The St. Thomas Aquinas College Ice Hockey team takes the #2 seed into Saturday's Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference playoffs, against #3 SUNY Maritime College in the semifinals at the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink in Great Neck, New York, with puck drop scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
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How They Got Here - The Spartans wrapped up the regular season with a record of 15-7, tying the program's highest win total with the 2023-24 campaign. With their 11-1 mark in conference action, STAC secured the #2 seed in the MCHC Tournament, their third appearance in the last four seasons. St. Thomas Aquinas was also ranked No. 27 in the latest American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 3 poll, which was released this week.
SUNY Martime opened their 2024-25 season going 4-2-1 over its first seven games in the fall semester. The Privateers then posted a 3-2-0 record in their final five contests in the Spring campaign to secure the #3 spot in the postseason.
The Match-Up - STAC took both regular season matchups from Maritime, with the maroon and gold scoring a 7-2 victory on November 9 at World Ice Arena before blanking the Privateers 8-0 on Senior Day (February 2) at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks.
November 9, 2024 - Andrew Fenninger and Anthony Prunty both lit the lamp twice, while teammates James Tremblay, Jason Desalvo and Daniel McKeon also tallied goals. Goaltender Michael Pippo (W, 4-3) got the start for the Spartans and was once again solid between the pipes, stopping 34 of 36 shots faced.
February 2, 2025 - Nicholas Delia tallied a pair of goals, while James Guild, Andrew Fenninger, Anthony Prunty, Noah Barr, Jason Desalvo and Christopher Smith also added a goal apiece in the contest. In between the pipes, Michael Pippo (W, 9-5) turned aside all 23 shots faced to earn his first shutout victory of the year.
Players to Watch - The Spartans were among the best offensive teams in the conference, led by sophomore Andrew Fenninger with 26 goals and 37 assists (63 points), sophomore Jason Desalvo with 20 goals and 33 assists (53 points), freshman Anthony Prunty with 20 goals and 13 assists (33 points) and sophomore Nicholas Delia with 16 goals and 17 assists (33 points).
On the defensive side of the puck, junior goaltender Michael Pippo has a 10-5 record with a 3.90 goals against average and a .902 save percentage, appearing in 15 contests played to date. Teammate and sophomore Theo Morris has the Spartans five other victories (5-2), while posting a 4.66 goals against average and an .884 save percentage over 13 games.
Pat Freitas - 5 goals and 12 assists (17 points) and Cody Sousa - 15 goals and 1 assist (16 points) are the offensive players to keep an eye on for Maritime, while Chris Paulino Simms (3-2-1, 3.61 goals against average, .897 save percentage) and Ryan Winter (3-2, 4.62 goals against average, .866 save percentage) will tend the Privateers' net.
What's Next? - Saturday's other semifinal sees #1 seeded Sacred Heart University (11-1) taking on #4 Western Connecticut State University (6-4-2) in a 6:00 p.m. start also in Great Neck. The winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the Championship game on Sunday, February 23 at the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink. Opening faceoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
2025 METRPOLITAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS
Semifinals – Saturday, February 22 at Andrew Stergiopoulous Ice Rink (Great Neck, N.Y.)
6:00 PM - No. 4 Western Connecticut State University vs. No. 1 Sacred Heart University
8:30 PM - No. 3 SUNY Maritime College vs. No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas College
Final – Sunday, February 23 at Andrew Stergiopoulous Ice Rink (Great Neck, N.Y.)
3:00 PM - Semifinal winner vs. Semifinal winner
TICKET INFORMATION
*ALL SPECTATORS MUST PAY ADMISSION FEE TO GAIN ACCESS TO ANDREW STERGIOPOULOS ICE RINK*
$5 - General Admission (CASH ONLY)