U.S. Advances to Worlds Quarterfinals

The United States, defending champion at the IIHF World Championship, advanced to this year's quarterfinal round with a 4-1 win over Austria today in Switzerland. U.S. goal scorers included Connor Clifton (Quinnipiac), Ryan Ufko (UMass) and Paul Cotter (Western Michigan), while Devin Cooley (Denver) finished with 25 saves in net for the Americans. 

Team USA, which finished fourth in Group B, will now take on second-ranked Canada on Thursday in an elimination contest. The Canadians advanced with a 3-2 victory over Czechia today, thanks to two goals by Macklin Celebrini (Boston University).

ADDENDUM: Canada ousted the U.S. with a 4-0 victory, and will play Finland in the semifinals.

Devils Sweep Sabres to Open NHL Season

Paul Cotter (Western Michigan) scored a goal in each game as the New Jersey Devils opened the 2024-25 NHL regular season with a two-step sweep of the Buffalo Sabres in the Czech Republic. The Canton, Mich. native tallied a goal and an assist in New Jersey's season-opening 4-1 win on Friday, and then added another goal in Saturday's 3-1 triumph. Owen Power (Michigan) and Tage Thompson (UConn) scored for the Sabres on the weekend, while Devon Levi (Northeastern) stopped 37 shots on Saturday.

Cotter played in eight games with WMU during the 2018-19 campaign, recording one assist before leaving Kalamazoo to play for London (OHL). He spent the last three seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, notching career highs of 18 assists and 25 points last year in 76 outings. The Devils return to action at home in Newark on Thursday against Toronto, while the Sabres will visit Los Angeles that evening.

2023 Stanley Cup Final Starts Tonight

The 2023 Stanley Cup Final has arrived. A number of former NCAA players can be found on both sides as the Florida Panthers take on the Vegas Golden Knights, starting tonight in Nevada, as each club seeks its first-ever NHL postseason title:

Florida Panthers 

Zac Dalpe (Ohio State)

Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College)

Matthew Kiersted (North Dakota)

Spencer Knight (Boston College)

Ryan Lomberg (Maine)

Alex Lyon (Yale)

Colin White (Boston College)

Vegas Golden Knights

Teddy Blueger (Minnesota State)

Paul Cotter (Western Michigan)

Jack Eichel (Boston University)

Ben Hutton (Maine)

Phil Kessel (Minnesota) *

Alec Martinez (Miami) *

Jonathan Quick (UMass) *

Reilly Smith (Miami)

Zach Whitecloud (Bemidji State)

* Indicates previous Stanley Cup winner

The best-of-seven series continues Tuesday in Vegas, then shifts to Florida on Thursday and next Saturday for Games Three and Four. All games will start at 8 p.m. ET. (Sportsnet, TBS, TNT)