Game of the Week #1: ECHC Black Division Semifinal – Columbia(D3) vs Sacred Heart(D3)

In AAU’s Game of the Week, Columbia crushed Sacred Heart 8-3 to advance to the Black Division Championship. The Lions collected the game’s first three goals in the first period and distanced themselves in the final 40 minutes. Columbia’s leading scorers, Brandon Avezov and Christopher Lerner, each tallied four points to help the Lions advance. 

The amazing Avezov had a repeat performance in the Championship and collected three points en route to Columbia’s 5-2 win against Farmingdale State.

Elsewhere in the Empire playoffs, the Seawolves of Stony Brook University took home the Silver Division championship by winning three times in three days. 

Stony Brook edged Stevens Tech 5-4 in overtime after surrendering a three-goal lead in the final period. Michael Rocco picked up the winner for the Sea Wolves to move on to the semis. Stony Brook then cruised through their matchup against Fairfield to set up a rubber match with Rutgers in the final.

Rutgers potted the first two, but Stony Brook responded with five of the final six goals, including the game-winner from Tyler Edmonds to best the Scarlet Knights 5-3.

In the top ECHC Division, Farmingdale State took home the title by winning two incredible games against Quinnipiac and Delaware. Sean O’Donnell scored with 10 seconds to go in overtime to power the Rams past Quinnipiac in the semifinal. Tim Duffy scored a pair in a wild back-and-forth championship win against Delaware that saw three lead changes. 

Congratulations to Columbia, Stony Brook, and Farmingdale State(DI) for winning their division championships!

– Danny Baum, AAU College Hockey Head Editor

College Hockey South Division 2 & 3 Playoffs

College Hockey South crowned its Division 2 and Division 3 champions from Panthers Ice Den this weekend in Coral Springs, Florida.

Division 2

After spending most of the 2024-25 season leading the North division, the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders took home the Ameritrans Cup for the first time in program history after defeating the South Florida Bulls in the championship game, 4-0. 

The Blue Raiders (22-6-1) debuted as the tournament’s N2 seed. They collected wins over the Tampa Spartans, 6-2, in the quarterfinals and the Ole Miss Rebels, 4-1, in the semifinals to advance to the title game, where they faced off against South Florida (20-6-1) for the first time this season. 

Middle Tennessee netted three of its four total goals in the first period. Linden Palmer — the team’s president and captain — opened the scoring with just under five and a half minutes left in the first, assisted by Brendan Ogle. 28 seconds later, Donovan Yesnach doubled the Blue Raiders’ lead, assisted by Matthew Siciliano. With 2:50 to go, Yesnach extended it to 3-0 with his second of the day to establish a comfortable lead for his team.

Palmer collected his second of the day in the tail end of the second frame, with help from Ogle once again, to unknowingly solidify the Blue Raiders’ victory. Neither team found the back of the net in the final 20 minutes of play, and Middle Tennessee skated away with a conference title to characterize its historic season. 

In an impressive and essential performance for his team, goaltender Ayden Kopec saved 50/50 shots from the Bulls, recording his first shutout of the season. Following the game’s conclusion, Kopec skated off the ice and immediately threw up before returning to accept his tournament MVP award and celebrate with his team.

Both teams will make an appearance at the D2 national tournament next month: The No. 7 Blue Raiders will compete against the Anna Maria Amcats, the Kutztown Golden Bears, and the Embry-Riddle Eagles in pool D, while the No. 5 Bulls will take on the Tampa Spartans, the Niagara Purple Eagles and the Richmond Spiders.

Division 3

In its inaugural season, the South Carolina Gamecocks were crowned the CHS Division 3 champions following their dominant 7-1 win over the Florida Gators on Saturday. 

The Gamecocks (18-0-1) protected their undefeated streak in pursuit of the Pictsweet Cup, defeating the Kennesaw State Owls, 4-2, and the Georgia Bulldogs, 4-2, in the first two rounds of the tournament to earn a spot in the final game. 

South Carolina’s Aaron Borsuk opened the scoring less than two minutes into the first period on behalf of the Gamecocks. Less than three minutes later, Matthew Baxter extended their lead to 2-0 entering the middle frame. 

The Gamecocks tallied two more goals in the second period — one from Mason Holmes and another from Owen Newnam — and another three in the third — from John McAdams, Sean Miller and Holmes — to establish a dominant 7-0 lead. Alas, with 33 seconds remaining, Florida’s Kelly Barlett got the Gators on the board. 

South Carolina goaltender Drew Durdov was named MVP following the win; he blocked 27/28 shots from the Gators to ensure his team walked out with a conference championship in hand. 

Next month, the Gamecocks will appear at the D3 national tournament, taking on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, the Stony Brook Seawolves, and the Fairfield Stags.

– Kelly Kaelblien, CHS Beat Reporter

UNYCHL Playoffs

In what was essentially a Division 1 Nationals preview, the Niagara Purple Eagles survived a loaded four-team tournament to win the Upstate New York conference championship.

Niagara defeated Buffalo in overtime in the semifinals on a power play goal from Logan Scanlon. It was the Purple Eagle’s first win against Buffalo in three tries this year, losing the first two by a combined 16-3. 

In the final against Binghamton, goalie Josh Lacelle and Logan Scanlon starred for the Purple Eagles in their 4-2 win. Scanlon scored a pair, including the game-winner, while Lacelle turned away 29 of Binghamton’s 31 shots.

Another undefeated team was coronated as conference champion as the Syracuse Orange rolled through the UNYCHL Women’s playoffs. 

The Orange crushed Binghamton and Springfield College in back-to-back games by a combined score of 14-2. Leading scorer Leah Landry continued her magical season, scoring two goals and adding three assists in Syracuse’s playoff games. 

Syracuse ups its record to 16-0-0 and will have a chance to compete for a National Championship in Jacksonville, FL, next month.

Congratulations to Niagara(DI) and Syracuse for winning the UNYCHL Championship!

– Danny Baum, AAU College Hockey Head Editor

NEIHC Playoffs

A champion was crowned for the New England Independent Hockey Conference for the final time as the playoffs concluded this weekend. Starting the playoffs was #2 Babson College vs #3 Quincy College before #1 Anna Maria College took on #4 Stonehill College. 

Anna Maria College Amcats looked to continue their impressive season as they took on Stonehill College Skyhawks in a matchup that saw offensive firepower and strong defensive play. Anna Maria set the tone early as Benjamin Giovanella got the scoring started 15 seconds into the semifinal for the Amcats. Anna Maria scored and never looked back as Matthew Brooker, Corey McNally, and Nick Levasseur increased the lead to four. 

The Skyhawks, determined to get back into the game, scored their first goal with 9:46 left to play in the first, as Lucas Pushard beat Ben Hardy. Four minutes later, Matthew Badeau took advantage of a holding penalty to find the back of the net, putting the Skyhawks down 4-2 into the first intermission. The Amcat’s defense defined the rest of the game, as they allowed no goals. Colin Flynn tallied the game’s final goal in the second period as the Amcats secured their place in the NEIHC finals with a 5-2 victory. 

It was a battle of the one and two seeds as Anna Maria College faced the Babson College Beavers for the title of NEIHC champion for the final time. It was the third meeting between the two teams in the final, with Babson winning in 2022 and 2023. 

Babson College scored the opening goal off a forced turnover by James White, who scored on a 1-on-2. Three minutes later, Robin Vondrasek scored, taking advantage of a rebound opportunity to tie the game for the Amcats. With five minutes left in the first period, Matthew Brooker scored his second goal of the playoffs on the powerplay to take a 2-1 lead. 

The second period was a tale of defense as both sides locked it down defensively. Babson College was able to tally the only goal of the period when Alex Carpenter fired a slapshot from the blue line, scoring on a 5-on-3 power-play. With it all tied up at two, both teams headed to the locker room to prepare for the deciding period. 

Matthew Brooker started the scoring a minute into the period as he gave the Amcats a 3-2 lead. The Amcats continued to build on their lead, taking advantage of two costly Babson penalties as Jarome Meyers and scoring leader Nick Levasseur found the back of the net. With a 5-2 lead, Jarome Meyers scored the game’s final goal with 4:50 left. 

Ben Hardy made the difference in the third period, keeping the Beavers off the board en route to Anna Maria College’s first NEIHC Championship. Hardy was surrounded by great defensive play as the Amcats only allowed nine shots in the final period. With the title of NEIHC Champions, the Anna Maria College Amcats head to AAU Nationals with an opportunity to be crowned National Champions. 

– Gavin Coker, NEIHC Beat Reporter