Everblades ECHL Champions Again

For the fourth time in five seasons, the Florida Everblades are ECHL champions. 

The Everblades claimed this year's Kelly Cup by defeating the Kansas City Mavericks in six games, including a 5-4 double-overtime victory in the clinching contest on Monday night in Missouri, after rebounding from a three-goal deficit after 40 minutes. Florida, which won the last four games of the series, including three in OT, previously defeated Kansas City in five games to win the Cup in 2024.

Anthony Romano (Clarkson) tied for Florida's playoff scoring lead with 17 points in 20 games, including a league-best 12 goals. Carson Gicewicz (UMass), who won an NCAA title in 2021, contributed 10 goals over 20 postseason outings. Everblades goaltender Cam Johnson (North Dakota) earned the Most Valuable Player award for a record third time in his career after posting a 16-4 record in 20 appearances this spring, including three shutouts and a 1.88 goals-against average, and has been a member of four Kelly Cup title teams.

Florida has now raised the Kelly Cup five times (2012, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026), extending its own ECHL record.

UMass Loses Four to COVID Before Frozen Four

 

The University of Massachusetts will be playing shorthanded on Thursday when the NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Frozen Four begins in Pittsburgh.

According to published reports, leading goal-scorer Carson Gicewicz, rookie goaltender Henry Graham, sophomore forward Jerry Harding, and starting netminder Filip Lindberg have all been ruled out of their national semifinal contest against Minnesota-Duluth due to contract tracing for COVID-19 before UMass (18-5-4 overall) left for Pennsylvania.

Gicewicz, a St. Lawrence transfer, leads the Minutemen with 17 goals so far this season, and ranks third on the squad with 24 points. Graham has yet to see action with the Minutemen while Harding, a Providence transfer, has two goals and six points to date. Lindberg has a record of 9-1-4 in 14 appearances this campaign, to go with a 1.33 goals-against average and four shutouts.

It is not known if the foursome would be available to play Saturday if UMass defeats UMD, in what is a rematch of the 2019 NCAA title game. The winner will move on to the national championship game against the winner of the early semifinal between Minnesota State and St. Cloud State.

Day Two of 2021 NCAA Tournament Done

The second day of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Championship is done, with two regionals completed and two more to go.

Bridgeport, CT Regional

Massachusetts 4, Bemidji State 0

St. Lawrence transfer Carson Gicewicz recorded his first collegiate hat trick, on three goals spanning the first two periods of play, as the Hockey East champion Minutemen punched their ticket to their second straight Frozen Four.

Fargo, ND Regional

Minnesota-Duluth 3, North Dakota 2 (5 OT)

Luke Mylymok, son of former Alaska Anchorage defenseman Jeremy Mylymok, notched the game-winner for UMD 2:13 into the fifth extra session to end the NCAA tournament's longest-ever game and send the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive Frozen Four. Ryan Fanti picked up the win in net, making six saves over the last 17 minutes of overtime after he relieved Zach Stejskal (57 saves) after the latter left the game due to cramps.

Albany, NY Regional

St. Cloud State 6, Boston University 2

The Huskies scored three times in each of the last two periods, including a penalty-shot goal by Jami Krannila, while Nolan Walker posted three assists. SCSU will now meet Boston College in the regional final on Sunday (5:30 p.m., ESPN2). 

Loveland, CO Regional

Minnesota State 4, Quinnipiac 3 (OT)

The Mavericks tallied two goals twice in the last five minutes of the third period, then won it on Ryan Sandelin's overtime goal for their first-ever victory in the NCAA tournament. 

Minnesota 7, Omaha 2

The Golden Gophers raced out to a 3-0 first-period lead and cruised to their first NCAA tournament victory since 2014.  Brock Faber set up five goals for Minnesota, which will meet MSU on Sunday in the regional final (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).  

Gicewicz Out for Season for SLU

St. Lawrence senior captain Carson Gicewicz announced recently on his social media account that he's out for the remainder of the 2019-20 NCAA campaign, thanks to a torn ACL in his knee. He went scoreless in two season-opening games at Mercyhurst before his condition was diagnosed.

And not even a month after I penned the cover story on him for the October issue of New York Hockey Journal. Now I know how John Madden must feel ...