helmed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) before being promoted to Pittsburgh, and coached the U.S. to a second-place finish at this year's inaugural Four Nations Cup.

ADDENDUM: Sullivan was hired on May 2 as head coach of the Rangers, succeeding Peter Laviolette.

2025 Stanley Cup First Round Rolls On

Two first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series were tied after last night's action, while two others inched closer to completion.

St. Louis rocked visiting Winnipeg, 5-1, to knot that Western Conference series at two games apiece. Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) tallied two assists for the victorious Blues, while Kyle Connor (Michigan) scored the Jets' only goal. Winnipeg netminder Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell) was pulled for the second straight game/loss after making 13 saves on 18 shots. 

In Edmonton, the defending Western Conference champion Oilers tied up their series at two with a 4-3 overtime win over visiting Los Angeles. Alex Laferriere (Harvard) notched an assist for the Kings, who had won the first two games at home in California.

Washington moved out to a three games to one lead in besting host Montreal, 5-2, in the Eastern Conference as Trevor van Riemsdyk (New Hampshire) set up two goals in the third period, including the game-winner. Lane Hutson (Boston University) had two assist for the host Canadiens, who got 21 saves in net from Jakub Dobes (Ohio State).

Carolina will look to close out New Jersey after winning, 5-2, in Newark to take a three games to one advantage in their Eastern Conference matchup. Jacob Slavin (Colorado College) scored the Hurricanes' second goal, unassisted, while Jackson Blake (North Dakota) registered a pair of assists.

The NHL playoffs continue tonight with Tampa Bay looking to tie up Florida, and Dallas and Colorado seeking to break a two-all tie.

ADDENDUM: Jake Guentzel (Omaha) scored for Tampa Bay, but Florida tallied three third-period goals to win, 4-2, and take a two to one lead in that series. Dallas, meanwhile, pasted Colorado, 6-2, as Jake Oettinger (Boston University) picked up the win with 26 saves.  

NCAA Players Step Up in 2025 NHL Playoffs

Three more Stanley Cup Playoff series were extended on Saturday, with contributions from several former NCAA players.

Vegas topped Minnesota, 4-3 in overtime on the road, knotting that best-of-seven series at two wins apiece, as Reilly Smith (Miami) assisted on the game-winning goal. Jack Eichel (Boston University) assisted on the game-opening goal for the victorious Golden Knights. 

In Colorado, the host Avalanche tied their series at two games each with a 4-0 blanking of Dallas as Brock Nelson (North Dakota) set up two goals for the home team. Devon Toews (Quinnipiac) also had an assist for the Avs, while Jake Oettinger (Boston University) stopped 31 of 34 shots for the visiting Stars before giving way to Casey DeSmith (New Hampshire), who stopped 13 of 14 shots. 

Host Ottawa staved off elimination with a 4-3 OT win over Toronto, which had won the first three games of the series. Jake Sanderson (North Dakota) scored the game-winner from long distance in the extra session, and also assisted on the Senators' first goal, as did team captain Brady Tkachuk (Boston University). Shane Pinto (North Dakota) scored a shorthanded goal for the Sens, while Adam Gaudette (Northeastern) assisted on Ottawa's third goal. Matthew Knies (Minnesota) scored Toronto's second goal, while Anthony Stolarz (Omaha) finished with 17 stops in goal for the Maple Leafs.

Tampa Bay topped defending NHL champion Florida, 5-1, on Saturday in Game Three of their series, thanks to a goal and two assists from Jake Guentzel (Omaha), while Luke Glendening (Michigan) also scored for the Lightning. The host Panthers, who got an assist from Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) still leads the series, two games to one.

NCAA Alumni Boost Habs to Playoff Win

The Montreal Canadiens clawed their way back into their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series tonight, thanks to contributions from several former NCAA skaters.

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Alex Newhook (Boston College) each tallied a goal and an assist, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped seven of eight shots in 20 minutes of relief to pick up the win in Montreal's 6-3 victory tonight over the visiting Washington Capitals. The Canadiens now trail the best-of-seven NHL postseason series, two games to one. 

Jake Evans (Notre Dame), Lane Hutson (Boston University) and Mike Matheson (Boston College) also recorded assists, as the Habs won their first postseason contest since the 2020 Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay. Game Four against Washington is slated for Sunday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

ADDENDUM: New Jersey also rebounded in its series against visiting Carolina, winning 3-2 in overtime on Friday to close within two games to one as defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) recorded 36-plus minutes of ice time for the victors. Edmonton did likewise in Game Three of its series Friday with visiting Los Angeles, winning by a 7-4 count as Zach Hyman (Michigan) notched two assists to help make it a two to one series. 

WMU's Washe, Bump Make Pro Debuts

Fresh off a national championship, former Western Michigan skaters Tim Washe and Alex Bump have already embarked on their professional careers. 

Washe, 23, from Detroit, signed as a free agent with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks following WMU's 6-2 win over Boston University on April 12, and went scoreless in two regular-season games. His 2024-25 campaign is completed, as the Ducks did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He recorded career highs of 16 goals and 22 assists for 38 points in 42 games for WMU this season, while helping the Broncos to their first-ever NCHC regular-season crown, their first-ever Penrose Cup as NCHC playoff champions, and their first-ever NCAA title. In five years at WMU, Washe finished with 28-46—74 points in 171 games.   

Bump, 21, from Prior Lake, Minn., led the Broncos in scoring this season with 23-24—47 points in 42 outings, and finished his two-year college career with 37-46—83 points in 80 appearances. He then signed with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him 133rd overall in 2022, and was assigned to Lehigh Valley (AHL). He tallied his first career pro point for the Phantoms with an assist against Cleveland on April 18, and followed that up a day later with another assist and his first pro goal in a game at Hershey. Lehigh Valley is now slated to face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Laviolette Out as Rangers Head Coach

Peter Laviolette (Westfield State) was relieved of his duties last week as head coach of the New York Rangers after just two years at the helm. He is the only coach in NHL history to take six different teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Laviolette, 60, led the Rangers to a 55-23-4 overall mark in 2023-24 and the President's Trophy as the top NHL team in the regular season. New York then fell to eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida in the Eastern Conference final. This year, the Rangers dropped to 39-36-7 and missed the postseason.

A Franklin, Mass. native, Laviolette began his NHL head coaching career in 2001-02 with a two-year stint with the New York Islanders. He then spent five years with Carolina, leading the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup championship in 2006. He has also helmed Philadelphia, Nashville and Washington in his 23-year NHL tenure, fashioning a record of 846-562-25 in regular-season play and an 88-82 ledger in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is also the all-time winningest American-born head coach in NHL history.

A member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, Laviolette played 11 years professionally after skating for four years on defense at Westfield State, including 12 NHL games with the Rangers, before retiring after the 1996-97 campaign. He then began his coaching career in 1997-98 with one year with Wheeling (ECHL), and then spent two years with Providence (AHL), winning a Calder Cup with the P-Bruins, while serving as head coach with both organizations. He then joined the Islanders after serving as an assistant with Boston in 2000-01.

Hockey Easter 2025

 

BU's Kaplan Debuts with NHL's Flyers

Devin Kaplan became the newest forward from the 2024-25 Boston University men's hockey team to make his NHL debut this month. 

Kaplan, 21, a junior right wing who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week, made his big league debut last night in the Flyers' season-ending 5-4 loss to visiting Buffalo, recording one hit and one shot attempt in just over 12 minutes of ice time. The Bridgewater, N.J. native spent the last three years at BU after being drafted 69th overall by Philadelphia in 2022, recording 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 115 collegiate outings with the Terriers. 

Quinn Hutson, who won the Tim Taylor Award this season as the top rookie in men's college hockey, has played in two games with the Edmonton Oilers after signing with the reigning NHL Western Conference champions as a free agent. The junior right wing from Barrington, Ill. notched 56-58—114 points in 117 games with the Terriers. Hutson, 23, also led BU in scoring this season, with career highs of 23-27—50 points in 38 contests.

Ryan Greene, who captained the Terriers this season as a junior, signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and played in two games with the Original Six franchise that drafted him 57th overall in 2022. The Paradise, Nfld. native, who turns 22 in October, collected 34-71—105 points 118 career appearances with BU as a center.

Kaplan, Huston, and Greene helped BU to three consecutive NCAA Frozen Fours in their college careers, including this year's national title game, plus the 2023 Hockey East regular-season and conference championships, along with this year's Beanpot Tournament crown. In all, they guided the Terriers to an overall record of 81-35-4 over the last three years.

In addition, senior center Matt Caponi, who played this season at BU after skating for three years with Merrimack, signed with Bakersfield (AHL) and has played in one game with the Condors. Drafted 216th overall by Edmonton in 2023, the 21-year-old Mansfield, Mass. native put up 6-18—24 points in 40 games in his lone campaign as a Terrier. 

Also signing recently was BU sophomore left wing Shane Lachance, whose NHL rights had earlier been traded from Edmonton to the New Jersey Devils. LaChance, 21, from Andover, Mass., registered 25-32—57 points in 80 career games with the Terriers, including a goal in the 2025 NCAA championship game, and has been assigned by the Devils to Utica (AHL). 

Detroit Downs Devils, 5-2

The Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-2 victory at New Jersey last night. The Red Wings win the season series, two games to one.

Detroit's Dylan Larkin (Michigan) scored his 30th goal of the season, which turned out to be the game-winner, and added an assist. He has now scored at least 30 goals in four straight seasons. J.T. Compher (Michigan) also scored for the Red Wings, while Alex Lyon (Yale) made 28 saves. Erik Haula (Minnesota) notched a goal and an assist for the host Devils, with Seamus Casey (Michigan) assisting on Haula's goal. Devils defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) logged a game-high time on ice of 26:17 before a crowd of 16,514 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The Devils, who will face Carolina in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, closed out their regular season with a 42-33-7 overall record, and finished third in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division. The Red Wings (39-35-7), who have been eliminated from NHL postseason consideration for the ninth consecutive year, will close out their 2024-25 campaign tonight at Toronto.

Three DU Pioneers Sign Pro Contracts

The University of Denver hockey team will require some retooling next season. No less than three key Pioneer undergraduates have signed professional contracts since DU fell to eventual national champion Western Michigan in an NCAA semifinal on April 10 in St. Louis.

Sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium, the NCHC Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL's Minnesota Wild. In two years at DU, Buium, 19, from San Diego, collected 24 goals and 74 assists for 98 points. 

Junior forward Jared Wright inked a two-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings, and has reported to Ontario (AHL). Wright, 22, a Burnsville, Minn. native, tallied 32-22—54 points over three seasons with DU. 

Junior forward Aidan Thompson signed a two-year ELC with the Chicago Blackhawks, and has been assigned to Rockford (AHL). In three seasons with the Pios, Thompson, 23, from Fort Collins, Co. notched 42-75—117 points.

Buium, Wright and Thompson were all members of Denver's record-breaking 10th NCAA title team in 2024.

Miami's Martinez Retires from NHL

Longtime NHL defenseman Alec Martinez (Miami) announced his retirement as an active player over the weekend. He made his final appearance on April 12 in the Chicago Blackhawks' 5-4 shootout loss to Winnipeg, recording two shots on goal and two blocked shots in almost 18 minutes of ice time.

Martinez, 37, from Rochester Hills, Mich., was drafted 95th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2007. In 862 career NHL regular-season games over 16 seasons with Los Angeles, Vegas and Chicago, he recorded 88 goals and 201 assists for 289 points to go with 250 penalty minutes. According to statmuse.com, he ranks 16th all-time among NHL skaters with 1,884 shots blocked, while also recording 16 game-winning goals and a plus-73 plus-minus rating.

In 131 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests, Martinez added 14-23—37 points and 47 PIM while winning three Cups in all, two with LA and one with Vegas, and also scored the Cup-clinching in overtime with the Kings in 2014. He also played in 150 career minor-league regular-season games, 147 of them in the AHL, along with 11 games for TPS (Finland) in 2012-13. In addition, he skated for the United States in the 2018 and 2019 IIHF World Championships, winning a bronze medal the first year.

A product of Stoney Creek (Mich.) High School and the Detroit-area Honeybaked AAA youth program, Martinez played at Miami from 2005 to 2008 after winning the USHL's Clark Cup with Cedar Rapids in 2004-05. In 123 career outings with the Red Hawks, he tallied 21-46—67 points and 113 PIM while helping Miami to 83 wins overall, three NCAA tournament berths and one CCHA regular-season crown. He also earned Second Team All-America accolades in his final season in Oxford, Oh. 

Western Michigan Wins 2025 NCAA Hockey Title

Owen Michaels scored two third-period goals, and Hampton Slukynsky made 24 saves in net to lift Western Michigan University to a 6-2 victory over Boston University in Saturday's 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey national championship game in St. Louis. It is the first-ever NCAA hockey crown for WMU (34-7-1 overall), while BU (24-14-2) was seeking its sixth national title all-time and first since 2009.

WMU, which got goals from five different players, scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes into the contest on a deflection by Wyatt Schingoethe, and led 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. BU closed to within 3-2 midway through the second period on a power-play goal by Shane Lachance, but the Broncos tallied the final three goals of the game in the third period to put matters to rest, with Tim Washe finishing the night with two assists. 

Sluknysky also made a huge save on a one-timer in close by Cole Eiserman, who scored BU's other goal, in the final frame to keep WMU ahead. Mikhail Yegorov finished with 22 stops in goal for the Terriers before 16,953 on-lookers at the Enterprise Center.

Michaels earned Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player honors after scoring four goals in two games. He finished the campaign with 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points as WMU set a program record with 34 victories, and also ended the year on a 10-game winning streak.

WMU, which was the last of Michigan's seven Division I men's hockey schools to make a Frozen Four, is the fourth program all-time to win the NCAA men's hockey title in its championship game debut, and the first since Lake Superior State in 1988. It is also the third Michigan school to win an NCAA hockey championship in St. Louis, the first since Michigan State in 2007. 

The Broncos, who advanced to this year's national title game by edging defending national champion Denver in double overtime on Thursday's semeifinals on a goal by Michaels, had previously won this year's National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular-season and tournament championships, its first NCHC titles since the conference began in 2013.

Next year's men's NCAA Division I Frozen Four will be held in Las Vegas for the first time ever.

2025 Hobey Baker and Other Award Winners Announced

Isaac Howard (Michigan State) is the winner of the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men's hockey. He is the third Spartan all-time to win the award, following Kip Miller (1990) and Ryan Miller (2001). 

A native of Hudson, Wisc., Howard, 21, led MSU in scoring as a junior this season with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games, while helping the Spartans to both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles for the second straight year. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound left wing, he had earlier been named as the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year.

Other college hockey award winners announced on Friday at the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis:

Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award

Jacob Truscott, Gr., D (Michigan)

Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey

Dick Umile (New Hampshire)

Hockey Humanitarian Award

Sarah Thompson, Gr., D (St. Lawrence)

Mike Richter Award (Best Goaltender)

Jacob Fowler, So., G (Boston College)

Tim Taylor Award (Top Rookie)

Cole Hutson, Fr., D (Boston University)

In addition, the American Hockey Coaches association released its selections of the 2024-25 CCM/AHCA Hockey Division I All-Americans, with 24 players representing 16 different schools. 

WMU, BU Advance to 2025 NCAA Title Game

Owen Michael's second goal of the game less than 30 seconds into the second overtime period propelled Western Michigan to a 3-2 victory over defending national champion Denver in the first NCAA Frozen Four semifinal tonight at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. 

WMU (33-7-1 overall), making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I national semifinals, outshot DU by a 47-22 count overall, including 32-8 through the first two periods of play. The Pioneers (31-12-1), who had been seeking their third NCAA crown in four seasons and 11th overall, tied the game with two third-period goals, and got 44 saves in all from Matt Davis in his final appearance for DU.

In the nightcap, Jack Hughes recorded a goal and an assist, and Mikhail Yegorov made 32 saves to lead Boston University to a 3-1 win over Penn State. The Terriers (24-13-2), playing in their third consecutive Frozen Four, are now headed to their first national title game since 2015. Nicholas DeGraves scored for the Nittany Lions (22-13-4), who were skating in their first-ever Frozen Four since the program was elevated to varsity/NCAA status in 2013.

WMU and BU will now meet on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) in the 2025 national championship game. The Broncos are seeking their first-ever NCAA championship, while the Terriers are after their sixth overall and first since 2009.

Wayne Wilson Retires at RIT

Rochester Institute of Technology men's hockey head coach Wayne Wilson has announced his retirement, effective immediately, after more than 35 years of coaching at the NCAA Division I level. 

A Bowling Green graduate who was a member of the Falcons' 1984 NCAA championship team, Wilson compiled a 471-337-82 overall record with RIT, including its transition from Division III to Division I in 2005, and its move from the Frank Ritter Memorial Arena to the Gene Polisseni Center in 2014. His ledger includes nine conference regular-season crowns, six conference tournament championships, and six NCAA tournament appearances, including four national tournament berths at the Division I level. 

Wilson's 2023-24 RIT team finished 27-11-2 overall and won both the Atlantic Hockey regular-season and playoff titles while making the NCAAs. The 2009-10 Tigers won both Atlantic Hockey titles, and also advanced to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four in Detroit.

A native of Guelph, Ont., Wilson, 62, began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach at BGSU from 1988 to 1999 before taking the top job at RIT.

ADDENDUM: RIT has chosen alumnus Matt Thomas as its new head coach. Thomas, 49, who played for the Division III Tigers from 1994 to 1998, previously served two seasons as an assistant coach with Maine (2000-2002), and then coached in the ECHL for 12 seasons. He then spent five years as head coach at Alaska Anchorage (2013-18) where he led the Seawolves to a 48-105-21 overall mark and one WCHA Final five berth. The Maple Ridge, B.C. native then coached Cincinnati (ECHL) for two seasons before spending the last four years as an assistant with Providence (AHL).

WMU's Ferschweiler Wins National Coach of Year

Western Michigan University head coach Pat Ferschweiler has been named the 2025 recipient of the Spencer Penrose Award as the top head coach in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.

Ferschweiler, 55, a WMU graduate from Rochester, Minn., is in his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater, where he has fashioned a 102-50-4 overall record to date, including four straight NCAA tournament berths. So far this season he has led the Broncos to a best-ever 32-7-1 overall record, including a 19-4-1 mark in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, their first-ever NCHC regular-season and conference tournament titles, and WMU's first-ever NCAA Frozen Four appearance.  

Ferschweiler skated three seasons at right wing for the Broncos from 1990 to 1993. He registered 30 goals and 65 assists for 95 points to go along with 185 penalty minutes in 116 games. before going on to an eight-year professional career. He began his coaching career at WMU from 2010 to 2014, then spent one year as an assistant with Grand Rapids (AHL) and four years with the Detroit Red Wings before returning to Kalamazoo as associate head coach with the Broncos in 2019. He was elevated to head coach at WMU in 2021 upon the resignation of Andy Murray.

WMU will face NCHC rival and defending national champion Denver in the first Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday at the Enterprise Center in St. louis (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

RPI, Ferris Hire New Men's Head Coaches

The coaching carousel began spinning last week in the NCAA Division I men's hockey ranks.

Rensselaer tabbed Eric Lang earlier today as its new bench boss. Lang, 49, an American International College graduate, spent the last nine seasons at his alma mater, which is reclassifying the AIC men's hockey program to NCAA Division II next season. He led the Yellowjackets to an overall mark of 153-139-30, which included four Atlantic Hockey regular-season championships, three Atlantic Hockey conference tournament titles, and three NCAA tournament berths. 

A former men's assistant at Army West Point, Lang, 49, also spent one year as the men's head coach at Manhattanville College, guiding the Division III Valiants to a 13-9-3 finish in 2011-12. Prior to that, he coached the Manhattanville women's team for three seasons, going 58-22-3 overall and leading the Valiants to two ECAC East titles and their most recent NCAA tournament appearance to date. He succeeds former RPI coach Dave Smith, who over saw the Engineers the last eight years.

Ferris State hired Long Island University head coach Brett Riley on March 31, the only coach LIU had known since the program began play in 2020-21. In four seasons at the helm of the Sharks, Riley, a Hobart graduate, led them to an overall record of 42-73-5, including a program-best 20 wins in 2024-25. He also coached Wilkes for one NCAA Division III season, fashioning a 16-8-2 mark in 2018-19, before serving one year as an assistant at Colgate. Riley, 34, succeeds long-time Ferris head coach Bob Daniels, who had led the Bulldogs the past 33 seasons.

ADDENDUM: LIU has hired Brendan Riley, cousin of Brett Riley, as the Sharks' new men's hockey coach. The son of longtime Army West Point head coach Brian Riley, Brendan Riley, 29, has served the past three years as an assistant coach at AIC. A native of West Point, N.Y., he skated at forward for Mercyhurst from 2016 to 2020, notching five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 91 career games.

BC's Leonard Named Hobey Baker Finalist

The accolades keep rolling in for Boston College men's hockey for its completed 2024-25 season.

Ryan Leonard, who recently signed with the Washington Capitals and made his NHL debut on Tuesday after two seasons at BC, is a Hobey Baker Award hat trick finalist long with Denver sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium and Michigan State junior forward Isaac Howard. The winner will be announced on April 11 at the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis.

Leonard, a sophomore forward, led all NCAA Division I men's hockey players with 30 goals this season, and finished his college career with 61 goals and 109 points. He also won this season's Walter Brown Award as the top American-born men's player in Division I hockey, the 25th BC player ever to do so. 

Also from the Heights, forward Gabe Perreault signed with the New York Rangers and made his NHL debut on Wednesday, while goaltender Jacob Fowler just signed with the Montreal Canadiens. Both were sophomores and 2023 NHL draft choices. Perreault tallied 35 goals and 108 points in two years with BC, while Fowler fashioned a 57-13-3 career record with a 1.90 goals-against average and seven shutouts while with the Eagles. Along with Leonard, they led BC to last year's national title game, and a Hockey East regular-season title this year. 

Hobart, Wisconsin-River Falls Win NCAA Titles

One NCAA Division I ice hockey championship has already been decided, with another to be settled in a week's time. Both NCAA Division III champions, however, have already been crowned.

Hobart won its third consecutive national men's title by besting host Utica, 2-1, in overtime on March 30. Kahlil Fontana notched the game-winning goal late in the extra session, while Damon Beaver made 39 saves in all for the Statesmen. That same day, on the women's side, Bailey Olson scored one goal and set up two others as host Wisconsin-River Falls outlasted Amherst, 3-1, as the Falcons claimed their second straight NCAA championship.

There are no NCAA Division II hockey national tournaments, with the men's championship suspended after 1999title game.

NCAA Undergraduates Jumping to NHL

A number of NCAA hockey underclassmen, with their team's 2024-25 seasons having recently coming to an end, have signed professional contracts with NHL organizations. Some of the more notable recent signings, as listed by player's last name:

Player, Class, Position (School)           NHL Team

Damien Carfagna, Jr., D, (Ohio State) #    Edmonton

Trevor Connelly, Fr., F (Providence)       Vegas

Karsen Dorwart, Jr., F (Michigan State) #  Philadelphia

Connor Kurth, Jr., F (Minnesota)           Tampa Bay

Joey Larson, Jr., F (Michigan State) #     NY Islanders

Ryan Leonard, So., F (Boston College) *    Washington

Dans Locmelis, So., F (Massachusetts)      Boston

Gabe Perreault, So., F (Boston College)    NY Rangers

Chase Pietila, So., D (Michigan Tech) #    Pittsburgh

Isak Posch, So., G (St. Cloud State) #     Colorado

Jimmy Snuggerud, Jr., F (Minnesota) *      St. Louis

Trey Taylor, Jr., F (Clarkson) #           Dallas

Callum Tung, Fr., G (Connecticut) #        NY Rangers

Matthew Wood, Jr. F (Minnesota)            Nashville

More signings can be found here. 

# Signed as free agent

* 2025 Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalist