Frozen Frenzy: A National Championship in utica, ny
A Photo Story by Nico Leonard
How’d we get here?
Utica university’s hockey team recieved an at large bid after losing to the geneseo ice knights in the uchc championship. the pioneers recieved the 4 seed in the national tournament and took care of fitchburg state and the historic st. norbert college soundly to secure their bid to the frozen four. the top two seeds in this year’s tournament were (1) curry college and (2) hobart college and both those schools lack the proper facilties to host a national championship. after (6) geneseo defeated (3) aurora university, utica was now the top seed capable of hosting the frozen four. despite the dissapointing end to the regular season, the pioneers now have a chance to lift a national championship without having to leave the city since the start of postseason…
Tio D’Addario rips a shot in practice during a small sided.
first practice.
The Frozen Four kicked off officially on Thursday March 27th, where every team had their own hour skate time. Head Coach Gary Heenan got all his boys fired up for their second straight appearance in the Frozen Four with the knowledge that the team who ended their season last year sits on the other side of the bracket. This time, the pioneers hold a unique opportunity… to win the national championship here in Utica in front of all their students, families, and loyal season ticket holders.
“BREUALT came here for a reason, scoville came here for a reason, schultheis came here for a reason, [little johnny mulera came here to win a national championship] we brought those guys in yesterday, we said, you guys transferred to utica for a reason…and now it’s your time. and i think if you look at the guys who led us [here] … four pretty big monsters right there.”
— Gary Heenan
Game One.
March 28th, 3:00 p.m.
utica university nexus center
(2) hobart college vs (6) geneseo university
It all kicked off with the two-time defending national champions, the Hobart College Statesmen and the SUNY Geneseo Ice Knights. The game started out chippy with The Statesmen looking to get into the Ice Knights chest early. With that, came a plethora of early chances for Hobart but nothing to show for it in the first period.
But the defending national champs weren’t going to let a scoreless first period dictate the game. Calum Chau collects the puck on the blue line 5 minutes into the second period and fires it into the back of the net to give the Statesman the lead in Utica.
The defending UCHC champs weren’t ready to wave the white flag just yet. Future Geneseo Hall of Famer, Peter Morgan comes out of the Penalty Box just minutes into the third period and streaks down the ice for a tough finish to tie the game and suck the life out of the Hobart crowd. But not the Statesmen on the ice. Matthew Iasenza 8 minutes later would net the winner to send the reigning champs right back to the big game on Sunday.
Hobart College and SUNY Geneseo line up for the opening ceremony of the Frozen Four.
Tanner Daniels, Calum Chau, and Connor Lally celebrate the opening goal.
Game two.
(1) Curry College vs (4) Utica University
March 28th, 7:00 p.m.
utica university nexus center
both colonel and pioneer fans flooded into the nexus center after the conclusion of the first national semifinal game to watch history unfold. both curry college and utica university are storied hockey programs without one thing to show for it, a national championship appearance. no matter the outcome in this one, the winner will make history…
uchc all-rookie opens the scoring.
After a slow start to the first period where nerves were dominating the trajectory of the hockey game, the Pioneers came out in the second period playing the best hockey they have played all year. With just a minute remaining in the period, Anthony Bax (pictured) rewards the phenomenal period with a wrist shot from the blue line. The underdogs are still dancing and dreaming of history now going into the final 20 minutes of this National Semi-Final.
Anthony Bax rips a wrist shot from the blue line to open the scoring for the Pioneers.
overtime.
The 1 seeded Curry College Colonels proved why they are the best team in the country after absolutely dominating the 3rd period and sending this one to Overtime after a Shane Carr goal midway through.
Clean slate now in overtime, 5v5, Golden Goal.
Both squads shared chances for 15 minutes before Pioneer Captain Brian Scoville fired a slapshot into Shane Soderwall’s left pad that bounced out to his left side where none other than the Teddy Bear Toss Goal scorer, Eric Vitale was there to tuck the puck away and send the Nexus Center into a frenzy!
Vitale and the Utica Men’s Hockey team will march into eternal glory and appear in the program’s first ever Division III National Championship. On the other side, the reigning champs await Gary Heenan’s men.
Eric Vitale slides on one knee to celebrate in front of the Pioneer crowd.
John Gutt comes flying down the left wing in a heroic effort to snag the golden goal.
Eric Vitale wraps around the boards to celebrate the golden goal with his teammates.
Utica goes into a frenzy for the Golden Goal.
the national championship game.
will it be a three peat on it’s way back to geneva, new york
or
a long awaited first national title for utica university?
first period.
The first period saw nerves, adrenaline, and plenty of big hits. The pioneers outshot the Statesmen 11-5 in a good shooting performance despite a lot of neutral zone control from Hobart. At the end of the period Utica saw a 2-minute powerplay that they couldn’t convert as time ticked away.
Tio D’Addario skates back to recover defensively.
Defensemen Ben Schultheis with the puck on the blue line.
The Hobart fanbase traveled well to Utica, NY for the National Championship.
Andrew Della Rovere passes to puck to the other wing.
second period.
all utica.
The second period saw Utica respond and kill a powerplay of their own and the man who does it all snagged another at the midway point in the period. Eric Vitale got his second of the tournament off a bouncing puck in the slot that he roofed top of the net. Refer to Mr. Vitale now as Mr. Utica. 1-0 Pioneers!
Eric Vitale celebrates towards the board.
Mr. Utica screams towards his bench in triumph.
Vitale celebrates in front of the UticaTV media team.
Vitale, Andrew Della Rovere, and Matt Wood skate towards the bench after notching the first lead of the game.
third period.
the reigning champs respond.
The trend of this Frozen Four for Utica has been their dominant second periods, and their subpar third periods. And it was the same narrative again in their first National Championship. Easton Ryan poked one in to reward the Statesmen for their relentless and dominant play since the puck dropped in the third. Now, with 8 minutes to go in regulation, the Pioneers are on their heels again and on the brink of another overtime.
Captain Luke Aquaro fires up his men after tying up the game.
The Hobart crowd applauds their boys after the game-tying goal.
Easton Ryan and his entire line celebrate the well earned game-tying goal.
Connor Lally looks to take the lead soon after the goal.
The traveling Statesmen crowd starts to get rowdy in the third.
overtime.
again…
Here we are again. Two teams all too familiar with the highs and lows of an overtime elimination game, nonetheless, a National Championship game.
Will we see the improbable three-peat or will Utica witness History in their own building?
heartbreak in utica.
hobart pulls off the three-peat
The Pioneers console freshman Ryan Piros after an incredible performance from him.
“Special Group, Special Place! Hell of a hockey game. Shame we couldn’t deliver for the Pioneer Faithful, we certainly felt the love.” - Gary Heenan
In dramatic fashion, with just 1:36 left on the clock in the first overtime, Hobart finally finds a way to sneak it by Freshman Goaltender Ryan Piros who stood on his head all game. Khalil Fontana was the man to do it, sliding the puck right under the legs of Piros. Fontana and the rest of this squad will now bathe in eternal fame in Geneva, completing the unthinkable three-peat. Utica on the other hand, were just one golden goal from giving the University their first ever National Title. Heartbreak in Utica, NY.
Head Coach Mark Taylor gets his third Gatorade bath in three years.
Captain Brian Scoville disappointingly skates back with the runner up silverware.
The beauty of sports was shown in flying colors today. Two incredible teams trading shots all throughout overtime. Either hockey team could have won, and either hockey team would have deserved it. But that’s sports. Only one can win it all. Hobart College Statesman are your 2025 Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Champions… again. ‘23 ‘24 ‘25.
The gloves, helmets and sticks go flying after Fontana sneaks it past Piros.
The Three-peat is completed and the trophy they named, Love, is headed back to Geneva.