The college hockey season is getting back into the swing of things after the winter break, which means conference playoffs and Nationals are right around the corner. It’s time to turn up the intensity and make the most out of the remaining games because the playoff bubble is shrinking, and you don’t want to be left out of the big dance. 

Good luck to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, and Tennessee, who will participate in the 2025 Savannah Hockey Classic this weekend! Georgia looks to repeat as champions but will have to take down two hated rivals to do so. 

Game of the Week: College Hockey South Division 2- Middle Tennessee State to host Clemson for divisional series

The Clemson Tigers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will go head-to-head in an intense two-game series this weekend in Clarksville, Tenn. 

The Blue Raiders’ performance this season has been nothing short of exceptional. Sporting a 16-1-1 record (6-0-0, 12 points), Middle Tennessee concluded its fall semester on a 14-game win streak; the Blue Raiders haven’t lost a game since their 4-4 tie with the Division 1 Tennessee Ice Vols on Sept. 21.

Matthew Siciliano leads the Blue Raiders in points this season with 44 in just 18 games. The forward has collected the second-most points in College Hockey South’s Division 2, trailing only South Florida’s Grant Dietz with 47.  

However, the Tigers have already proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Despite its semester-long hiatus in the fall, Clemson hardly struggled in its first series of the season last weekend, as the Tigers dominantly swept the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers 8-0 and 16-2. 

The Blue Raiders performed similarly against the Chargers, posting identical 8-1 wins in a two-game series earlier this season on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2. 

And much like that of the Blue Raiders, Clemson’s offensive prowess is not limited to just one player. Last weekend against Huntsville, every player on Clemson’s roster, except for one, recorded at least one point. 

Forwards Cade Heinold and Santiago Diaz recorded five points each, including hat tricks in Clemson’s 16-2 win, and four Tigers recorded four points across the two games: defensemen Christian Romeo (3G, 1A) and Conor Peterson (3G, 1A) and forwards Ethan Callahan (4G, 0A) and Sully Kopf (3G, 1A). Callahan netted a hat trick of his own in the 8-0 win on Saturday.

The Blue Raiders have earned their spot at the top of the College Hockey South for their division. But, with the prospect of snapping a 14-game win streak and the chance to earn a shot at both a divisional title and a spot in the AAU National Tournament, Clemson may be the unprecedented foe with enough skill and hunger to threaten Middle Tennessee’s reign.

-Kelly Kaelblein, College Hockey South Beat Reporter

Interleague: Jan. 17th- University of Alabama (DIII) (CHS) @ Kutztown University (DII) (DVCHC)

There is no better way to start the spring slate of games than with a pond hockey matchup! The University of Alabama (D3) heads north to Pennsylvania this week for an exhibition with Kutztown University (D2).  

The University of Alabama is 6-6-1 heading into the game, with Rhys Gulotta leading the way in the goal department. Evan Simos and Kellen McGarry lead the way in assists for the Frozen Tide, tallying 10 on the season. 

Kutztown is 6-5-3 on the season and has found momentum lately, unbeaten in their last five games. Joshua Bower leads the way for the Golden Bears in goals, with Nicholas Leone and Jackson Novak not far behind. Stephen Graney is the leading setup man with 12 assists for Kutztown University. 

It will be an exciting night for both teams as they play pond hockey outdoors. The game will be at Spring Mountain Adventures in Spring Mount, PA, on Jan. 17th. The puck drops at 8:45 p.m.  

-Gavin Coker, New England Independent Hockey Conference & Delaware Valley College Hockey Conference Beat Reporter

UNYCHL Division 2: Jan. 18th- Canisius University @ Redeemer University

Taking things up to the Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League, we have a matchup from the Division 2 Metro Division between the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Redeemer Royals. The Golden Griffins are hoping to pull off a massive upset against the Royals to get their second win of the season. 

Canisius currently sits at last place in the Division 2 Metro standings, losing all but one of its games since starting the season at #2. While the Griffins have seen plenty of familiar faces this season, this matchup with Redeemer will be a first. The favorite to win this matchup is the #4 ranked Royals.

Redeemer started the ‘24-’25  season with huge wins against ECC, Niagara University, and Niagara County but failed to close out the year on a positive note with losses to Buffalo State and the Niagara University rematch. 

The Royals are looking to bounce back with the help of Andrew Van Dyke, the star right wing from Guelph, ON, Canada. Van Dyke played in all five games during the first half of the season, contributing with five goals and two assists. Right behind him is forward Tucker Copeland, who has four goals and two assists. 

This Saturday at 3:45 EST in the Mohawk 4 Ice Centre will surely be a good one.

-Preston McAlhany, Upper New York Collegiate Hockey League Beat Reporter

ACCHL Division 2: Jan. 18th- High Point University (DII) @ Wake Forest University (DII)

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the High Point Panthers  Men’s Hockey teams are scheduled to clash on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Winston-Salem  Fairgrounds Annex Rink. The Panthers will be visiting the Deacons.

Entering the game, the Panthers hold an impressive 9-1-1 record and are riding a four-game winning streak, while the Deacons’ record stands at 4-4-0. 

Fans and critics alike can anticipate an exciting contest, as both teams are expected to give their all on the ice. The Panthers average approximately 5.6 goals per game, allowing 2.4 goals against and netting 1.1 power-play goals per game. In comparison, the Deacons score about 3.9  goals per game, with an equal number of goals allowed and an average of 1.2 power-play goals.

Key players to watch include Jack Slayton(98), who leads the Panthers with 22 goals and 34  points, and Landon Douthit(9), who has six goals for the Deacons. Additionally, Anthony Sasso(7) leads the Panthers with 31 assists, while James McGregor(23) tops the Deacons in assists and points with five assists and 10 points. 

-Jyesha Nance, Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Beat Reporter

Interleague: Jan. 19th- Union College (UNYCHL) @ Farmingdale State College (DI) (ECHC)

This Sunday, Jan.19th, East Meadow, NY, will be home to another interleague AAU matchup between the Farmingdale State Rams(13-4-1) and the Union College Garnet Chargers(6-1-0). The  Rams will host the game at Northwell Health Ice Center at AI Arbour Rink, with a 6:15  pm puck drop.  

Union is fourth in Upstate New York Division 2 East Division, but primarily due to not having played the same amount of games as the teams above them in the standings. The Garnet Chargers have won four of their five divisional games.

Farmingdale State has controlled Division 1’s Empire Conference, winning all their conference games. The Rams enter the meeting with Union as winners of their last three series dating back to the beginning of November. 

With both teams coming off recent win streaks, this game will surely be a solid match.  It is essential to note the individual team leaders heading into this game, where Farmingdale State appears to shine.

 Leading the Rams in goals and points is Thomas Konkowsk(17) with 23 and 33, respectively. Union College’s Robert Winter(28) leads with 20 goals and 13 assists. As for assists, Farmingdale State’s Thomas Ivers(92) leads the way with 23. 

-Caroline Delaney, Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference Beat Reporter