More 2026 NCAA Skaters Joining NHL

More NCAA Division I players, some with college eligibility remaining, are making the jump to the professional hockey ranks.

Charlie Stramel has left Michigan State after two seasons with the Spartans to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him 21st overall in 2003. A native of St. Paul, Minn., he tallied 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points this past season in helping MSU to its third straight Big Ten conference regular-season title. Stramel, who began his NCAA tenure with two years at Wisconsin, finished his college career with 36-55—101 points.

The brother combination of Hampton and Grant Slukynsky, who led Western Michigan to its first-ever NCAA title last spring, is taking its act to California. Hampton has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings, who inked brother Grant to a similar deal for one year. Both natives of Roseau, Minn. will report to the AHL's Ontario Reign for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign. Hampton Slukynsky, who was drafted 118th overall by the Kings in 2023, fashioned a record of 46-16-2 with a 2.14 goals-against average and five shutouts in 64 career games with the Broncos over two years, while Grant, who began his college career at Northern Michigan, tallied 26-59—85 points in 115 outings over three seasons. 

James Hagens of Boston College has inked a three-year deal withe Boston Bruins, who drafted him seventh overall last summer. He had earlier signed an amateur tryout agreement with Providence (AHL), the Bruins' top affiliate, and tallied a goal and four points in his first six AHL outings. The Hauppauge, N.Y native paced BC with 23-24—47 totals this season, and was also named MVP as the Eagles won their first Beanpot Tournament in 10 years. He finished with 34-50—84 points in 71 career NCAA games.

Notre Dame forward Cole Knuble signed earlier on with the Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him 103rd overall in 2023, and has been skating with Lehigh Valley (AHL), notching a goal and an assist through his first five games. The son of former NHL player Mike Knuble, the East Grand Rapids, Mich. native spent the last three seasons with the Fighting Irish, compiling 30-60—90 points in 106 appearances.

 

WMU Tops 2025-26 Preseason Polls

Defending national champion Western Michigan University tops the 2025-26 preseason NCAA Division I men's hockey polls at both USCHO.com and collegehockeynews.com. 

USCHO's top ten is rounded out by Boston University, Michigan State, Denver, Penn State, Boston College, Maine, Minnesota, Providence and UConn, all of whom made the NCAA tournament last spring. As for CHN, it's top 10 behind WMU is comprised of Michigan State, BU, Penn State, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, Quinnipiac, Denver and Arizona State.

WMU, which is seeking to become the first repeat NCAA Division I men's hockey national champion since Minnesota-Duluth did so in 2018 and 2019, officially opens its 2025-26 slate on Oct. 9-10 with a home-and-home series against in-state rival Ferris State.

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). 

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.

Devils Done After 5-4 Double OT Loss

The New Jersey Devils 2024-25 campaign came to end with a 5-4 loss in double overtime at Carolina on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes win the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series, four games to one, becoming the first NHL team to end a playoff series this spring.

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) assisted on both the tying and winning goals for Carolina, which fought back from 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to oust New Jersey for the fifth time in the postseason since 2002. Jackson Blake (North Dakota) also scored for the Hurricanes, assisted by Mark Jankowski (Providence). Paul Cotter (Western Michigan) assisted on New Jersey's final goal, while Seamus Casey (Michigan) made his NHL playoff debut for the Devils with two blocks and one hit.

Also in the Eastern Conference, Ottawa stayed alive and forced a Game Six by blanking host Toronto, 4-0. Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) notched a goal and two assists for the Senators, while Anthony Stolarz (Omaha) took the loss for the Maple Leafs on 15 saves.

In the Western Conference, Vegas took a three games-to-two lead over visiting Minnesota with a 3-2 OT victory, as Jack Eichel (Boston University) assisted on two goals for the victorious Golden Knights. Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored his fifth goal of the series for the Wild in defeat.

Also out west, Edmonton won its third straight game, this time at Los Angeles, in collecting a 3-1 victory over the host Kings to take a three to two series lead. Zach Hyman (Michigan) led the Oilers with six shots on goal.

WMU's Washe, Bump Make Pro Debuts

Fresh off a national championship, former Western Michigan skaters Tim Washe and Alex Bump have already embarked on their professional careers. 

Washe, 23, from Detroit, signed as a free agent with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks following WMU's 6-2 win over Boston University on April 12, and went scoreless in two regular-season games. His 2024-25 campaign is completed, as the Ducks did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He recorded career highs of 16 goals and 22 assists for 38 points in 42 games for WMU this season, while helping the Broncos to their first-ever NCHC regular-season crown, their first-ever Penrose Cup as NCHC playoff champions, and their first-ever NCAA title. In five years at WMU, Washe finished with 28-46—74 points in 171 games.   

Bump, 21, from Prior Lake, Minn., led the Broncos in scoring this season with 23-24—47 points in 42 outings, and finished his two-year college career with 37-46—83 points in 80 appearances. He then signed with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him 133rd overall in 2022, and was assigned to Lehigh Valley (AHL). He tallied his first career pro point for the Phantoms with an assist against Cleveland on April 18, and followed that up a day later with another assist and his first pro goal in a game at Hershey. Lehigh Valley is now slated to face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Western Michigan Wins 2025 NCAA Hockey Title

Owen Michaels scored two third-period goals, and Hampton Slukynsky made 24 saves in net to lift Western Michigan University to a 6-2 victory over Boston University in Saturday's 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey national championship game in St. Louis. It is the first-ever NCAA hockey crown for WMU (34-7-1 overall), while BU (24-14-2) was seeking its sixth national title all-time and first since 2009.

WMU, which got goals from five different players, scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes into the contest on a deflection by Wyatt Schingoethe, and led 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. BU closed to within 3-2 midway through the second period on a power-play goal by Shane Lachance, but the Broncos tallied the final three goals of the game in the third period to put matters to rest, with Tim Washe finishing the night with two assists. 

Sluknysky also made a huge save on a one-timer in close by Cole Eiserman, who scored BU's other goal, in the final frame to keep WMU ahead. Mikhail Yegorov finished with 22 stops in goal for the Terriers before 16,953 on-lookers at the Enterprise Center.

Michaels earned Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player honors after scoring four goals in two games. He finished the campaign with 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points as WMU set a program record with 34 victories, and also ended the year on a 10-game winning streak.

WMU, which was the last of Michigan's seven Division I men's hockey schools to make a Frozen Four, is the fourth program all-time to win the NCAA men's hockey title in its championship game debut, and the first since Lake Superior State in 1988. It is also the third Michigan school to win an NCAA hockey championship in St. Louis, the first since Michigan State in 2007. 

The Broncos, who advanced to this year's national title game by edging defending national champion Denver in double overtime on Thursday's semeifinals on a goal by Michaels, had previously won this year's National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular-season and tournament championships, its first NCHC titles since the conference began in 2013.

Next year's men's NCAA Division I Frozen Four will be held in Las Vegas for the first time ever.

WMU, BU Advance to 2025 NCAA Title Game

Owen Michael's second goal of the game less than 30 seconds into the second overtime period propelled Western Michigan to a 3-2 victory over defending national champion Denver in the first NCAA Frozen Four semifinal tonight at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. 

WMU (33-7-1 overall), making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I national semifinals, outshot DU by a 47-22 count overall, including 32-8 through the first two periods of play. The Pioneers (31-12-1), who had been seeking their third NCAA crown in four seasons and 11th overall, tied the game with two third-period goals, and got 44 saves in all from Matt Davis in his final appearance for DU.

In the nightcap, Jack Hughes recorded a goal and an assist, and Mikhail Yegorov made 32 saves to lead Boston University to a 3-1 win over Penn State. The Terriers (24-13-2), playing in their third consecutive Frozen Four, are now headed to their first national title game since 2015. Nicholas DeGraves scored for the Nittany Lions (22-13-4), who were skating in their first-ever Frozen Four since the program was elevated to varsity/NCAA status in 2013.

WMU and BU will now meet on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) in the 2025 national championship game. The Broncos are seeking their first-ever NCAA championship, while the Terriers are after their sixth overall and first since 2009.

Third Day of 2025 NCAA Men's Regionals Done

The third day of the 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey regionals are complete, and two spots have been secured for the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis in two weeks' time.

At the Toledo, Ohio regional, Quinn Hutson's overtime goal propelled Boston University to a 3-2 win over Cornell. The Terriers (23-13-2 overall) are now headed to their third consecutive Frozen Four, and 25th all-time. The loss by the Big Red (19-11-6) also ended the career of longtime Cornell head coach Mike Schafer, who finishes with an overall record of 561-300-117.

At the Fargo, N.D. regional, Western Michigan outlasted Massachusetts, 2-1, on an early third-period power-play goal by Tim Washe, and 28 saves overall from Hampton Slukynsky. The Broncos (32-7-1) are now headed to the first Frozen Four in program history, while UMass (21-14-5) was seeking its first Frozen Four since the Minutemen won their first-ever national championship in 2021.

The last two regionals conclude on Sunday, with UConn facing Penn State in Allentown, Pa., and Boston College taking on Denver in Manchester, N.H. 

WMU Wins NCHC Regular Season Title

Western Michigan won its first-ever regular season conference title last weekend, claiming the Spencer Penrose Cup as 2024-25 National Collegiate Hockey Conference champion following a win and an overtime loss at North Dakota. 

A charter member of the NCHC in 2013, it was the first-ever conference crown for the Broncos since they won the 2012 Central Collegiate Hockey Association title, after first winning the CCHA championship in 1986. WMU is four points ahead of second-place Arizona State, which has completed its regular season, in the current NCHC standings.

The fourth-ranked Broncos (24-7-1 overall, 17-4-1 NCHC), who began NCAA Division I play in 1975-76 after two years at Division II, close out their regular season this weekend at Miami, and are a lock to make their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament.

U.S. Drops Swiss in WJC Quarterfinals

Fresh off a convincing 4-1 victory over host Canada in its last game of round-robin play on New Year's Eve, the United States moved closer to defending its gold medal status at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa with a 7-2 win today over Switzerland in the quarterfinal round.

James Hagens (Boston College) and Ryan Leonard (Boston College) each scored two goals for the Group A champion Americans, who also got 17 saves in goal from Hampton Slukynsky (Western Michigan) and three assists offensively from Gabe Perreault (Boston College).

The U.S. will now face Czechia in the WJC semifinals on Saturday. The other semifinal will match Sweden and Finland, with the winners to meet on Sunday for the championship.

ADDENDUM: Team USA defeated Czechia, 4-1, and will face Finland on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET (NHL Network) for the gold. Czechia will meet Sweden for the bronze.

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

Day 2 of 2024 Regionals Completed

The second day of the 2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey regionals is over, and only half of the original 16-team field now remains.

In Providence yesterday, top-ranked Boston College scored five unanswered goals, four in the third period, to oust Michigan Tech, 6-1. Cutter Gauthier and Ryan Leonard tallied two goals each for the Eagles. In the second game at Amica Mutual Pavilion, Quinnipiac got two goals from Victor Czerneckianair, including the tying marker and the overtime game-winner, to top Wisconsin, 3-2. The defending NCAA champion Bobcats will now face BC on Easter Sunday ( 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2) in the regional final.

In Maryland Heights, Mo., Michigan State rebounded from a 4-2 deficit with three consecutive goals to best Western Michigan, 5-4, in overtime. Karsen Dorwart notched the tying goal in the final minute of regulation, before Jeremy Davidson scored in the extra session. In the nightcap at the Centene Community Ice Center, Michigan used three third-period goals to defeat North Dakota, 4-3. Dylan Duke notched two of those goals for the Wolverines, including the game-winner with just over eight minutes left. Michigan will now face MSU on Sunday (6:30 p.m., ESPN2) in the regional final, in a rematch of the Big Ten title game that was won by the Spartans last Saturday in OT. 

Viccisitudes of NCAA's Top 10 Teams

Most of the top-rated teams in men's Division I college hockey experienced highs and lows over the weekend.

Top-ranked Minnesota split a two-game series at No. 5 North Dakota, while No. 4 Quinnipiac, the defending NCAA champion, did likewise at New Hampshire. No. 2 Denver fell at Providence on Friday before edging No. 3 Boston College, which had beaten Rensselaer the previous night, on Saturday. 

No. 6 Boston University split at Notre Dame, and No. 7 Michigan defeated and tied visiting No. 13 Ohio State. No. 8 Michigan State swept visiting Canisius, while Western Michigan doubled up Bowling Green in a home-and-home series, and No. 10 Providence finished up its home victory over Denver with another over Rensselaer.

Scout Truman (UMass Lowell) and Chad Hillebrand (Western Michigan) led all scorers over the weekend, with six points on six assists apiece, while 6-foot-7 netminder Michael Hrabel (UMass) went 2-0-0 with a .952 save percentage and a shutout in the host Minutemen's two-step sweep of No. 19 Minnesota State.

Minnesota is No. 1 in this week's USCHO.com poll, followed in order by Denver, BC, North Dakota, Quinnipiac, Michigan, Providence, Michigan State, BU and WMU. Rutger McGroarty (Michigan) leads all Division I scorers with 11 points in six games, while Kyle McClellan (Wisconsin) has fashioned a 5-1-0 record in net to go with a .935 save percentage.

Bears, Firebirds Tied up in AHL Final

Mike Vecchione (Union) scored two goals, and also helped set up the game-winner by Ethen Frank (Western Michigan) as the Hershey Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds, 3-2, on Thursday night in Game Four of the 2023 Calder Cup Final at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. The best-of-seven AHL championship series is now knotted at two games apiece, with the home team having won each of the four previous contests. 

A member of Union's 2014 NCAA championship team, Vecchione scored Hershey's first two goals, the first on a power play to open the game, and the second one breaking a 1-1 tie early in the second period. Frank, who tallied 30 goals during the 2022-23 AHL regular season, then connected late in the middle stanza for the game-winner for Hershey, the primary affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals. The Bears are seeking their 12th Calder Cup overall, and first since claiming back-to-back crowns in 2009 and 2010. Hunter Sheppard (Minnesota-Duluth), who won consecutive NCAA titles in 2018 and 2019 with UMD, stopped 21 shots to earn the win in goal for Hershey.

Austin Poganski (North Dakota) scored the first goal for the AHL Western Conference champion Firebirds, who are in their inaugural season, and are the affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken. Joey Daccord (Arizona State) made 25 stops in defeat for Coachella Valley.

Game Five is tonight in Hershey at 8 p.m. ET, while Game Six will be contested at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Ca. on Monday at 10 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on NHL Network.

ADDENDUM: Hershey took Game Five in overtime, 1-0, while Coachella Valley rallied for a 5-2 victory in Game Six. The deciding Game Seven will be contested on Wednesday, June 21, at 10 p.m. ET at Acrisure Arena, with the winner claiming the Calder Cup.

GLI to Remain in Grand Rapids Through 2026

The venerable Great Lakes Invitational has found a new regular home, at least for the next few seasons.

It was announced last week that the GLI will continue to be played at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., where it was contested last year after more than a half-century of being played largely in the Detroit area. The new agreement runs through 2026, with the tournament to be played in the month of December. 

Next year's field will include Ferris State, Michigan Tech, Western Michigan and first-time participant Alaska (Fairbanks). Last year's participants included Ferris State, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, and Western Michigan, with WMU winning the tournament.

The GLI fields for the following three seasons are as follows:

2024 - Michigan State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Western Michigan

2025 - Ferris State, Miami, Michigan State, Michigan Tech

2026 - Michigan State, Michigan Tech, Notre Dame, Western Michigan

Michigan, which holds the record with 17 GLI championships, is not scheduled to participate in any of the upcoming years, after also sitting out last season for the first time since 1973.

Home of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins since its opening in 1996, the VAA seats 10,834 spectators for hockey. It has also hosted several NCAA men's hockey regionals in its existence, along with several non-tournament college contests.

NCAA Players with Eligibility Left Leave for NHL

More than 20 NCAA Division I players (listed alphabetically by first name) with college eligibility remaining have signed with professional hockey clubs since the start of March, following the conclusion of their respective 2022-23 seasons:

Aidan Fulp, D, Jr., Western Michigan (NY Islanders/NHL)

Akito Hirose, D, Jr., Minnesota State (Vancouver/NHL) 

Alex Laferriere, F, So., Harvard (Ontario/AHL)

Anton Malmstrom, D, Jr., Bowling Green (St. Louis/NHL)

Brett Berard, F, Jr., Providence (NY Rangers/NHL)

Carter Mazur, F, So., Denver (Detroit/NHL)

Corson Ceulemans, D, So., Wisconsin (Columbus/NHL)

Devon Levi, G, Jr., Northeastern (Buffalo/NHL) *

Hunter McKown, F, Jr., Colorado College (Columbus/NHL) *

Jake Livingstone, D, Jr., Minnesota State (Nashville/NHL)

Jakub Dobeš, G, So., Ohio State (Montreal/NHL)

Josh Doan, F, So., Arizona State (Arizona/NHL)

Mason Lohrei, D, So., Ohio State (Providence/AHL)

Matthew Coronato, F, So., Harvard (Calgary/NHL)

Max Sasson, F, So., Western Michigan (Vancouver/NHL)

Nikita Nesterenko, F, Jr., Boston College (Anaheim/NHL) *

Ondrej Pavel, F, Jr., Minnesota State (Colorado/NHL)

Ryan Tverberg, F, Jr., UConn (Toronto/NHL)  

Ryder Rolston, F, Jr., Notre Dame (Chicago/NHL)

Sean Farrell, F, Jr., Harvard (Montreal/NHL) *

Trevor Kuntar, F, Jr., Boston College (Boston/NHL)

Tyler Kleven, D, Jr., North Dakota (Ottawa/NHL) *

Wyatt Kaiser, D, Jr., Minnesota-Duluth (Chicago/NHL) *

* Indicates player has made his NHL playing debut

Day One of 2023 NCAA Men's Regionals Done

The first day of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regionals is in the books, and the biggest takeaway after the opening four games is that there will be a new national champion this season.

Cornell goaltender Ian Shane stopped all 27 shots he faced, and Jack O' Leary had a goal and an assist as the Big Red ousted defending NCAA champion Denver in Manchester, N.H. In the earlier game at SNHU Arena, Boston University upended Western Michigan, 5-1, behind a goal and two assists from Ethan Phillips. Cornell and the Terriers will face off in the regional final on Saturday.

St. Cloud State blanked last year's national runner-up, Minnesota State, by a 4-0 count in the matinee game in Fargo, N.D. Grant Cruikshank and Veeti Miettinen each scored a goal and set up another for the Huskies, who also got 34 stops from Jaxon Castor. In the nightcap at Scheels Arena, No. 1 overall seed Minnesota overcame an early one-goal deficit with eight unanswered scores in a 9-2 rout of Canisius. Bryce Brodzinski tallied three goals and an assist for the Golden Gophers, who will now meet SCSU on Saturday to determine who will head to the NCAA Frozen Four in Tampa next month.

The Allentown (Colgate-Michigan-Michigan Tech-Penn State) and Bridgeport (Harvard-Ohio State-Merrimack-Quinnipiac) regionals get underway on Saturday.

Western Michigan Wins 2022 GLI

The first Great Lakes Invitational held outside Detroit is done.

18th-ranked Western Michigan took home the crown earlier this week by winning both of its games, 8-1 over No. 17 Michigan Tech in the first round, and 8-2 over Ferris State in the championship contest. MTU finished in third place by edging 11th-ranked Michigan State, 3-2, in the consolation game. FSU had beaten MSU, 4-2, in the first round.

WMU senior forward Jason Polin scored three goals in each game for the Broncos (10-9-1 overall), giving him five hat tricks on the 2022-23 season, and a nation-leading 19 goals through 22 games. His scoring efforts also garnered him the Jack Tompkins Trophy as this year's GLI MVP. Cameron Rowe stopped 52 of 56 shots over two games for the Broncos, who also got five assists in all from Ryan McAllister, the top scorer in NCAA Division I with 28 assists and 38 points through 22 outings..

The victory was WMU's fourth GLI title in six appearances, the last coming in 2016. WMU also won the GLI in 2013 and 1986.

All four games this year were held at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., home of the AHL's Griffins. It was the first time the tournament had been held since 2019, with the 2020 version being canceled due to COVID-19, and last year's version being played on campus sites in what was a non-traditional, non-championship format. The GLI began in 1965 at the old Olympia, before later being played at now-demolished Joe Louis Arena, Comerica Park (outdoors) and Little Caesar's Arena, all in Detroit.