Ice Level Weekend Recap: 10/24-10/25/2026

Any ranked team you can beat, i can beat higher. I can beat any team higher than you.

Written by James Blennau

I had to throw in some kind of Michael Jordan reference having just turned 23 on Friday night. At least South Carolina football made up for my pain watching Army beat my alma mater at home. We’ll get to those upsets though, because we have more parity than the Metropolitan Division right now in college hockey. I’m as excited as you to see the rest of this play out after a few exciting early weeks, so let’s hop in.

The Wildcats celebrate a crucial goal against No. 2 Michigan State. | Stu Horne/UNH Athletics

Ashes, ashes, they all fall down!

No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 North Dakota, No. 8 Quinnipiac and No. 11 Michigan Tech all found themselves on the wrong side of the win column this weekend at least once, the second of which will be its own paragraph. Starting in Durham, the New Hampshire Wildcats stole one of the tightest games all weekend with a 2-1 win over the No. 2 Spartans. Emile Guite’s third-period power-play goal was the only one all game, and would end up sealing the win. The Wildcats’ defense completely suffocated their opponent’s star-powered offense, only allowing 14 shots all game on Michael Simpson.

Further south in New England, Army found itself robbing the No. 8 Bobcats in overtime, only letting the home squad lead for 11 minutes of game time. Ironically, the team that calls the U.S. Military Academy its home only took one penalty all game, allowing but two power-play shots and no goals. Brent Keefer opened and closed scoring at M&T Bank Arena, making his mark and showing the country that AHA is here to play.

In Big Rapids, Brett Riley earned his first win and first ranked win as Ferris State Head Coach, holding on for a 2-1 win over the No. 11 Huskies. In recent years, the CCHA has been top-heavy with teams like Minnesota State and St. Thomas leading the way, but things could change early with a win like this. Akseli Pulkkanen scored his first collegiate goal in the late-second period to win it, as Alan Lendak earned his first collegiate win, saving 30 of 31 shots.

Jacob Kvasnicka celebrates a goal in front of elated Minnesota fans. | Brad Rempel/Minnesota Athletics

Old rivals die hard

Does Brett Larson read my column? It sure feels like he does after this weekend in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers not only beat their hated rival No.3 Fighting Hawks twice, they earned twin 5-3 victories. I won’t go around saying anyone is “back,” but it sure feels like seeing the maroon and gold “M” could be a bit more intimidating this season.

Friday night’s third-period barrage of three goals in under three minutes saw the Gophers take it from 1-1 to 4-1 and put it nearly out of hand, especially after Christian Humphreys’ two strikes. While Anthony Menghini and Cole Reschny would bring it within one, Beckett Hendrickson nailed the win with an empty-netter.

Saturday was more of the Wyatt Cullen show, as he netted a hat trick in 20 minutes of game-time. His three goals, sandwiching Christian Humphreys’ second of the weekend took the game from 2-1 Hawks in the early second to 5-2 in the mid-third. These two games saw the Gophers’ offense come alive like we’ve seen in many years past. These two wins could be a serious launching pad as now No. 18 Minnesota opens Big 10 play this weekend at home against a struggling Penn State team.

Side note, I’m sure everyone in the Twin Cities is quite happy after the football team’s win over Iowa this weekend at home as well. Row the boat indeed.

Gavin Morrissey wins a center-ice faceoff at Laws0n Arena. | Paul Capobianco/Wisconsin Athletics

Feeding time at the (K)zoo

No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 5 Western Michigan met at Lawson Arena, and the team in red sure came out with blood on their hands. A 4-0 beatdown in Kalamazoo opened by Chase Jette’s shorthanded goal in the early first period left the Lawson Lunatics stunned. Grady Deering, Brent Solomon and Zach Wooten all piled on as Alexis Cournoyer continued his strong form from last season at Cornell, saving all 33 Bronco shots.

The Badgers left the door open in the second period, allowing 12 shots on goal to their five, but stayed strong in the third, allowing only seven and sealing the win with Wooten’s cleanup in aisle No. 5. Penn State transfer JJ Wiebusch also seems to be enjoying playing closer to home, earning his second point this year on the fourth goal.

The Badgers rise to No. 2 in this week’s poll, just below Michigan, who they’ll meet December 4 in Ann Arbor.

Joseph Saladra battles for position in the corner in an exhibition versus Northeastern. | Aiden Shertzer/Harvard Athletics

How nice of you to join us!

Ivy League hockey returns this weekend, as five of the six most historic programs in the sport open their seasons this weekend (I’m looking at you, Dartmouth).

Don’t pahk ya cah in Hahvahd Yahd on Friday night, because cawlidge hawkey is gonna be a 17-minute walk away at Bright-Landry Hockey Center’s home opener for Rob Rassey’s head coaching debut. The Crimson take on No. 20 UMass in a home-and-home series, heading to Amherst on Saturday night.

Brown and Yale open their respective seasons at Ingalls Rink on Friday night, while No. 15 Cornell takes on Sacred Heart at Lynah Rink on Friday and Saturday night. Princeton, who started making noise late into last season, losing by only a goal in the ECAC Hockey Tournament final, opens its season on the road at Warrior Ice Arena against Stonehill on Friday and Saturday as well.

The scariest team of all, No. 12 Dartmouth, waits until Halloween night as it meets Alaska at Thompson Arena on Saturday and Sunday.

Will Horcoff celebrates a buzzer-beater goal over Western Michigan. | Michigan Photography

Hail to the undefeated

Unlike its football counterpart, No. 1 Michigan didn’t need an extra second, but used every last one defeat No. 5 Western Michigan on Friday night. Will Horcoff’s literal last-second goal sealed the win and sent Yost Ice Arena into a frenzy. The win moves the Wolverines to 7-0-0 on the season just before Big 10 play begins. Their NCAA-leading win total includes a sweep over reigning National Champion Denver, three 7+ goal performances and scoring at least three in every game so far.

Jayden Perron leads the team so far with a whopping 16 points, the most in the nation per game, followed by Michael Hage with 14, also second in the NCAA in that category. Perron has also potted 10 goals this year to lead the NCAA in goals per game. To give you a sense of perspective on that, everyone else tied for second only averages a goal per game to Perron’s 1.43

They next visit hated rival Ohio State next weekend looking to remain perfect against a struggling Buckeyes team, coming off two losses at home to No. 13 Augustana. Keep in mind, you never known what may happen on Halloween night.

We’re only just getting started this week in college hockey, as we are here at The Dan K Show. In the meantime, have a wonderful Halloween, be sure to keep up with all the rest of our content and be on the lookout for that first Michigan loss. It’s gonna happen eventually, and I have a feeling it’ll be a big one.