NFL
By: Jaso Gulden
As we recovered from a Turkey Fest on Thursday, we settled down for some NCHC action on Friday and Saturday. We had multiple sweeps, a tournament championship crowned, a home-and-home series, and a celebration of U.S. Hockey with the Hall of Fame game.
North Dakota and Bemidji State would face off in a home-and-home series. North Dakota would sweep this matchup. Winning Friday night 5-3 at Bemidji and then Saturday in Grand Forks by the score of 2-1.
Omaha would travel up to New Haven, Connecticut, to take on Yale. Yale would win the game on Friday by the score of 2-1. Omaha would get the split with their 3-1 victory on Saturday.
Arizona State would welcome Ohio State to Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils needed extra time both Friday and Saturday to earn the sweep over the Buckeyes. Friday’s score was 3-2, Saturday’s score was 4-3.
The NCHC Forward of the Week played in the series. Cullen Potter from Arizona State would earn that honor. He would have 1 goal and 1 assist each night. His Friday night goal was a game-tying, and he assisted on the game-winner in overtime. Saturday night, Arizona was down 3-0, and Potter assisted on a goal during the comeback before scoring the game-winner in overtime.
Colorado College would welcome Providence to Colorado Springs. Friday night, Colorado College would win 3-2. Providence would return the favor on Saturday night with a 2-1 victory.
The Colorado College and Providence Series would provide us with the NCHC Rookie of the Week. With scoring 3 of the 4 Tigers goals, Brandon Lisowsky would earn the Rookie of the Week. He had two game-tying goals on Friday night and would score the Tigers’ lone goal on Saturday. Coming into the series, Brandon had only scored 1 goal on the season.
In the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game, former WCHA rivals Minnesota and Denver faced off, resulting in a narrow 6-5 defeat for the Pioneers. The game’s action picked up in the 3rd period with Minnesota leading 2-1. Denver scored four times to push it to overtime but fell short in the extra frame.
Our Defenseman of the Week, Boston Buckberger from Denver, scored two game-tying goals—one at 19:36 in the first period to make it 1-1, and another at 19:36 in regulation to tie it 5-5.
To compete in the tournament, the champion journeyed more than 3,490 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 2025 Friendship Four Tournament champions are the Miami (OH) Redhawks. They took on RIT on Friday afternoon and won 4-0. On Saturday, Miami defeated Union 3-2 to win the tournament; Union had previously beaten Sacred Heart 8-1 on Friday.
The player named as the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player also earns the NCHC Goaltender of the Week award. This week, Matteo Drobac receives that recognition. On Friday night, Matteo blocked all 23 shots sent his way. Then on Saturday, he made 29 saves—including four crucial ones against Union late in the game—to help clinch a 3-2 victory.
USCHO updated its rankings on Monday. Although Minnesota Duluth didn’t play, they benefited from Denver’s loss and moved up to number 4. North Dakota climbed to #5 after sweeping Bemidji State, while Denver dropped two spots to #6 due to their defeat. Western Michigan remained at #7 as they were also idle.
This week, the polls feature two new NCHC teams. Miami (OH) enters the rankings at number 19 after starting the season strong and winning the Belfast Friendship Four Tournament. Colorado College, previously ranked earlier this year, returns to the poll at number 20.
Until later this weekend, NCHC fans, stay safe and warm. Winter is here!
