Week 19 saw the crowning of two College Hockey South champions. The South Carolina Gamecocks dominated their first season in Division 3, clinching the conference title with back-to-back victories over Georgia and Florida.
Meanwhile, the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders arrived in Fort Lauderdale with a single goal—winning the conference championship. Their journey was anything but easy, overcoming Tampa, Ole Miss, and USF to claim their first-ever conference title in program history.
South Carolina’s Drew Durdov and MTSU’s Ayden Kopec were recognized as MVPs of their respective championship games.
Congratulations to the South Carolina Gamecocks and Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders on their College Hockey South Division victories!
Division 3 Playoffs
Day 1
Qualifying Round: (S4) Florida Tech vs. (N5) Kennesaw State
The more things change, the more they stay the same… or at least that’s the case for Florida Tech.
For a second straight year, Kennesaw State eliminated the Panthers in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs. The Owls trounced Florida Tech, establishing a four-goal lead in the first period and cruising to a berth in the quarterfinals.
Chris Scott assisted on the first three goals for KSU, and then leading scorer Sebastian Zamborsky buried a PPG to round out a dominant first frame.
The teams volleyed goals and penalties the rest of the way to litter the scoresheet utterly. Sixteen minors, two ten-minute misconducts, and one major penalty were assessed in the final two periods on top of eight combined goals.
Mercifully, this one ended eventually… Kennesaw State 9-3.
Kennesaw State advanced to play undefeated South Carolina in the quarterfinals.
FINAL
Florida Tech 3
Kennesaw State 9
Qualifying Round: (N4) Alabama vs. (S5) Miami
Another game, another North Division team routing a South Division foe. This time, it was Alabama crushing Miami in a game where their stars shined bright.
Joah Tratar kicked off the fun with his first of four goals of the evening, assisting on the goal was Alabama stud Rhys Gulotta. Tratar and Gulotta would team up on two more goals, continuing their dominance this season as the Frozen Tide’s leading scorers. Tratar finished with four goals and an assist while Gulotta had a goal and two assists.
The ‘Canes overhauled Division 3 team couldn’t follow last season’s tremendous results, falling in the first round in lopsided fashion.
Alabama moved on to play Florida Atlantic in the quarterfinals. Miami will play Florida Tech in the 9th-place game.
FINAL
Alabama 8
Miami 1
Day 2
Quarterfinal #1: (S2) Florida State Seminoles vs. (N3) Georgia Ice Dawgs
Santa Maria!
North Division domination continued early on Friday, with Georgia upsetting Florida State in the first quarterfinal. The Seminoles entered the playoffs as the South Division’s hottest team, winning eight straight games to end the regular season. The Ice Dawgs dramatically snapped that winning streak.
FSU opened the scoring and carried play through the first two periods, nursing a 1-0 lead into the final 20 minutes. But Georgia found their second gear and ramped up the intensity to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Furious action and near misses filled the five-minute overtime session, but neither goalie could be beaten, and the winner had to be decided in a shootout.
Highlight of the day goes to Case Santa Maria for Georgia, pulling off an incredible between-the-legs deke to bury the game-winning shootout goal for the Ice Dawgs.
Huge shoutouts to the guys between the pipes for both teams in this game for having incredible games. Getting the loss (undeservedly) for Florida State Matthew Silliman and Taveon Dees for Georgia.
FINAL (SHOOTOUT)
Georgia 3
Florida State 2
Quarterfinal #2: (N2) Tennessee Ice Vols vs. (S3) Florida Gators
A day after Tennessee found out they’d be going to AAU Nationals, Florida upset them in the first round.
The Gators were opportunistic when they got their few chances. But the story of the game was quality over quantity, and the Vols had the quantity. Tennessee dominated time of possession and overwhelmed Florida on the shot counter but couldn’t solve Gator goalie David Stenzel.
Florida stunned Tennessee with two goals early in the first period, and the Gators held that lead the rest of the way. The Ice Vols cut the lead to one a couple of times but could never string together more than one at a time.
Florida advanced to the semifinals in a stunner, and Tennessee falls to the fifth-place game against Florida State tomorrow.
FINAL
Tennessee 3
Florida 5
Quarterfinal #3: (S1) Florida Atlantic Owls vs. (N4) Alabama Frozen Tide
The Tide held in as long as possible against the high-flying Owls, but Florida Atlantic took off with the win.
Division 3 leading scorer Christian Cuccia swooped in to score the first goal of the game on the power play. Cuccia one-timed a pass from Drew Renzi to up his season goal total to 26.
The Frozen Tide chipped away with a goal tallied by Gabe Poland in the final minutes of the second period. The goal was scored from long distance and leaked through FAU goalie Matthew McMillin. However, McMillin rallied to hold down the fort, and his teammates picked him up the rest of the way.
FAU picked up two goals to stretch the lead in the first half of the third and pushed their way through to the semifinals. The Owls advanced to play Florida.
FINAL
Florida Atlantic 4
Alabama 1
Quarterfinal #4: (N1) South Carolina Gamecocks vs. (N5) Kennesaw St. Owls
We wrap up the second day of the Division 3 playoffs with a black-and-blue-style game between KSU and South Carolina.
At times, it looked like the puck was secondary in this game. Bodies, sticks, and penalties flew all over the Panthers Ice Den throughout Quarterfinal #4.
Kennesaw State and South Carolina played a tight-checking game that was relatively even, but Kennesaw State’s lack of discipline cost them throughout the contest. The Owls racked up 23 minutes in penalties, including 11 from Captain James Kravis.
South Carolina capitalized twice on KSU’s penalties, giving them enough offense to stay undefeated on the season. Drew Durdov was stellar in the net for Carolina when called upon, as was the far busier Connor Lakly for Kennesaw State.
Paul Marshall reached double-digits on his goal total for South Carolina after scoring the first two of the game for the ‘Cocks.
South Carolina advanced to play Georgia in the semifinals at 8:30 P.M. EST.
FINAL
South Carolina 4
Kennesaw State 2
Day 3
7th Place Game: Alabama Frozen Tide vs. Kennesaw State
After a disappointing quarterfinal defeat to South Carolina in the late game Friday night, Kennesaw State returned Saturday morning to bury Alabama in the 7th place game, 8-3.
The Owls came out flat early, surrendering the game's first two goals to the Frozen Tide. But from that point on, KSU dominated.
The same day, he was named to the College Hockey South all-conference second team, Sebastian Zamborsky netted four goals and an assist, including a filthy between-the-legs move on the power play to give KSU the lead early in the second.
Kennesaw State finished their season with a 2-1 weekend at the Division 3 playoffs.
FINAL
Kennesaw State 8
Alabama 3
5th Place Game: Tennessee Ice Vols vs. Florida State Seminoles
Neither highly ranked team in this matchup wanted to go 0-2 this weekend, but Florida State wanted it more.
After giving up the first goal, Florida State scored five of the final six to claim fifth place in the Division 3 playoffs. Jai Van Rij scored for the ‘Noles, bringing his playoff total to three goals.
Matthew Silliman got the win for FSU, completing a fantastic playoff showing for the 2025 Division 3 Goalie of the Year. Silliman allowed four goals in two games this weekend.
FINAL
Florida State 5
Tennessee 2
Semifinal #1: (S1) Florida Atlantic Owls vs. (S3) Florida Gators
Florida frustrated another foe to continue their Cinderella run to the championship game.
In the Gator’s quarterfinal win against Tennessee, they established a lead and defended like their lives depended on it. Florida followed a similar game plan against FAU, but it nearly went sideways.
Quinn Hitchcock lit the lamp 30 seconds into the third period to give Florida a 2-0 lead over a visibly irritated Florida Atlantic team. Much like the Ice Vols in the quarterfinal, the Owl's usually potent offense couldn’t solve the combination of the Gator’s defensive posture and goaltender David Stenzel.
After Nicholas Pecora cut the deficit in half, FAU found a spark, but the Owls still trailed with less than 80 seconds. Division 3 MVP Christian Cuccia played the hero for Florida Atlantic, scoring on a one-time shot at 1:14 that looked like a carbon copy of his goal against Alabama a day ago.
Just when it seemed the game was destined for overtime, Hugh Leahy struck with 40 seconds remaining to sink the Owls and send Florida to the championship game.
Two days, two upset wins for Florida, and they’re one more away from the PictSweet Cup.
FINAL
Florida Atlantic 2
Florida 3
Semifinal #2: (N1) South Carolina Gamecocks vs. (N3) Georgia Ice Dawgs
Two weeks ago, South Carolina eliminated Georgia in the semifinals of the Division 1 playoffs in Athens. Fast forward to tonight, and the Division 3 Gamecocks followed suit.
Though there were some shaky moments, the ‘Cocks controlled the game with their usual tight-checking style, giving the Ice Dawgs little room 5-on-5. The speed wobbles came in the penalty-filled second period, which saw the lead change hands three times.
Seamus Murphy kicked off the scoring for USC to give them a 1-0, but Georgia would bury a pair on a major penalty to wrestle away the lead. Following more penalties and swear words exchanged by the benches, South Carolina vaulted back in front with two odd-man rush goals, including Seamus Murphy’s second of the game.
The ‘Cocks shut down Georgia in the final 20 minutes to book a date in the championship game against Florida.
Drew Durdov and the Gamecocks continue their undefeated season until Sunday when they’ll have an opportunity to win a conference championship in their first season.
FINAL
South Carolina 4
Georgia 2
Day 4
PictSweet Cup Championship: (N1) South Carolina vs. (S3) Florida
The brand new Division 3 Gamecocks team has gone through their regular season and now the first part of their postseason without losing.
South Carolina raced out to an early two goal lead and never looked back, thrashing a fatigued and overwhelmed Florida team. Four different Gamecocks found the twine through the first two period, underscoring the depth and overall team game that South Carolina plays well.
Despite running away with the North Division, the ‘Cocks only had one player named to the all conference team, and no skaters. The only player to get an All-CHS nod was goalie Drew Durdov who shutout Florida for 59 and a half minutes before the Gators broke through.
Durdov was named playoff MVP for his great run between the pipes for USC. The second team All-CHS goalie went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and a 0.946 save percentage.
Though it ended in a humbling loss, the Florida Gators had a tremendous run in the Division 3 playoffs. They started by upending Nationals-bound Tennessee in the quarterfinal, and then breaking the hearts of Florida Atlantic in the semifinals. Gator goalie David Stenzel was fantastic, leaving everything out on the ice in all three games.
Congratulations to the South Carolina Gamecocks for winning the 2025 PictSweet Cup!
FINAL
South Carolina 7
Florida 1
Division 2 Playoffs
Day 1
Quarterfinal #1: (S2) South Florida vs. (N3) Vanderbilt
The South Florida Bulls defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores, 4-3, to advance to the semifinals. South Florida opened the scoring halfway through the first with a power-play goal, courtesy of Jacob Duhaime with help from Mario Cavallaro. Vanderbilt’s John Torinus responded three minutes later to even the score at 1-1, but the Bulls reclaimed the lead with just 1:19 left in the first.
However, the Commodores bounced back with two goals in the second — one from Harrison Parent at 8:43 and one from Andrew Harder at 14:20 — to take a 3-2 lead entering the final frame.
Unfortunately for Vanderbilt, the Bulls returned the favor in the third, netting two goals — one from Kevin Rosello at 3:56 and the other from Jacob Duhaime at 16:29 — to secure their bid to the tournament's semifinal round.
FINAL
South Florida 4
Vanderbilt 3
Quarterfinal #2: (N2) Middle Tennessee vs. (S3) Tampa
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders overcame the Tampa Spartans, 6-2, on Friday night to advance in the College Hockey South Division 2 playoff tournament.
Middle Tennessee struck first, courtesy of Zachary Giblin, with 3:16 remaining in the first. Though his goal was the only one in the initial period, Tampa responded early in the third with a power-play goal from Brendan Sickles to equalize the score at 1. The Blue Raiders reclaimed the lead with just under 14 minutes left in the middle frame.
Middle Tennessee went on to collect four more goals in the third: Brendan Ogle at 3:45, Anthony Paponetti at 9:03, Matthew Siciliano on the power play at 15:22, and Linden Palmer — his second of the night — at 18:26.
Though Tampa recorded another goal in the third, from Tyler Hoffman with 15:43 left, the Spartans could not overcome the deficit. With the win, the Blue Raiders advance to the semifinals, where they’ll take on the Ole Miss Rebels at 5:30 p.m. EST. on Saturday.
FINAL
Middle Tennessee State 6
Tampa 2
Quarterfinal #3: (S1) Florida Atlantic vs. (N4) Ole Miss
The Florida Atlantic Owls fell to the Ole Miss Rebels in overtime, 5-4.
Florida Atlantic netted the only goal of the opening period from Keith Goldberg just 1:09 into the contest. The Rebels responded with two goals early in the middle frame for a 2-1 lead, but Brady Baehser remedied the deficit before the end of the second to establish a 2-2 tie entering the third.
The Owls collected two goals — one from Nick Oliverio and another from Justin Harshaw on the power play — to open the third, but Ole Miss netted two of its own within the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime.
2:54 into the additional period, Doyle Coughlin, unassisted, secured the win for the Rebels to advance to the semifinals.
FINAL (Overtime)
Florida Atlantic 4
Ole Miss 5
Quarterfinal #4: (N1) Clemson vs. (S4) Miami
In a back-and-forth-style matchup, the Clemson Tigers ultimately claimed victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the opening round of the College Hockey South Division 2 playoffs, 6-5.
Miami opened the scoring less than five minutes into the first, courtesy of Thomas Ferry. The Hurricanes added an insurance goal less than a minute later, but Clemson quickly responded with one of its own from Troy Gouveia. Leading 2-1, Miami collected another goal with just 3:31 left in the initial frame, and the Tigers responded with 1:13 remaining to solidify the 3-2 score entering the second.
The Hurricanes struck first in the second, as Elian Estulin netted his second of the night to increase Miami’s lead to 4-2. However, Clemson responded with two goals of its own to tie the score at 4-4 by the end of the second: one from Kevin Arthur at 15:20 and the other from Christian Romeo at 17:35.
The Tigers took an early lead in the second. Still, Miami tied the score yet again with a power–play goal from Jaret Fensterstock at 11:33. With overtime looming ahead, Clemson’s captain Cade Heinold netted the game-winner with just 33 seconds left in the contest to secure the Tigers’ 6-5 win.
FINAL
Clemson 6
Miami 5
Day 2
Semifinal #1: Middle Tennessee vs. Ole Miss
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders secured their spot in the championship game with a 4-1 win over the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday.
Middle Tennessee’s Brendan Ogle struck first, netting a power-play goal just 2:04 into the first period. Four minutes later, the Rebels responded courtesy of Landon Houck, to tie the score at 1-1 entering the middle frame.
The Blue Raiders reclaimed the lead just 1:47 into the second and doubled their lead — as Ogle netted his second of the night — before the period’s end. To ensure the team’s advancement to the final game, Ogle completed his hat trick with 3:51 left in the contest.
FINAL
Middle Tennessee State 4
Ole Miss 1
Semifinal #2: Clemson vs. South Florida
In a game that was played between South Florida and Clemson, we saw a bit too much of the zebras.
Clemson was guilty of ten minor penalties, one major, and three ten-minute misconducts that resulted in nine South Florida power plays and 55 total penalty minutes.
Even with the vast amount of time Clemson spent short-handed, this game was well within reach for the Tigers. Santiago Diaz picked up two goals while a man down for Clemson, the second to tie the game at three just over five minutes into the third period.
The tie didn’t last though, as South Florida’s Adam Offenbach scored on the same power play to give USF the lead back for good.
Clemson finally got on the power play for the first time with eight and change to go, but in a cruel twist of irony, the Bulls would score short-handed. Division 2 MVP Grant Dietz delivered the dagger to the hearts of the Tigers and sent South Florida to the championship.
The Bulls will meet Middle Tennessee on Sunday.
FINAL
South Florida 5
Clemson 3
Day 3
Ameritrans Cup Championship: (S2) South Florida vs (N2) Middle Tennessee State
For the first time in their program’s history, Middle Tennessee State are College Hockey South champions.
The Blue Raiders overcame their late-season slump to win convincingly three times in three days. The game wasn’t without its quirks, though, as the usual 12-minute intermission between the first and second periods was extended by over an hour after troubles with the ice at the Panthers Ice Den stadium rink. If it wasn’t for another game being canceled and opening up another rink in the building, we might still be waiting for that ice to be playable.
Nevertheless, the Blue Raiders held their concentration and dominated South Florida’s high-end offensive talent with a cohesive team effort.
MTSU captain Linden Palmer opened the scoring with five minutes to go in the first, followed by two from Donovan Yesnach to give the Blue Raiders a 3-0 lead before the extended delay.
Both teams responded with a rush of energy in the new rink, with South Florida desperate to stage a comeback. USF’s desperation allowed Linden Palmer to score his second goal of the game to ice it essentially.
The Blue Raiders locked it up in the third, shutting out the vaunted Bull offense. Ayden Kopec was named playoff MVP for his shutout in the championship game.
Congratulations to Middle Tennessee State for winning the 2025 Ameritrans Cup!
ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 30-school, 50-team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.