The 2024-25’ CCHA regular season has ended in quite a disarrayed standing in relation to the CCHA preseason poll, the only correct prediction being Northern Michigan missing the playoff in the ninth seed.
Not a single team finished in the same place they did in 2023-24’, with five teams moving lower in the standings, and three teams rising in their spots (Augustana does not factor in). Teams played two more conference games this season then last, and 48 more points available to the league in the form of Augustana (Vikings took 30 of 48).
The Minnesota State Mavericks earned the MacNaughton Cup given to the regular season champion of the CCHA. Eight of the nine teams will play in the quarterfinal of the 2025 Mason Cup for the chance to win the Mason Cup and the tournament championship.
Since CCHA’s reformation in the 2021-22 season, there have been three Mason Cup champions. Michigan Tech won the last in 2024, Minnesota State in 2023 and 2022, the heavy favorites to win in 2025 as well. The two seasons MSU won the cup they were also winners of the MacNaughton Cup as they are in 2025.
#8 Lake Superior State at #1 Minnesota State (Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center- Mankato, Minn.)
MSU is the heavy favorite against the Lakers, unsurprisingly as the MacNaughton Cup champions and two-time Mason Cup winners. The Mavericks have the best record of any CCHA team (23-8-3), being ranked top 20 nationally for the majority of the season and even top 15 for much of it.
They are bolstered on the shoulders of junior goaltender, Alex Tracy, arguably the best goalie in the NCAA. His season includes a 1.4 goals against average and a .945 save percentage, both first among all qualified netminders. A step back, but still great, is their Minnesota transfer Rhett Pitlick, who has 13 goals, 37 points, and five game-winners including two in overtime.
Yet Lake Superior State has been known to play spoiler. They took a series win over #2 St. Thomas in the 2024 Mason Cup quarterfinals, losing in the semifinal. The Lakers’ issue comes at the hands of injuries and records.
Both leading scorers, Connor Milburn and Sasha Teleguine, have not played in the last three games, Teleguine in the previous four. If continuing into the playoff, 23 goals and 41 points will be absent from the lineup. Just as unfortunate is the loss of second-highest scoring defenseman Evan Bushy, 14 assists and a strong defender to lose late in the season.
Just as well, LSSU is winless in four games against MSU this season, outscored 13-4 both home and away. They play not only without three key players but without a win against their first-round opponent this season, one for the last 13 against the Mavericks.
#7 Bemidji State at #2 Augustana (Midco Arena- Sioux Falls, S.D.)
While technically the second-worst matchup of the weekend, it may prove to be the hardest-fought battle between the two teams.
Bemidji State has been a true spoiler this season, 9-4-1 against the top four teams in the CCHA after the regular season, including a split against Augustana. They have shown that they can beat the best teams in the conference even at their peak of play.
Senior goaltender Mattias Sholl may be the x-factor for the Beavers. He is a 2024 CCHA Goaltender of the Year winner, and a 2024-25’ CCHA Preseason Goaltender of the Year selection. Sholl has had an extraordinarily down season, with 2.8 goals against and a sub-.900 save percentage through 33 games played.
BSU has a potent and deep offense when buzzing, with eight players with 15+ points, six with 10+ assists, and three with 10+ goals, also third in powerplay percentage (.245).
The Vikings, however, have been a pleasant surprise in their first season of CCHA competition, predicted to finish sixth but finishing second. Augustana has its strengths, similar to Bemidji State’s in a more successful variety.
Viking sophomore goaltender Josh Kotai has had an outstanding season, top in the NCAA in goals against average (1.8) and save percentage (.939) with three shutouts this season. He is supported by great offense for the second-best win margin of any CCHA team.
Augustana has three forwards at 21 points, each around the eight-goal 13-assist mark. Another, senior forward Luke Mobley, is one point away from the same number, scoring a team-leading 13 goals in a team-leading .200 shot percentage.
Bemidji State is a dark horse team in the Mason Cup, Augustana one brand new to the conference and trying to establish itself. It could serve to be the most entertaining series of the quarterfinals.
#6 Ferris State at #3 St. Thomas (St. Thomas Ice Arena- Mendota Heights, Minn.)
The Tommies had the comeback stretch of the season in 2025 as they were as low as eighth earlier in the season finishing well within a home playoff. Their sweep of Michigan Tech in the final weekend may be the most clutch series of the season for any team in the CCHA.
Their biggest storyline and their key to winning is senior goaltender Jake Sibell. The backup for most of the season, Sibell played a 57-save 1 goal-allowed game against Bowling Green for the best game of his career in college hockey. He rides a nine-game winning streak, one shutout and three one-score games during that time.
Before that BG game, junior Aaron Trotter was the superior goalie. Sibell has risen above him with 2.5 goals against and a .920 save percentage, marking well better than Trotter. Sibell will probably be the Tommie to get the net until he performs poorly or loses.
Amazingly, St. Thomas was never out of a home playoff considering their top three forwards. Although now on a dry spell, senior winger Liam Malmquist recorded 36 points on 13 goals and 23 assists in the regular season, second in CCHA scoring. His center, Lucas Wahlin, is third in total scoring and tied for first in goal scoring, with 16 goals and 19 assists including a four-game goal streak. A more impressive goal scorer, junior right-winger Cooper Gay has scored 16 goals in fewer games played, also tallying 10 helpers.
Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels will look to solve a CCHA star-studded St. Thomas team in his final season at the helm. He is 7-7 against the CCHA in 2025, and 5-3 in his last eight.
Similar to Augustana and Bemidji State, FSU has no true star player, simply a very deep team that all contribute positively to every game. They have 10 players with 10 or more points, six with 15+ and four with 10+ assists.
The main bulldog threats are Caiden Gault and Travis Shoudy. A premier forward, Gault is a goal scorer and a powerplay machine, with four of his 14 goals coming with a man advantage and five recorded as game-winners. A defenseman, Shoudy is one of the best blueliners in the conference, with six goals and 12 assists among great defense, six penalty minutes, and a team-leading +4 rating.
A consistent issue for them is goaltending, with Michigan transfer Noah West allowing 3.1 goals per game with a .904 save percentage. West and Ferris State have won only one game in the conference season when giving up three or more goals and lost only one when allowing less than two (West was not given that loss). In the last four losses for West, 21 goals have been allowed, three of the four against teams outside the top four.
#5 Michigan Tech at #4 Bowling Green (Slater Family Ice Arena- Bowling Green, Ohio)
Maybe more than the Augustana and Bemidji State series, BG and MTU might be the tightest and most competitive series of the quarterfinal. The only series played east of the Mississippi, Bowling Green hosts MTU for the second time this season in the only rematch of a 2024 Mason Cup quarterfinal matchup in 2025.
Michigan Tech comes after being swept on the road at St. Thomas amidst fighting to host a playoff series. The Huskies under Joe Shawhan have won only one game of their last eight, 6-8 in 2025.
As was their reliability last season, MTU’s goaltending has been somewhat unreliable this season. Midseason signee Ryan Manzella has given them a slight bump with three shutouts early, settling into more rough games of late. His stats are only slightly better than original starter, senior Derek Mullahy, both around 2.6 goals allowed and a .900 save percentage.
Manzella started the two games, and losses, against St. Thomas. Mullahy started and lost the game before against Ferris State.
2023-24 star rookie Isaac Gordon has had a more casual season in 2024-25, going from 36 points to 26 this season. This season’s newcomer, junior New Hampshire transfer, and left-winger, Stiven Sardarian, is an expert offender, with 10 goals and 24 assists this season. He has given strength to the depth of MTU goal scorers, three with 10+ and nine with over five.
Bowling Green, however, relies on no one more than their left winger, senior Ryan O’Hara. O’Hara has the most shots on the team, second most goals and by far the most assists. Taking penalties against BG is also lethal, with sophomore goal scorer Brody Waters scoring on 10 powerplays and only six goals besides.
First-season head coach Dennis Williams has strengthened BG’s defense by a large margin. The Falcons are tied for third for the best winning margin in the CCHA, allowing the least goals of any team but Minnesota State (not counting Augustana).
Their game, along with defense, is possession, leading the conference in faceoffs won and faceoff winning percentage by a large margin. Even their games, winning or losing, are dominated by Falcon puck possession, also amounting to the most shots on goal in the conference by four per game.
BG also has the advantage in goaltending, with their senior standout Christian Stoever having the best season of his four-year career. His save percentage led the NCAA for a month, now still in the top ten in save percentage (.939) and goals against average (1.95). He came off a two-week injury against Lake Superior State, getting his feet under him in the final-game win against the Lakers.
Bowling Green has a chip on their shoulder against the Huskies. In the 2024 Mason Cup quarterfinals, Michigan Tech stomped BG 5-0 and 6-5 in their home in Houghton, Mich. In 2025 they play in Bowling Green’s arena as they search for their first home playoff series win since 2018-19. The defending champs, Michigan Tech look to prove their first in the CCHA was not a fluke.
Quarterfinal Game Schedule (eastern time)
Friday, March 7
MTU at BGSU- 7:07 p.m. (WBGU 88.1 FM)
FSU at UST- 8:07 p.m.
LSSU at MSU- 8:07 p.m.
BSU at AU- 8:07 p.m.
Saturday, March 8
MTU at BGSU- 7:07 p.m. (WBGU 88.1 FM)
FSU at UST- 7:07 p.m.
LSSU at MSU- 7:07 p.m.
BSU at AU- 7:07 p.m.
Sunday, March 9 (if needed)
MTU at BGSU- 5:07 p.m. (WBGU 88.1 FM)
LSSU at MSU- 6:07 p.m.
BSU at AU- 6:07 p.m.
FSU at UST- 7:07 p.m.
