Princeton Takes One Game Lead on Union

Jake Manfre scored two goals as Princeton University raced out to a four-goal lead en route to a 5-2 win over No. 20 Union College tonight at Hobey Baker Rink. The Tigers now lead the best-of three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series, one game to none. It was Princeton's first home playoff game since 2018, and fifth consecutive home playoff victory dating back to 2017.

Despite being outshot, 31-24, overall and only winning 32 of 75 total faceoffs. Princeton nevertheless dominated a Union team that had shutout its opposition for over 66 minutes entering the game, and which had also been connecting at nearly 25 percent with a man advantage. The Tigers killed off all six Union power plays on the night, and also limited a Garnet Chargers team that had been averaging over five goals per game since Feb. 1 to just two late scores after the outcome was no longer in doubt.

"They're a tremendous team, with a ton of firepower," said Princeton head coach Ben Syer about Union. "I thought we did a really nice job tonight–but they force you to play honest, and I wasn't comfortable until the final buzzer."

Joshua Karnish opened the scoring for Princeton just over six minutes into the first period, his fourth goal of the season and fourth in as many games. Tyler Rubin and Manfre then scored four minutes apart in the second stanza to put the Tigers up by three, before Manfre notched his second goal of the night and 14th of the season just 23 seconds into the final frame. Princeton captain David Jacobs finished with a game-high two assists.

"It helps to get production from our depth, and they played well," said Syer.

Union's Ethan Benz and Parker Lindauer then sandwiched goals around an empty-net tally by Princeton's Jaxson Ezman over the final five minutes for the final margin.

Princeton goaltender Arthur Smith stopped 29 shots, earning his ninth win of the campaign and the 21st of his college career.

"He was solid, and we needed him to be solid," said Syer.

The Tigers also blocked 20 shots on the night, with Rubin recording a team-high four blocks. 

"We all trust each other," said Smith. "We have lot of seniors on the back end, and when you trust each other to do the job, you do well."

Cameron Korpi had 14 saves on 18 shots for the Garnet Chargers before being relieved early in the third period by Brayden Gillespie (five saves). Union skaters blocked just eight shots in all.

Game Two is Saturday at Baker Rink at 7 p.m. A win would send the Tigers on to the ECAC Hockey semifinals in Lake Placid, while a Union victory would force a deciding Game Three on Sunday at 4 p.m.

"It's a long series, and tomorrow will be a grind," said Syer.

"I think we'll be ready," said Smith. "I don't think we'll carry the win into tomorrow, and we'll approach it the same way." 

Several Schools See Seasons End

Several NCAA Division I men's hockey teams saw their 2025-26 seasons come to a close with losses on Wednesday night.

Vermont, UMass Lowell, New Hampshire, Notre Dame, and Minnesota were all eliminated from their respective conference tournaments with single-elimination defeats. Each would have had to win their tournament to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

Conference playoffs continue this Friday and Saturday, and Sunday if necessary.

Troy Murray 1962-2026

 

Long-time NHL veteran Troy Murray (North Dakota) passed away last week at the age of 63 after battling cancer the last five years.

A 100-point scorer in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Murray played two seasons at North Dakota, tallying 55 goals and 120 points in 80 games, while also leading the then-Fighting Sioux to the 1982 NCAA title. He also captained Team Canada to the gold medal at the 1982 World Junior Championship. 

Drafted 57th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1980, the Calgary native went on to a 16-year NHL career with Chicago, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Colorado, where he collected 230 goals and 354 assists for 584 points to go with 875 penalty minutes in 914 career NHL regular-season outings, including a 45-goal, 99-point season with Chicago in 1985-86 He also added 17-26—43 points and 145 PIM in 113 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, and won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996.

Murray, who was awarded the Selke Trophy in 1985-86 with Chicago as the NHL's best defensive forward, retired following the 1996-97 campaign where he registered 21-29—50 points in 81 games with the IHL's Chicago Wolves. He went on to be a longtime studio analyst and color commentator with the Blackhawks on both radio and TV, and called Chicago's three Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. 

UAF Wins First United Collegiate Hockey Cup

Senior captain Chase Dafoe scored 24 seconds into 3-on-3 overtime to lift top-seeded Alaska Fairbanks to a 4-3 victory over second-seeded Lindenwood in the championship game of the inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Cup on Saturday in Missouri.

Michael Citara and Peyton Platter each recorded a goal and an assist for the victorious Nanooks (15-15-3 overall), who also got 39 saves from senior goaltender Lassi Lehti in his final appearance in a UAF uniform. Jacob Fletcher scored one goal and set up another for the host Lions (15-15-0), including the tying goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Liam Beerman stopped 18 shots for Lindenwood, which outshot UAF, 42-22, at the Centene Community Ice Center. The Nanooks won 32 out of 58 total faceoffs.

Citara, defenseman Nathan Rickey and Lehti were all named to the UCHC All-Tournament team, while Lehti was also named MVP. Lehti also backstopped UAF to the Adirondack Winter Invitational championship in Lake Placid back in November. 

Long Island defeated Stonehill, 4-3, in the consolation game of the tournament, which featured all five NCAA Division I independent men's hockey programs. UAF, which had a first-round bye as the top seed, defeated Stonehill in a shootout on Friday to advance to the title game, while Lindenwood topped LIU on Thursday to earn its championship contest berth. Alaska Anchorage finished in fifth place after falling to Stonehill and LIU.

NCAA Skaters Moved at 2026 NHL Deadline

Some of the transactions involving former NCAA players during Friday's NHL trading deadline (players listed by last name):

Player, Position (School)            Old Team     New Team

Wyatt Bongiovanni, C (Quinnipiac)    Ottawa      Washington

Bobby Brink, F (Denver)         Philadelphia  Minnesota

Jacob Bryson, D (Providence)         Buffalo       Winnipeg

Justin Faulk, D (MN-Duluth)         St. Louis     Detroit

Warren Foegele, F (New Hampshire)    Los Angeles   Ottawa

Vinny Hinostroza, C (Notre Dame)     Florida       Minnesota

Bobby McMann, C (Colgate)            Toronto       Seattle

Massimo Rizzo, C (Denver)            Philadelphia  Boston

Aidan Thompson, C (Denver)           Chicago       NY Rangers

MSU Wins Third Straight Big Ten Title

Michigan State has won its third consecutive Big Ten Conference regular-season title following last night's 7-1 win at Minnesota. The Spartans are the first Big Ten school to turn the trifecta since the conference began play in 2013.

It is also the first time MSU has won three consecutive regular-season conference titles, although the Spartans did win back-to-back regular-season crowns during their time in the original central Collegiate Hockey Association.

MSU (25-7-1 overall, 16-6-1 Big Ten) will close out its 2025-26 regular season tonight at Minnesota, and will have a first-round bye in the Big Ten championship, which it has claimed the last two years.

Maryville to Join NCAA Division I Hockey

Maryville University is expected to be the next school to ice an NCAA Division I men's hockey team, according to online sources. A private Catholic institution in St. Louis, Maryville will be the first school to join the NCAA Division I men's hockey ranks since Lindenwood did so in 2022-23.

The Saints are expected to play a hybrid schedule in 2026-27, against both NCAA and American Collegiate Hockey Association club opponents, and will then transition to a full NCAA schedule the following season. They play their home games at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield, Mo., which is slated to undergo an expansion.

Maryville currently fields three men's American Collegiate Hockey Association teams, and two ACHA women's teams. The ACHA Division I men's team played three exhibition games this season against NCAA Division I competition, two at Long Island University and one at Alaska Anchorage. The 14th-ranked Saints have qualified for this year's ACHA Division I men's national championship, and will face No. 19 John Carroll in the preliminary round.