Game of the Week- UNYCHL Division 1: Binghamton @ Niagara

The Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League is starting its Division 1 return with a bang, as the #1 ranked Binghamton Bearcats are set to face the #2 ranked Niagara Purple Eagles. Niagara is looking to get revenge for its overtime loss against the Bearcats back in November. That series is currently a tie between the two programs. 

The player to look out for this week is Matthew Usinski. The forward from Bowmansville, NY, is the scoring leader for Binghamton with 11 goals and 13 assists. Right behind him is the defenseman from Brooklyn, NY, Sebastian Henderson. He has proven to be a valuable asset to the team with his 21 points, 17 of them being assists. 

Ethan Knauf leads the way for the Purple Eagles in scoring, with 20 points in 15 games. Dwyer Arena is sure to be popping this Friday at 7:00 pm. 

– Preston McAlhany, UNYCHL Beat Reporter

ACCHL Division 2: James Madison @ West Virginia 

As anticipation grows for the thrilling matchup between West Virginia University (1-2-0) and  James Madison University (5-7-0) in DII Hockey, fans can prepare for an electrifying contest on Jan. 25, at 3:45 p.m. at the Morgantown Ice Arena Rink. 

The history between the two programs is rich, with an overall record standing at 1-1. The Mountaineers and Dukes have faced off before. Their history features a notable victory for the Dukes, who triumphed 11-1 in their inaugural meeting on Jan. 12, 2013. The most recent encounter occurred on Jan. 9, 2016, when the Mountaineers secured a decisive 5-0 win.  

The Mountaineers step onto the ice with notable stats, averaging 3.7 goals scored per game while allowing 4.7 goals against. Their powerplay is a highlight, netting an average of 1.3 goals during those opportunities. Jake Weikel (#34) leads the Mountaineers, who has already scored 2 goals and tallied 4 points in three games this season. 

Conversely, the Dukes have played twelve games, holding a record of 5-7-0. They average 3.4  goals per game but give up 4.0 goals on average. Their powerplay has struggled, managing only  0.5 goals per game. Brady Swain(15) shines as the Dukes’ top performer with five goals, while  Ryan Quaid(77) leads in assists with six and total points with nine. 

This upcoming battle is set to be an exhilarating display of talent as both teams look to get their first win of 2025. With standout players like Weikel and Quaid driving their squads, fans can look forward to a fast-paced game brimming with skill and fierce competition.  

Be sure to catch this unforgettable hockey showdown at the Morgantown Ice Arena Rink!

– Jyesha Nance, ACCHL Beat Reporter

Interleague: Buffalo State D2(UNYCHL) @ Bishop’s D2(NEIHC)

The Buffalo State Bengals will go to Sherbrooke, Quebec, this weekend as they face the Bishop’s University Gators at the Jane and Eric Molson Arena. This will be the final two games of the year for Buffalo State (8-5-0). They are fourth in the Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League (UNYCHL). Bishop’s University is third in the New England Independent Hockey Conference (NEIHC) with four games left.

Both teams head into this one to secure their spot in the playoffs. Bishop’s has the advantage in the goals-against category, allowing 2.9 goals per game, whereas Buffalo State allows 4.8. Bishop’s University holds the advantage in goals scored, averaging 6.5 per game this season. 

There is no shortage of scoring on the Bengals roster, with six players tallying five or more goals. Anthony Morin leads the team, tallying 14 goals in the season and 24 total points. Lucas Thorne leads the team for Bishop University with 19 on eight goals and eleven assists. 

The first game of the series is on January 25th, and the puck will drop at 1:30 pm E.S.T. The series’ final game will be on Sunday, January 26, at 11:30 a.m. EST.

– Gavin Coker, NEIHC/DVCHC Beat Reporter

ECHC Division 1: Farmingdale State @ Fairfield 

A pair of Empire Conference teams hit the ice for the first time in 2025 as the Farmingdale State Rams travel to Shelton, CT, to take on the Fairfield Stags. 

This is the fourth time these division rivals will meet this season, with the Rams winning the first three matchups. Despite the record discrepancies (Farmingdale State: 13-4-1, Fairfield: 4-6-0), the previous matchups were tightly contested.

The Rams hope to keep their momentum moving into 2025, winning five of their last six games in the fall semester and climbing to sixth in the AAU National rankings. This momentum is due, in large part, to the tremendous offensive production of Thomas Konikowski. Konikowski has delivered 20 goals and 33 points in 18 games this year for the Rams.

Fairfield has done an excellent job stifling Farmingdale State’s top sniper, not allowing Konikowski a single goal in the three games this year. Unfortunately for the Stags, Thomas came through with two assists in each of the three contests.

Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EST at The Rinks in Shelton, CT.

– Danny Baum, AAU Head Editor

CHS Division 1: South Carolina @ Georgia

The No. 5 South Carolina Gamecocks — the reigning Division 1 National Champions — will visit the No. 2 Georgia Ice Dawgs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25., at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Ga, for the teams’ penultimate and final meetings of the regular season. 

The only matchup between the Gamecocks and the Ice Dawgs this season resulted in a 3-3 tie. Still, both teams have performed impressively since then: Georgia has collected 15 wins, one loss, and one tie, whereas South Carolina has since recorded 12 wins, four losses, and one tie. 

In the teams’ undecided contest on Sept. 13, 2024, the Ice Dawgs took an early 3-0 within the first 20 minutes of play. George Mesaros opened the scoring less than five minutes into the first, followed by Dylan Punzenberger with five minutes remaining and Evan Moore with just over three to go. 

However, the Gamecocks didn’t let the deficit discourage them. Marco Pineda tallied the second period’s only goal and the first goal of the third while on the power play to decrease the Ice Dawg’s lead to one. With just over five minutes left in regulation, John Riggins equalized the score at three a side to force overtime. Neither team found the back of the net in overtime, and the matchup ended inconclusively. 

It’s clear that this weekend, both teams will go head-to-head in search of the very result that neither attained at the beginning of the season. 

– Kelly Kaelblein, CHS Beat Reporter