2025 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament

The 2025 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament is the culmination of the 2024–25 season, the 40th such tournament in NCAA history. Hobart successfully defended its championship for the second year in a row by defeating Utica 2–1 in overtime.^[1] In doing so, the Statesmen became the first program in almost 20 years to win three consecutive national championship, a feat that has only been accomplished five times prior (Michigan 1951–1953, Wisconsin–Stevens Point 1989–1991, Bemidji State 1993–1995 and Middlebury 1995–1999 & 2004–2006)

2025 NCAA Division III men's
ice hockey tournament

Teams	14
Finals site	Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York
Champions	Hobart (3rd title)
Runner-up	Utica (1st title game)
Semifinalists	Geneseo State (5th Frozen Four) Curry (1st Frozen Four)
Winning coach	Mark Taylor (3rd title)
MOP	Kahlil Fontana (Hobart)
Attendance	2,589 (Final)
← 2024  NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournaments 2026 →

Qualifying teams

Change

Following the 2023–24 athletic season, the Division III Management Council decided to change the tournament selection process for multiple sports. First, the ratio of bids to teams was lowered from 1:6.5 to 1:6, which would give the men's bracket an additional bid. Additionally, the council merged pools B and C for selection of at-large bids. Since there were no active conferences that had less than the requisite six members for an automatic bid (Pool B) that change did not affect men's college hockey. Finally, the selection committee would be using the NCAA Power Index instead of PairWise Rankings for choosing the at-large bids.^[2]

Teams

The tournament featured 14 teams selected in the following manner: (Pool A) ten teams received bids as a result of being conference tournament champions from conferences that possessed an automatic bid, (Pool B) four additional teams received at-large bids based upon their NCAA Percentage Index.^[3]

East							West
Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth Type	Appearance	Last Bid	Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth Type	Appearance	Last Bid
1	Curry (1)	CNE	24–3–0	Tournament Champion	7th	2024	1	Aurora (3)	NCHA	23–4–1	At-Large	1st	Never
2	Hobart (2)	NEHC	26–1–1	Tournament Champion	14th	2024	2	St. Norbert (5)	NCHA	23–5–1	Tournament Champion	22nd	2024
3	Utica (4)	UCHC	21–4–2	At-Large	6th	2024	3	Trine (7)	NCHA	20–6–2	At-Large	1st	Never
4	Geneseo State (6)	UCHC	22–4–1	Tournament Champion	11th	2024	4	Gustavus Adolphus	MIAC	16–9–2	Tournament Champion	7th	2012
5	University of New England (8)	CNE	18–7–1	At-Large	5th	2023	5	Wisconsin–Eau Claire	WIAC	14–15–1	Tournament Champion	4th	2020
6	Hamilton	NESCAC	20–6–1	Tournament Champion	2nd	2017
7	Oswego State	SUNYAC	16–8–3	Tournament Champion	17th	2019
8	Stevenson	MAC	18–7–2	Tournament Champion	1st	Never
9	Fitchburg State	MASCAC	15–12–1	Tournament Champion	2nd	2018

Format

The tournament featured four rounds of play. All rounds were single-game elimination. Because there were five western bids, those teams could not be localized in a single quarterfinal bracket. This meant that some matches would have to be arranged based upon proximity rather than ranking.

First, the top two overall seeds (Curry and Hobart) received byes into the quarterfinal round while the remaining teams were seeded in the first round. The top 4 overall seeds were placed in separate brackets and arranged so that, were they to advance, the #1 seed would play the #4 seed. Before any other seeding was done, the easter-most qualifier from the west (Trine) was placed into the same first round match as the western-most lower-seeded team from the east (Oswego State). While both Hobart and Geneseo State were further west, those two teams were to serve as hosts for playoff games while Oswego would be playing on the road. In order to cut down on travel, the winner of that east-west match would automatically advance to play Hobart, a relatively short distance from Trine's campus.

The remaining teams were seeded according to their regions with the top-ranked remaining western team facing the lowest-ranked remaining western team. However, instead of placing the four remaining wester teams in the same bracket (which had been standard policy in tournaments past), they were split into two brackets so that the first round matches containing the second western seed and second eastern seeds in the first round would play the first seeds of the opposite region in the quarterfinal round. This was done in part to not disadvantage the two teams in the east-west first round match by requiring the winner to travel far more than any other team but also because the second western seed (St. Norbert) was the 5th-overall seed while the second eastern seed in the first round (Geneseo State) was the 6th-overall seed and placing them in the same brackets as the 4th- and 3rd-overall seeds respectively made for a more fair arrangement.

The higher-seeded team played host in all first round and quarterfinal matches.^[4] As one of the participating teams, Utica was selected to host the Frozen Four at their home rink, the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Bracket

First round March 15

Quarterfinals March 20

Semifinals March 28

National Championship March 30

E1

Curry (1)

4

E6

Hamilton

1

E5

University of New England (8)

2

E6

Hamilton

4

E1

Curry (1)

1

E3

Utica (4)

2*

E3

Utica (4)

5

E9

Fitchburg State

1

E3

Utica (4)

5

W2

St. Norbert (5)

3

W2

St. Norbert (5)

3

W4

Gustavus Adolphus

2

E3

Utica (4)

1

E2

Hobart (2)

2*

E2

Hobart (2)

3*

W3

Trine (7)

2

W3

Trine (7)

4

E7

Oswego State

1

E2

Hobart (2)

2

E4

Geneseo State (6)

1

W1

Aurora (3)

3

W5

Wisconsin–Eau Claire

2

W1

Aurora (3)

4

E4

Geneseo State (6)

7

E4

Geneseo State (6)

3

E8

Stevenson

1

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Results

First round

March 15, 2025 7:00 PM

(E5) University of New England

2 – 4 (1–2, 0–1, 1–1)

(E6) Hamilton

Harold Alfond Forum – Biddeford, Maine Attendance: 645

Game reference
	Joey Stanizzi	Goalies	Charlie Archer	Referees: Michael Roberts Chris Henry Linesmen: Adam Drexel Josh Berenson
	Ryan Kuzmich (21) – 07:13 1–0 1–1 17:26 – Devon de Vries (8) (Krock) 1–2 19:30 – Ryan Sordillo (5) (Zimmerman, Constantine) 1–3 34:15 – Justin Biraben (5) (Brown) (Bergeman, Marino) Jayden Price (6) – PP – 43:19 2–3 2–4 59:03 – EN – Jackson Krock (15) (Zimmerman)
	2 min	Penalties	6 min
	23	Shots	23

March 15, 2025 1:00 PM

(E3) Utica

5 – 1 (2–0, 1–0, 2–1)

(E9) Fitchburg State

Adirondack Bank Center – Utica, New York Attendance: 3,194

Game reference
	Ryan Piros	Goalies	Max Macchioni	Referees: Daniel Gosselin Aaron Townsend Linesmen: Ryan Boylan Mason Hoeffner
	(Della Rovere, Brighton) Matt Wood (8) – 06:10 1–0 (Mulera) Matt Wood (9) – 08:56 2–0 (Schultheis, Murphy) Aiden Hughes (4) – 38:20 3–0 Eric Vitale (10) – 51:45 4–0 4–1 55:17 – Hunter Dunn (13) (Orme-Lynch) (D'Addario, Scoville) Gabriel Lundberg (5) – 58:57 5–1
	2 min	Penalties	4 min
	43	Shots	18

March 15, 2025 7:00 PM

(E5) St. Norbert

3 – 2 (1–0, 1–0, 1–2)

(E8) Gustavus Adolphus

Cornerstone Community Center – Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin Attendance: 1,262

Game reference
	Hunter Garvey	Goalies	Colin Androlewicz	Referees: Eric Smevoll Shaun Houser Linesmen: Steve Gurchinoff Dustin Kliztke
	(Deics, Fraser) Logan Dombrowsky (17) – 10:11 1–0 1–1 40:34 – SH – Wilmer Svensson (9) (Holt) (Hammond, Byrne) Jack Christen (4) – 34:01 2–1 (Hammond) Bryan Gilman (3) – EN – 58:25 3–1 3–2 59:26 – EA – Hunter Newhouse (13) (Svensson)
	7 min	Penalties	12 min
	29	Shots	23

March 15, 2025 7:00 PM

(W3) Trine

4 – 1 (0–0, 2–0, 2–1)

(E7) Oswego State

Thunder Ice Arena – Angola, Indiana Attendance: 754

Game reference
	Ronnie Petrucci	Goalies	Brandon Milberg	Referees: William Jones Craig Florkowski Linesmen: Caid Blessing Brett Straley
	(Vassallo, Cohen) Drew Jeffers (2) – 34:52 1–0 (Wright) Brendan Finn (7) – 36:57 2–0 (Antenucci, Babich) Sean Henry (9) – 40:34 3–0 3–1 53:42 – PP – Jesse Horacek (10) (Vassallo, Cohen) (Hill) Tyler Fox (4) – EN – 59:50 4–1
	6 min	Penalties	6 min
	18	Shots	27

March 15, 2025 2:00 PM

(W1) Aurora

3 – 2 (1–0, 0–0, 2–2)

(W5) Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Fox Valley Ice Arena – Geneva, Illinois Attendance: 412

Game reference
	Jacob Mucitelli	Goalies	Max Gutjahr	Referees: Shane Dillon Brandon Schroder Linesmen: Joe Guzzardi Nick Schirripa
	(Schmuck, Brockman) Jackson Kirk (12) – PP – 15:51 1–0 Keaton Lipsett (2) – 42:58 2–0 2–1 45:15 – Leo Bacallao (9) (Heyde, Herzberg) Juliano Santalucia (9) – EN – 59:20 3–1 3–2 59:43 – EA – Jadon Reimer (1)
	2 min	Penalties	2 min
	37	Shots	26

Quarterfinals

March 20, 2025 3:00 PM

(E1) Curry

4 – 1 (0–0, 2–0, 2–1)

(E6) Hamilton

Canton Ice House – Canton, Massachusetts Attendance: 1,000

Game reference
	Shane Soderwall	Goalies	Charlie Archer
	Taurin Haddon-Harris (5) – 22:29 1–0 (Soderling) Nolan McDonough (11) – 26:48 2–0 2–1 41:12 – Luke Tchor (17) (Zimmerman, Philpott) (Vonakis) Taurin Haddon-Harris (6) – 53:02 3–1 Grady Friedman (11) – EN – 56:49 4–1
	12 min	Penalties	12 min
	36	Shots	38

March 20, 2025 1:00 PM

(W2) St. Norbert

3 – 5 (1–1, 2–1, 0–3)

(E3) Utica

Adirondack Bank Center – Utica, New York Attendance: 3,015

Game reference
	Hunter Garvey	Goalies	Ryan Piros	Referees: Anthony Perez Sam Cucinotta Linesmen: Chris Foote Shane Dillon
	Brock Baker (7) – 03:15 1–0 1–1 19:08 – Jakob Breault (16) (Mulera, Scoville) (Baker, Hammond) Calvin Hanson (7) – 23:19 2–1 (Dombrowsky, Fraser) Carter Hottmann (12) – 25:13 3–1 3–2 26:15 – Drake Morse (13) (Breault) 3–3 38:05 – Jakob Breault (17) 3–4 39:45 – Gabriel Lundberg (6) (Gullichsen, D'Addario) 3–5 59:59 – EN – Aiden Hughes (5) (Breault, Schultheis)
	0 min	Penalties	0 min
	27	Shots	38

March 20, 2025 7:00 PM

(E2) Hobart

3 – 2 (OT) (0–0, 0–2, 2–0, 1–0)

(W3) Trine

Geneva Recreation Complex – Geneva, New York Attendance: 614

Game reference
	Damon Beaver	Goalies	Ronnie Petrucci	Referees: Jason Swenson Tyler Loftus Linesmen: Donovan Ott Vincent Stefan
	0–1 23:44 – PP – Logan Furstenau (12) (Wright, Cooper) 0–2 30:54 – Sam Antenucci (10) (Jeffers) (Daniels, Swift) Luke Aquaro (15) – PP – 40:27 1–2 (Daniels, Swift) Dominic Schimizzi (10) – 43:27 2–2 Luke Aquaro (16) – 69:15 3–2
	4 min	Penalties	10 min
	41	Shots	25

March 20, 2025 8:00 PM

(W2) Geneseo State

7 – 4 (0–1, 2–2, 5–1)

(E3) Aurora

Fox Valley Ice Arena – Geneva, Illinois Attendance: 1,377

Game reference
	Adam Harris	Goalies	Jacob Mucitelli	Referees: Bill Jones Matthew Wyld Linesmen: Caid Blessing Brett Staley
	0–1 18:47 – Chase Broda (7) (Dekowny) 0–2 20:30 – Juliano Santalucia (10) (Kirk, Schmidt) 0–3 26:17 – Landry Schmuck (31) (Bédard, Schmidt) Alex Dameski (14) – 26:42 (Wiberg, Morgan) 1–3 (Fensterstock) Luke Panchisin (10) – 37:56 2–3 2–4 44:08 – Andrew Schultz (3) (Hay) (Beaulne) Luke Panchisin (11) – 44:51 3–4 (Howard, Gatewood) Jack McDonald (6) – 39:43 4–4 (McDonald, Zarudny) Alex Dameski (15) – 55:56 5–4 Filip Wiberg (16) – EN – 58:12 6–4 Filip Wiberg (17) – EN – 59:04 (Morgan, Melso) 7–4
	2 min	Penalties	18 min
	35	Shots	30

Semifinals

March 28, 2025 7:00 PM

(E1) Curry

1 – 2 (OT) (0–0, 0–1, 1–0, 0–1)

(E3) Utica

Adirondack Bank Center – Utica, New York Attendance: 2,179

Game reference
	Shane Soderwall	Goalies	Ryan Piros	Referees: Matt Wyld Chris Henry Linesmen: Ryan Chauie Mark McGinnis
	0–1 39:00 – Anthony Bax (2) (Scoville, Breault) (Dill, Prewitt) Shane Carr (3) – PP – 51:03 1–1 1–2 64:25 – Eric Vitale (11) (Scoville)
	4 min	Penalties	2 min
	20	Shots	36

March 28, 2025 3:00 PM

(E2) Hobart

2 – 1 (0–0, 1–0, 1–1)

(E4) Geneseo State

Adirondack Bank Center – Utica, New York Attendance: 1,600

Game reference
	Damon Beaver	Goalies	Adam Harris	Referees: Craig Florkowski Trevor Waite Linesmen: Sam Cucinotta Anthony Perez
	(Fontana) Calum Chau (2) – 25:39 1–0 1–1 42:16 – Peter Morgan (15) (Mourar) Matthew Iasenza (4) – 50:36 2–1
	2 min	Penalties	4 min
	40	Shots	21

National Championship

March 30, 2025 7:00 PM

(E2) Hobart

2 – 1 (OT) (0–0, 0–1, 1–0, 1–0)

(E3) Utica

Adirondack Bank Center – Utica, New York Attendance: 2,586

Game reference
	Damon Beaver	Goalies	Ryan Piros	Referees: Matt Wyld Trevor Waite Linesmen: Ryan Chauvin Mark McGinnis
	0–1 29:39 – Eric Vitale (12) (Della Rovere, Wood) (Morrissey, Aquaro) Easton Ryan (5) – 48:35 1–1 Kahlil Fontana (10) – 78:22 2–1
	2 min	Penalties	2 min
	46	Shots	40

All-Tournament Team

^[1]

• G: Ryan Piros (Utica)

• G: Damon Beaver (Hobart)

• D: Calum Chau (Hobart)

• D: Brian Scoville (Utica)

• F: Eric Vitale (Utica)

• F: Easton Ryan (Hobart)

• F: Kahlil Fontana* (Hobart)

Record by conference

Conference	# of Bids	Record	Win %	Quarterfinals	Frozen Four	Championship Game	Champions
NEHC	1	3–0	1.000	1	1	1	1
UCHC	2	5–2	.714	2	2	1	—
CNE	2	1–2	.333	1	1	—	—
NCHA	3	3–3	.500	3	—	—	—
NESCAC	1	1–1	.500	1	—	—	—
MAC	1	0–1	.000	—	—	—	—
MASCAC	1	0–1	.000	—	—	—	—
MIAC	1	0–1	.000	—	—	—	—
SUNYAC	1	0–1	.000	—	—	—	—
WIAC	1	0–1	.000	—	—	—	—

See also

• 2025 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament