NCAA Skaters Named to NHL All-Star Teams

Several former NCAA skaters were recently named to the 2025-26 NHL All-Star Teams:

First All‑Star Team

D – Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (Massachusetts)

D – Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets (Michigan)

Werenski also claimed the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the NHL last season. 

Second All‑Star Team

LW – Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens (Wisconsin) 

Caufield also claimed the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly play.

All-Rookie Team

G - Jakub Dobes, Montreal Canadiens (Ohio State)

F - Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues (Minnesota)

Dobes led the Canadiens to the 2026 Eastern Conference final, while Snuggerud tied for second on his team with 51 points.

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). 

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.

Three More NHL First Round Series Finished

The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is down to two series, after three others were decided Thursday night.

Toronto finished off host Ottawa, 4-2, to claim that series in six games. Max Pacioretty (Michigan) tallied the game-winning goal and also had an assist for the Maple Leafs, who had lost the last two games. Team captain Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) had one goal for the Senators, who were playing in the NHL postseason for the first time since 2017. Toronto will now take on defending Stanley Cup champion Florida in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Zach Hyman (Michigan) registered a goal and an assist for Edmonton as the Oilers topped Los Angeles, 6-4, to close out that series in six games. It marks the fourth year in a row that Edmonton has eliminated LA, which had won the first two games of this series, in the playoffs. 

Vegas finished off host Minnesota, 3-2, in the sixth and final game of that series. Jack Eichel (Boston University) notched a goal and an assist for the victorious Golden Knights, who will now face Edmonton in the Western Conference semifinals.

Colorado stayed alive with a 7-4 triumph over visiting Dallas. Cale Makar (Massachusetts) tallied three points and Brock Faber (North Dakota) had two assists for the Avalanche, who forced a winner-take-all Game Seven on Saturday night in Texas. Jake Oettinger (Boston University) finished with 41 saves for the Stars in defeat.

Canada Wins Four Nations Face-Off

The first-ever Four Nations Face-Off went to Team Canada. 

The Canadians outlasted Team USA, 3-2, in overtime on Thursday night in the championship game at TD Garden in Boston. Cale Makar (Massachusetts) assisted on the game-winning goal by Connor McDavid. Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) and Jake Sanderson (North Dakota) scored in regulation for the Americans, who also got 24 saves in net from Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell).

Canada thus avenged a 3-1 loss to Team USA in Montreal in the round-robin portion of the tournament, which exclusively featured NHL players. Other former NCAA players on the Canadian squad included Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) and Devon Toews (Quinnipiac). Sweden finished in third place, while Finland was fourth.

NHL players are expected to represent their respective nations at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Sweden and Denmark, and at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Oilers Win Again in Stanley Cup Final

Zach Hyman (Michigan) finally got a goal in this year's Stanley Cup Final—and now the Edmonton Oilers are one win away from tying the series, after losing the first three games. 

Hyman, who scored a career-high 54 goals during the NHL regular season, notched his league-leading 15th goal of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday on a power play as the Oilers raced out to a three-goal lead and held on for a 5-3 win over the host Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers still lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two, but failed to close it out and win the Cup for the second straight game, this time at home before 19,956 spectators at Amerant Bank Arena.

Florida rebounded to make it a 4-2 contest by the end of the second stanza, with Brandon Montour (Massachusetts) setting up Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) for his league-best fourth goal of the final late in the period. The Panthers then closed to within a goal just over four minutes into the final frame, but Edmonton held on to close out matters with an empty-net goal in the final half-minute by NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid, who has recorded eight points (3g-5a) for the Oilers over the last two games.

Game Six is Friday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

NCAA Skaters Dot 2024 Stanley Cup Rosters

More than a dozen former NCAA players in all are listed on the rosters of the two competing teams in this year's Stanley Cup Final. Per hockeydb.com:

Edmonton Oilers

• Vincent Desharnais (Providence)
• Warren Foegele (New Hampshire)
• Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin)
• Zach Hyman (Michigan)
• Philip Kemp (Yale)
• Troy Stecher (North Dakota)

Florida Panthers

• William Lockwood (Michigan)
• Ryan Lomberg (Maine)
• Brandon Montour (Massachusetts)
• Kyle Okposo (Minnesota)
• Mike Reilly (Minnesota)
• Evan Rodrigues (Boston University)
• Mackie Samoskevich (Michigan)
• Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha) 

Game One of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final is on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (ABC, CBC). Florida returns to the final for the second year in a row, and the third time ever, but is still seeking its first-ever NHL playoff championship. Five-time Cup champion Edmonton is back in the final for the first time since 2006 and is after its first NHL title since 1990, along with Canada's first Stanley Cup crown since 1993.

Panthers Take 3-0 NHL Playoff Series Lead

Brandon Montour (Massachusetts) scored one goal and set up another, and Kyle Okposo (Minnesota) registered an assist in his first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in eight years, as the Florida Panthers defeated the rival Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-3, in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tonight. 

Florida, the NHL's defending Eastern Conference champion, now leads the best-of-seven series, three games to none. Tyler Motte (Michigan) scored one of the Lightning's three goals, which put them up by a 2-1 count at the time.

Florida will attempt to sweep the series in Game Four on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, as the Panthers also look to win a playoff series against the Lightning for the first time ever. Tampa Bay, which claimed three straight Eastern Conference titles between 2020 and 2022 while also winning two Stanley Cups in that span, is seeking to avoid a second straight opening-round playoff ouster.

Former NCAA Skaters Star in NHL Playoffs

Dakota Joshua (Ohio State) scored his first two NHL postseason goals and added an assist, while Thatcher Demko (Boston College) made 20 saves in net to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night to start the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vancouver takes a one game to none lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series, following the Canucks' first home playoff game at Rogers Arena since 2015.

In Manhattan, the top-ranked New York Rangers jumped out to a three-goal lead en route to a 4-1 triumph over the visiting Washington Capitals in the opener of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series at Madison Square Garden. Jimmy Vesey (Harvard) tallied one goal and set up another for the Rangers, while Chris Kreider (Boston College) also scored for the Blueshirts.

In Manitoba, the Winnipeg Jets outlasted the Colorado Avalanche, 7-6, at Canada Life Centre to claim the first game in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series. Kyle Connor (Michigan) scored twice for Winnipeg and also had an assist, while Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell) made 40 saves for the Jets. Cale Makar (Massachusetts) scored one goal and set up two others for the Avalanche.

Mike Addesa 1945-2022

Former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute men's hockey coach Mike Addesa passed away earlier this week at the age of 77.

The Boston native was head coach at RPI from 1979 to 1989, and guided the Engineers to the 1985 NCAA Division I men's hockey title. He was relieved of his duties in 1989 after a racial incident with two of his players, and never coached at the college level again.

After one year as general manager with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Addesa spent five years as a scout with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. He went on to become general manager/head coach and franchise owner with the Boston Bulldogs junior organization, from 1995 to 2012. He then scouted for the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, and also served as GM with the Seacoast Spartans Prep organization until retiring in 2017.

Addesa began his hockey coaching career in 1966-67 as an assistant at Stoneham (Mass.) High School, then moved on to St. Mary's (Mass.) High the following season as head coach. He then oversaw Randolph (N.J.) High for five seasons and Wellesley (Mass.) High for one before taking an assistant's job in 1974-75 at his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross, where he had played football. He was promoted to head coach of the Crusaders in 1976, and remained in Worcester until he took the top job at RPI, where he fashioned an overall record of 186–124–9 over 10 NCAA campaigns.

Addesa was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

Makar Boosts Avs Over Oilers in Opener

Cal Makar (UMass) scored a goal and set up three others as the Colorado Avalanche won the Western Conference Final opener, 8-6, over the visiting Edmonton Oilers last night. Colorado leads the best-of-seven series, one game to none, with Game Two slated for Thursday night in Denver.

Makar boosted the Avalanche to a 3-2 lead late in the first period, scoring on a play that was subsequently examined for a potential offside infraction, but which held up as a legitimate goal after video review. Colorado would eventually take a 7-3 lead before the Oilers came storming back in the last half of the contest, getting within one goal before the Avalanche scored into an empty Edmonton net.

Makar, 23, was selected fourth overall by the Avs in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He has registered 48 goals and 132 assists for 180 points in 178 career NHL regular-season appearances, all with Colorado, and also has 11 goals and 47 points in 46 Stanley Cup Playoff outings to date.

Makar, from Calgary, played two seasons at UMass, recording 21-49—70 points in 75 games over two seasons. He also led the Minutemen to their first-ever NCAA championship game in 2019, just before he turned pro, and just after he won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the NCAA's top player. The following season, he won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.

Hockey East Alums Star in 2022 NHL Playoffs

Three Hockey East alums figured prominently in tonight's NHL action. Two of them not only kept their respective teams alive in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but also forced deciding seventh games on Sunday, while the third saw his squad advance to the second round.

Chris Kreider (Boston College) scored two goals, including the game-winner late in the third period, as the visiting New York Rangers staved off elimination with a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kreider, a 52-goal scorer during the 2021-22 NHL regular season, won two NCAA titles while at BC (2010, 2012) while tallying 49 goals and 92 points over three seasons with the Eagles.

Jake Oettinger (Boston University) stopped 34 of 36 shots, earning him First Star of the Game honors, as the Dallas Stars rebounded to outlast the Calgary Flames, 4-2. Oettinger, 23, went 58-40-11 in three NCAA seasons with the Terriers, posting a 2.34 goals-against average and 13 shutouts, while also leading BU to two NCAA tournament berths.

In addition, Brandon Montour (Massachusetts) had three hits and two shots on goal, and also blocked one opposing shot, as the visiting Florida Panthers ousted the Washington Capitals, 4-3, in overtime in Game 6 of their first-round series. The Panthers, who had the top record in the NHL during the 2021-22 regular season, will face the winner of the Tampa Bay-Toronto series, which is headed to a seventh game tomorrow. Montour, 28, recorded three goals and 20 points in his lone NCAA campaign with UMass in 2014-15.

Barr Named New Men's Hockey Coach at Maine

University of Massachusetts assistant coach Ben Barr has been named the new head men's hockey coach at the University of Maine. He becomes the fifth head coach in Maine's modern history, succeeding the late Dennis "Red" Gendron, who died last month after coaching the Black Bears since the 2013-14 season.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Barr will be paid a salary of over $235,000 on a four-year contract. It is his first head coaching position, and he will be tasked with reviving a Black Bears program that last made the NCAA tournament in 2012.

Barr, 39, from Fairbault, Minn., helped UMass to the last two NCAA title games, including a national championship victory this year over St. Cloud State, and he also was the Minutemen's primary recruiter. Prior to his tenure with UMass, which began with the 2016-17 campaign, he had served as an assistant at Union, Providence, Western Michigan and Rensselaer.

As a player, Barr skated at forward for Rensselaer from 2000 to 2004. He tallied 25 goals and 64 points in 140 games played before entering the coaching ranks.

In other college-related coaching news, the New York Rangers today released head coach David Quinn (Boston University) after three NHL seasons. Also not retained were assistants Greg Brown (Boston College) and David Oliver (Michigan).

Holy Cross last week hired longtime Quinnipiac assistant/associate Bill Riga as its new men's hockey head coach, his first position as a collegiate head coach. A former UMass Lowell player, he had served at Quinnipiac since 2008 after previously coaching at Union.

UMass 2021 NCAA Men's Hockey Champions

The University of Massachusetts (Amherst) won its first ever Hockey East tournament title this season. Now it's also claimed its inaugural NCAA championship.

The Minutemen blitzed St. Cloud State, 5-0, on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh to win the school's first men's hockey national title, and first NCAA crown for UMass in any sport since 1998 when football won the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.

Five years ago, UMass Hockey won a total of five games under new head coach Greg Carvel. Two years ago, the Minutemen and Carvel made it to their first NCAA championship contest, but were blanked by defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth in Buffalo.

Not this time. This year, it was UMass doing the whitewashing.

Aaron Bohlinger's first career goal early in the first period on Saturday stood up as the game-winner for UMass (20-5-4 overall), before Reed Lebster made it 2-0 with just over a minute remaining in the opening stanza. Philip Lagunov (shorthanded) and Matthew Kessel (power play) then scored in the second period to make it 4-0 for the Minutemen after 40 minutes, before Bobby Trivigno salted away the scoring exactly six minutes into the final frame.

Filip Lindberg made 25 saves for the shutout in his return to the UMass net, after he sat out the semifinal win over Minnesota-Duluth two nights earlier due to COVID-19. Dávid Hrenák made 17 stops for SCSU (20-11-0), in the Huskies' first appearance in the NCAA Division I title game.

It was the first NCAA title for a Hockey East team since 2015, when Providence edged Boston University in Boston. The win by UMass also snapped a string of four straight national title championships by St. Cloud's league, the NCHC. 

SCSU to Meet UMass for NCAA Hockey Title

The 2021 NCAA Division I men's hockey championship game match-up is set, with St. Cloud State to meet Massachusetts on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

SCSU edged Minnesota State, 5-4, in the early national semifinal game on Thursday, as Nolan Walker tipped home a shot from the point by Seamus Donahue with less than a minute remaining in regulation to send the Huskies (20-10-0 overall) to their first-ever Division I national title game. Dávid Hrenák made 25 stops in net for SCSU, which last made the NCAA Frozen Four in 2013, also in Pittsburgh.

In the late game, a rematch of the 2019 NCAA championship contest, Massachusetts ousted two-time defending champion Minnesota-Duluth, 3-2, in overtime. The Minutemen (19-5-4) dominated play and time of possession in the extra session, after being outshot by a 36-15 margin in regulation, before former Minnesota transfer Garrett Wait knocked home a pass just in front of the UMD net at 14:30 of the fourth period to end it. UMass goaltender Matt Murray, playing in his first game since Jan. 18, made 36 saves in the victory, propelling the Minutemen to their second consecutive national title game after last year's entire tournament was canceled by COVID-19.

The Huskies and Minutemen will meet Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) for the national title, with both seeking their first NCAA Division I crown. The winner will be the first first-time national college hockey champion at the men's Division I level since Providence in 2015.

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).  

2021 NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Regionals - Day One

 

The first day of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Championship is in the books, with the first day of regional competition completed.

Bridgeport, CT Regional

Bemidji State 6, Wisconsin 3

The fourth-seeded Beavers jumped to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and then made it 4-1 after 40 minutes en route to eliminating the Badgers, who got two goals from Cole Caufield. Brendan Harris led Bemidji with a goal and two assists, while Zach Driscoll made 30 saves. 

Massachusetts 5, Lake Superior State 1

The Minutemen spoiled Lake Superior's first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 years by breaking a 1 1-1 first period tie with four unanswered goals. Jake Gaudet scored twice and Oliver Chau set up two goals for UMass, which got 20 stops from Filip Lindberg. 

Fargo, ND Regional

North Dakota 5, American International 1

The Fighting Hawks raced out to a 4-0 advantage in advancing to the regional final. Collin Adams and Jasper Weatherby scored two goals apiece for UND, while Adam Scheel stopped 18 AIC shots.  

Minnesota-Duluth over Michigan

No contest, Michigan ruled out of tournament due to positive COVID-19 tests.

The regional winners will now meet in their respective regional finals on Saturday:

 

Bemidji State versus Massachusetts, 5 p.m. ET, ESPNU (Bridgeport)

North Dakota versus Minnesota-Duluth, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU (Fargo)

The other two NCAA regionals will both begin tomorrow:

Albany, NY Regional

Boston University versus St. Cloud State, 1 p.m. ET, ESPNews 

Boston College over Notre Dame (no contest, Notre Dame out due to COVID-19)

 

Loveland, CO Regional

Minnesota State versus Quinnipiac, 5 p.m. ET,  ESPN3

Minnesota versus Nebraska-Omaha, 10 p.m. ET, ESPNU

 

The Albany and Loveland regional finals will each be contested on Sunday. All schedules and telecasts are subject to change.

2021 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Bracket Revealed

The 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship field is set. 

Per collegehockeynews.com, here's the bracket:

Fargo, ND (Friday-Saturday - Host: North Dakota)

1. North Dakota (1) * vs. 4. American International *

2. Michigan vs. 3. Minnesota-Duluth

Albany, NY (Saturday-Sunday - Host: ECAC Hockey)

1. Boston College (2)  vs. 4. Notre Dame

2. St. Cloud State vs. 3. Boston University

Bridgeport, CT (Friday-Saturday - Host: Sacred Heart)

1. Wisconsin (4) vs. 4. Bemidji State

2. Massachusetts * vs. 3. Lake Superior State *

Loveland, CO (Saturday-Sunday - Host: Denver)

1. Minnesota (3) * vs. 4. Nebraska-Omaha

2. Minnesota State vs. 3. Quinnipiac 

* Automatic qualifier as conference tournament champion

The top four overall seeds are listed in parentheses. The four regional winners will advance to the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh on April 8, with the national championship game to be played two days later.

Minnesota-Duluth won the NCAA title in both 2018 and 2019, while last year's tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

Hockey East Begins Revised Schedules

Hockey East's revised men's schedule began today with four games. 

Providence skated to a scoreless tie at Massachusetts, Connecticut played to a 3-3 tie at Boston College, and Boston University edged visiting Maine, 3-2, in overtime. Merrimack later claimed a 5-2 decision at UNH.

On the women's side on Friday, New Hampshire won, 3-0, at Merrimack while Providence fell, 4-1, at Northeastern. The rest of this weekend's combined men's and women's slate can be found here. 

The conference announced earlier this week that it was scrapping its season schedule in favor of a week-by-week model, due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.