Rassey Takes the Helm at Harvard

Former Harvard assistant coach Rob Rassey (Northeastern) is returning to Cambridge, this time as the 12th head coach in Crimson men's hockey history. He succeeds Harvard alumnus Ted Donato, who stepped down earlier this year after 21 years at the helm.

Rassey, 41, from Shelby Township, Mich., spent the last four years as an assistant/associate coach at Michigan, where he helped the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and NCAA Frozen Four berth last season. Prior to that, he served as an assistant at Harvard from 2013 to 2019 after beginning his coaching career with two years at Youngstown (USHL), where he played in juniors when the franchise was in the NAHL.

Rassey played four years as a forward at Northeastern (2005-2009), where he tallied 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 123 career games while helping the Huskies to the NCAA tournament as a senior, their first national berth in 15 seasons.

Toronto Marlies Claim 2026 Calder Cup

The Toronto Marlies are American Hockey League champions for the second time in seven seasons. The Marlies defeated the visiting Chicago Wolves, 4-3, on Friday in Game Five of the 2026 Calder Cup Final to claim the best-of-seven series, four games to one. Vinny Lettieri (Minnesota) notched what turned out to be the Cup-clinching goal late in the second period, after Jacob Quillan (Quinnipiac) had given Toronto a 3-2 lead just over a minute before.

Other former NCAA players in the Marlies lineup for the final game of the 2026-27 campaign included: Matt Benning (Northeastern), Luke Haymes (Dartmouth) Marc Johnstone (Sacred Heart), Dakota Mermis (Denver), Marshall Rifai (Harvard), Henry Thrun (Harvard) and Ryan Tverberg (UConn). 

Chicago, which was seeking its fourth Calder Cup since joining the AHL in 2001, got a goal from Josiah Slavin (Colorado College), plus 19 saves in defeat from goaltender Cayden Primeau (Northeastern).

Montreal Wins 2026 PWHL Championship

Abby Roque (Wisconsin) scored two goals, including the game-winner, as the visiting Montreal Victoire blanked the Ottawa Charge, 4-0, on Wednesday to earn the 2026 Professional Women's Hockey League title. Montreal won the best-of-five series, three games to one, to become the first Canadian club to lift the Walter Cup as PWHL postseason champion.

Ann-Renée Desbiens (Wisconsin) of the Victoire stopped 23 shots for the shutout, while Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern) made 12 saves for Ottawa, which had forced a fourth game after dropping the first two contests of the series. Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin (Boston University) was named PWHL playoff MVP after recording two goals and six assists for eight points in nine games, tying Roque for the playoff lead.

U.S. Women Win 2026 Olympic Gold

For the second time in three Olympic Winter Games, the United States has won gold in women's ice hockey.

Megan Keller (Boston College) slipped home a backhander just over four minutes into the 3-on-3 overtime to lift Team USA to a 2-1 victory over Canada in today's women's ice hockey gold medal game in Milan, Italy. The U.S. last won women's hockey gold in 2018 in Pyeongchang, with Canada winning four years ago in Beijing. It is the third gold medal all-time for the American women.

Keller's game-winner came after Team USA tied the game with just over two minutes remaining in regulation on an extra-attacker goal. Team captain Hilary Knight (Wisconsin), playing in her fifth and final Olympics, tipped home a shot by rookie Laila Edwards (Wisconsin) to push the contest into the extra session. For Knight, it was her 15th career Olympic goal, tops among American women all-time. Keller also assisted on Knight's goal, after Kristin O'Neill (Cornell) had put Canada ahead, 1-0, early in the second period on a shorthanded goal.

Aerin Frankel (Northeastern) stopped 30 shots for the Americans, while Ann-Renee Desbiens (Wisconsin) made 31 saves for the Canadians. The two rivals combined to go 0-for-4 on the power play before 11,171 on-lookers at Milano Santagiulia Arena. The U.S. finished the tournament 6-0-0, while Canada's only two loses came to the Americans.  

Team USA's Caroline Harvey was named Olympic MVP and Best Defender after tallying two goals and seven assists for a tournament-high nine points in her second Olympics. She helped the U.S. to a silver medal four years ago as rookie.

Switzerland defeated Sweden, 2-1, in OT in this year's bronze medal game, with Alina Muller  (Northeastern) notching the game-winning goal. It was the first Olympic medal for the Swiss women since they also won bronze in 2014 in Sochi.

U.S. Women Win Third Straight Olympic Game

Joy Dunne (Ohio State), Alex Carpenter (Boston College) and Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) notched a goal and an assist each as the U.S. Women's Olympic team blanked Switzerland today, 5-0, in Group A play at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy. 

Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern) earned the shutout by stopping all 20 shots she faced for the Americans, while Andrea Braendli (Ohio State) made 45 saves for the Swiss. Team USA is now 3-0-0 overall and will next face archrival Canada, which defeated Czechia, 5-1, as Julia Gosling (St. Lawrence) scored two goals and Brianne Jenner (Cornell) collected two assists.

U.S. Women Open 2026 Olympics with Win

The U.S. Women's Hockey Team got off to a good start at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy with a 5-1 victory over Czechia on Thursday. 

Hayley Scamurra (Northeastern) scored two goals for the Americans, while Tessa Janecke (Penn State) notched two assists and Aerin Frankel (Northeastern) made 14 saves.

Team USA takes on Finland tomorrow in its next contest.

ADDENDUM: The United States blanked Finland, 5-0, with team captain Hillary Knight scoring her 14th career Olympic goal, tying her for first among American skaters all-time. 

BC, BU Team Up to Boost Sharks to First Win

BC and BU teamed up to beat New York City.

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) scored three goals and set up two others, and Will Smith tallied two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as the San Jose Sharks defeated the host New York Rangers, 6-5, tonight at Madison Square Garden. It was the first victory of the 2025-26 NHL campaign for the Sharks (1-4-2), who also got two assists from Smith, plus a goal from Adam Gaudette (Northeastern).

Adam Fox (Harvard) and Conor Sheary (UMass) had one assist apiece for the Rangers (3-4-2), who are now 0-4-1 at home so far this season.

Trois-Rivières 2025 ECHL Champions

Exactly one week ago, the Trois-Rivières Lions finished their 2024-25 season with a title.

The Lions, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, completed a five-game triumph over the Toledo Walleye to earn their first-ever Kelly Cup as ECHL playoff kings with a 4-1 victory at home at the Colisée Vidéotron on June 7. Chris Jandric (North Dakota) tallied the game-winning goal in the deciding contest.

Trois-Rivières rebounded with four straight wins in the final, after Toledo took the opener in Ohio. The Lions, who began play in 2021-22, are the second Canadian team in league history to win the ECHL playoff title, following the now-defunct Newfoundland Growlers, who did the same in 2019.

Besides Jandric, who also played for Alaska Fairbanks in his college career, other former NCAA players on this year's Lions' playoff squad included Jakov Novak (Northeastern), Cory Thomas (Canisius) and Kirby Proctor (Omaha).

Texas Stays Alive in AHL Western Final

Curtis McKenzie (Miami) scored just over two minutes into overtime to keep the Texas Stars alive with a 2-1 win over the visiting Abbotsford Canucks tonight in Game Five of the AHL's 2025 Eastern Conference Final. The Canucks still lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two, with Game Six scheduled for Abbotsford on Sunday night.

Jack Becker (Arizona State) assisted on McKenzie's goal in sudden death, while Justin Hryckowian (Northeastern) tallied Texas' only goal in regulation. Max Sasson (Western Michigan) assisted on Abbotsford's only goal of the game. The winner of the series will face the Eastern Conference champion Charlotte Checkers in the 2025 Calder Cup Final.

2025 ECHL Kelly Cup Final Tied

Jakov Novak (Northeastern) had goal and an assist as the visiting Trois-Rivières Lions tied the 2025 ECHL Kelly Cup Final with a 5-1 win over the Toledo Walleye last night. The best-of-seven series now moves to Quebec for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday.

Carter Gylander (Colgate) finished with 30 saves in the loss for Toledo, which had claimed the series opener by a 3-1 count on Saturday. Trois-Rivières is seeking its first-ever Kelly Cup as ECHL playoff champion, while Toledo won back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994 in its former incarnation as the Storm.

Minnesota Wins Second Straight PWHL Title

Liz Schepers (Ohio State) scored off a rebound 12 minutes into overtime to lift the Minnesota Frost to a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge in Game Four of their best-of-five PWHL final series on Monday. Minnesota took the best-of-five series, three games to one, to claim its second consecutive Walter Cup as league playoff champion, with Schepers scoring the clinching goal both years.

Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern) earned the Ilana Kloss Trophy as playoff MVP after making 36 saves in defeat. Tereza Vanisova (Maine) scored Ottawa's lone goal to force OT, after Kelly Pannek (Minnesota) tallied first for the Frost. Minnesota's Lee Stecklein (Minnesota) led all PWHL playoff scorers with eight points in seven games, on four goals and four assists.

USA Blanks Denmark in 2025 Worlds Opener

Seattle's Matty Beniers (Michigan) scored twice in Team USA's 5-0 win over co-host Denmark yesterday to open the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship in Herning, Denmark. 

Anaheim's Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) and Boston's Mason Lohrei (Ohio State) each had a goal and an assist, as Utah's Michael Kesselring (Northeastern) set up both of their goals. Seattle's Joey Daccord (Arizona State) stopped all 26 shots he faced for the shutout.

The United States will next take on Hungary on Sunday at 6:20 a.m. ET (NHL Network), also at Jyske Bank Boxen.

ADDENDUM: The U.S blanked Hungary, 6-0, but then lost to Switzerland, 3-0. 

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.

Former NCAA Players on Move in NHL

A number of former NCAA players were on the move with the beginning of NHL free agency on July 1 (players listed alphabetically by last name, not a complete list):

Player, Position (School) New Club Old Club

Zach Aston-Reese, F (Northeastern) Vegas Detroit

Cam Atkinson, F (Boston College) Tampa Bay Philadelphia

Brandon Biro, F (Penn State) Buffalo Seattle

Ian Cole, D (Notre Dame)                Utah            Vancouver

Devin Colley, G (Denver) Calgary San Jose

Jeremy Davies, D (Northeastern) Ottawa Buffalo

Collin Delia, G (Merrimack) Edmonton Winnipeg

Casey DeSmith, G (New Hampshire) Dallas Vancouver

Sheldon Dries, F (Western Michigan) Vancouver Detroit

Josh Dunne, F (Clarkson) Columbus Buffalo

Casey Fitzgerald, D (Boston College) NY Rangers Florida

Warren Foegele, F (New Hampshire) Los Angeles Edmonton

Adam Gaudette, F (Northeastern) Ottawa St. Louis

Dennis Gilbert, D (Notre Dame) Buffalo Calgary

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union)             Carolina        Detroit

Troy Grosenick, G (Union) Nashville Minnesota

Matt Grzelcyk, D (Boston University) Pittsburgh Boston

Danton Heinen, F (Denver) Vancouver Boston

Cameron Hughes, F (Wisconsin) Dallas Seattle

Tyson Jost, F (North Dakota) Vegas Buffalo

Cole Koepke, F (Minnesota-Duluth) Tampa Bay Boston

Tanner Laczynski, F (Ohio State) Vegas Philadelphia

Alec Martinez, D (Miami) Chicago Vegas

Ben Meyers, F (Minnesota) Seattle Anaheim

Tyler Motte, F (Michigan) Detroit Tampa Bay

Jordan Oesterle, D (Western Michigan) Boston Calgary

Jack Rathbone, D (Harvard) Buffalo Pittsburgh 

Eric Robinson, F (Princeton) Carolina Buffalo

Steven Santini, D (Boston College) Tampa Bay Los Angeles

Kiefer Sherwood, F (Miami) Vancouver Nashville

Devin Shore, F (Maine) Minnesota Seattle

Nate Schmidt, D (Minnesota) Florida Winnipeg

Joe Snively, F (Yale) Detroit Washington

Anthony Stolarz, G (Omaha) Toronto Florida

Billy Sweezey, D (Yale) Boston Columbus

Cam Talbot, G (Alabama-Huntsville) Detroit Los Angeles

Jason Zucker, F (Denver)                Buffalo         Nashville

Minnesota Earns Inaugural PWHL Title

A second-period goal by Liz Schepers (Ohio State) stood up as the game-winner, and Minnesota won the first-ever Professional Women's Hockey League playoff title with a 3-0 victory over Boston in Game 5 of the inaugural PWHL final last night in Lowell, Mass. Minnesota won the best-of-five series, three games to two, to lift the Walter Cup.

Michela Cava (Minnesota-Duluth) made it 2-0 in the third period, and later set up Kendall Coyne-Schofield (Northeastern) for an empty-net insurance goal. Mellissa Channell (Wisconsin) finished with two assists for Minnesota, both in the final frame, while Nicole Hensley (Lindenwood) made 17 saves for the shutout. Aerin Frankel (Northeastern) recorded 41 stops in defeat for Boston.

Minnesota's Taylor Heise (Minnesota) earned the first-ever Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award after tallying five goals and eight points in the postseason.

U.S. Falls in 2024 IIHF Worlds Opener

The United States got behind the proverbial eight-ball on its first day of competition at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Czechia on Friday. The U.S. fell to Sweden by a 5-2 count at Ostrava Arena in the opener of Group B play for both teams.

Zach Werenski (Michigan) and Brock Nelson (North Dakota) scored goals for the Americans, who got 33 saves in net from Alex Lyon (Yale). Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) and Matt Boldy (Boston College) picked up assists for the U.S., which will return to action today against Germany, while Sweden will face Poland on Sunday. 

Canada, which boasts almost a half-dozen former NCAA skaters on its roster, begins play today against Great Britain in Group A round-robin competition. The Canadians won last year's Worlds in Riga/Latvia, with Germany claiming the silver medal and co-host Latvia earning bronze. The U.S. finished fourth in 2023.

ADDENDUM: The U.S. rebounded for a 6-1 win over Germany, getting goals from six different scorers. Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) and Michael Kesselring (Northeastern) tallied a goal and an assist apiece for the Americans, who also got two assists each from Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Shane Pinto (North Dakota). Trey Augustine (Michigan State) made 12 saves on 13 shots in relief of Lyon (14 saves).

Canada Wins 2024 Women's Worlds

Danielle Serdachny (Colgate) scored on the power play just over five minutes into overtime Sunday night, to lift Canada over the rival United States, 6-5, in the gold medal game of the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, N.Y. The victory marked a record 13th WWC title for Canada, while the host U.S. was seeking its 11th such crown since the tournament began back in 1990.

Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) tied the contest at five apiece on her goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, after Canada had taken the lead with two consecutive goals. Harvey also had an assist for a two-point night, as did teammate Laila Edwards (Wisconsin). Hilary Knight (Wisconsin) tallied a power-play goal to put the U.S. ahead, 4-3, while Aerin Frankel (Northeastern) made a total of 24 saves in net for the Americans.

Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin (Boston University) led all players in the game with two goals, while teammate Erin Ambrose (Clarkson) notched a goal and an assist. Ann-Renée Desbiens (Wisconsin) finished with 19 stops in goal for Canada in the win.

Next year's WWC will be held in the Czech Republic.

Northeastern Claims Fifth Beanpot in Six Seasons

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine scored with 27 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Northeastern to a 4-3 win over third-ranked Boston University in the men's Beanpot championship game on Monday night at TD Garden. The Huskies have now won five of the last six battles for Boston's college hockey bragging rights, in the tournament's 71st edition. Northeastern's women's team won its own Beanpot title last month, also at TD Garden.

NU battled back from three one-goal deficits last night, the last on Jack Williams' power-play tally midway through the third period, with the secondary assist going to Fontaine. Cameron Whitehead finished with 33 saves for the Huskies (13-12-2 overall), who were outshot, 36-17, in claiming their ninth men's Beanpot title all-time. BU fell to 19-8-1 on the season.

In the consolation game, top-ranked Boston College blanked Harvard, 5-0. Ryan Leonard had a goal and two assists for the Eagles (21-5-1), while Jan Korec made 19 stops for his first career NCAA win and shutout. Harvard dropped to 4-15-4.

NU, BU to Meet in 2024 Beanpot Final

It'll be an all-canine final affair again in the annual battle for Boston bragging rights.

Northeastern outlasted Harvard, 3-2, in overtime of the first semifinal of the 71st Beanpot tournament on Monday night at TD Garden, while third-ranked Boston University held on to edge No. 1 Boston College, 4-3 in the nightcap. Gunnarwolfe Fontaine scored just over a half-minute into the extra session to lift NU, while Ryan Greene's early third-period goal stood up as the game-winner for BU.

Northeastern has won four of the last five men's Beanpots, after last winning in 1988 prior to its current run. BU, which has won a record 31 Beanpots, last raised the trophy in 2022 when it defeated NU, 1-0, in the final. Monday's final will pit NU against BU for the Beanpot title for the 16th time in tournament history. The consolation game earlier that day will feature Harvard against BC for the first time since 2022.

U.S. Wins 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship

The United States rules the women's hockey world once more—for now, at least.

Powered by a hat trick from Hillary Knight (Wisconsin), including her 100th career point in international play, the Americans upended host Canada, 6-3, on Sunday in the gold medal game of the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship in Brampton, Ont.

Brianne Jenner (Cornell) scored twice to helped stake Canada to a 3-2 lead after two periods, but Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) tallied early in the third stanza to tie it before Knight connected twice to put the U.S. up, 5-3, with her first goal serving as both the game-winner and her 100th career international point. Cayla Barnes (Boston College) then closed out the scoring to lift Team USA to its 10th world title overall, and first since 2019. Either Canada or the U.S. has won gold in each of the 22 Women's World Championships contested to date.

Aerin Frankel (Northeastern) made 24 saves in goal for the Americans, while Ann-Renee Desbiens (Wisconsin) had 16 stops for the silver-medal Canadians. Desbiens was named the tournament's Best Goalie, while Harvey was tabbed as Best Defender and Sarah Fillier (Princeton) earned Best Forward accolades. Czechia won the bronze medal for the second straight year, after again defeating Switzerland.

Next year's Women's World Championship will be contested in Utica, N.Y.