Via United Collegiate Hockey Conference (theuchc.com) -- Top-seed Utica University (22-2-3) will host No. 2 seed Stevenson University (21-5-1) in the 2024 UCHC Men's Championship game at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2 from Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, NY. The winner earns an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship Tournament.
The Pioneers advanced to the championship after defeating eighth-seeded Nazareth University, 3-0 in the quarterfinals on Feb. 21 and No. 4 seed Alvernia University, 4-0 in the semifinals on Feb. 24. Goaltender Ethan Roberts has made 50 saves in the tournament in the two shutout wins, while seven different players have scored the seven postseason goals for the Pioneers.
Utica is the No. 2 ranked team in Division III and enters Saturday's title game riding a 16-game winning streak. Utica has not lost a game during the 2024 calendar year. The Pioneers earned 58 of a possible 60 points in league play this season and are the No. 1 seed in the UCHC Tournament for the seventh straight season.
Utica is out-scoring opponents, 129-39 this season and have 10 players with at least 20 points, 16 with at least 10 points and nine players with at least seven goals this season. Brian Scoville leads the team in scoring with 32 points on nine goals and 23 assists and is a league-best plus-42, while Shane Murphy has a team-high 13 goals and Matt Wood has 12 goals and 29 points. Eric Vitale and Michael Herrera have 11 goals apiece. Ethan Roberts is 13-2-3 in goal with a 1.55 goals against average and a .940 save percentage, while Bryan Landsberger is 9-0-0 in with a 1.14 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage. Landsberger leads the league in both goals against average and save percentage.
The Pioneers are in the UCHC Championship game for the sixth time in seven seasons as a member of the conference and are looking for their third straight league title and fifth overall (2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Utica is also looking for their fifth NCAA Tournament berth, having also advanced in 2013, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Stevenson advanced to the UCHC Championship game after defeating No. 7 King's College, 5-1 in quarterfinal action on Feb. 21 and out-lasted No. 3 Wilkes University, 4-3 in overtime in the semifinals on Feb. 24. Kyle Lightfoot scored his second goal of the game 2:33 into overtime to lift Stevenson into the title game.
Stevenson enters the UCHC Championship contest having won 19 of its last 22 games. The Mustangs are ranked No. 12 in the latest USCHO.com Division III national poll and have a 21-5-1 overall record, out-scoring foes, 105-54. Stevenson boasts four different 20-point scorers and 14 players who have recorded at least 10 points in 2023-24. Liam McCanney, the reigning UCHC Player of the Year, leads all UCHC student-athletes with 20 goals this season. He also has six game-winning tallies. Benson leads the team with 19 assists and 29 points, while Zach Bannister has 27 points on 10 goals and 17 assists. Goaltender Ty Outen is 19-5-1 with a 1.77 goals against average, a .945 save percentage and four shutouts. He is among the national leaders in save percentage and shutouts. Outen was named 2023-24 UCHC Goaltender of the Year and landed on the All-UCHC First Team alongside McCanney.
Stevenson is looking for its first UCHC Championship in its second trip to the league title game. The Mustangs are also attempting to advance to their first NCAA Tournament in program history.
Utica earned four of six points against the Mustangs all the way back on Nov. 3-4. The two teams skated to a 2-2 draw on Nov. 3 before Stevenson earned the extra point with a 1-0 shootout win. Outen made 36 saves for Stevenson, while Roberts stopped 34 shots for Utica. The following day, Utica scored three third period goals to break a 2-2 tie en route to a 5-2 win. Jakob Breault scored twice for the Pioneers in the win.
Tickets will be available for purchase to the general public at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 28. They can be purchased by visiting the Adirondack Bank Center Box Office during normal business hours or online at EmpireStateTix.com.
2024 UCHC Championship t-shirts will be available for purchase at the game on Saturday. T-shirt prices are $10 for short sleeve and $15 for long sleeve. A limited quantity will be available.
2024 UCHC Men's Hockey Championship Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, February 21 (Quarterfinals)
No. 1 Utica defeated No. 8 Nazareth, 3-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 Stevenson defeated No. 7 King's, 5-1 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Wilkes defeated No. 6 Chatham, 5-1 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Alvernia defeated No. 5 Manhattanville, 6-1 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, February 24 (Semifinals)
No. 2 Stevenson defeated No. 3 Wilkes, 4-3 (OT) – BOX SCORE
No. 1 Utica defeated No. 4 Alvernia, 4-0 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, March 2 (Championship)
No. 2 Stevenson at No. 1 Utica – 7 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its fifth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica University, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.
