Northeastern University Athletics

Men's Hockey - Huskies in the NCAA Tournament

1982 NCAA Tournament

In arguably the finest year in Husky hockey history, Northeastern earned a third-place trophy in the 1982 NCAA Tournament. Entry into the Big Dance came via ECAC regular season and tournament domination and the intrepid play of junior goaltender Mark Davidner, senior defenseman Jeff Hiltz, and senior forwards Paul MacDougall and Gerry Cowie. The Huskies defeated Bowling Green in an exciting two-game playoff to reach college ice hockey's version of the final four, but were eliminated by eventual national champion North Dakota, 6-2, on March 25. NU claimed the third-place trophy via a 10-4 win over New Hampshire in the prelude to the national championship game.

Northeastern vs. Bowling Green March 19, 1982 at Matthews Arena NCAA Quarterfinal- Two Game, Total Goals Series Northeastern 2, Bowling Green 2 Northeastern vs. Bowling Green March 20, 1982 at Matthews Arena NCAA Quarterfinal- Two Game, Total Goals Series Northeastern 3, Bowling Green 2 Northeastern vs. North Dakota March 25, 1982 at Providence Civic Center NCAA Semifinal North Dakota 6, Northeastern 2 Northeastern vs. New Hampshire March 27, 1982 at Providence Civic Center NCAA Consolation Game Northeastern 10, New Hampshire 4

Gerry Cowie

1988 NCAA Tournament

The 1988 season ended prematurely for the Huntington Hounds who were felled in the first round of NCAA action by perennial underdogs-turned-spoilers Merrimack. After a season in which the Huskies won 20 games in Hockey East, earned the Hockey East Tournament title and garnered their fourth Beanpot championship, Coach Fern Flaman's team was eliminated by the Warriors in a two-game total goal series. The loss concluded the college careers of two-time All-American goalie Bruce Racine and NU's ninth all-time leading scorer Kevin Heffernan.

Northeastern vs. Merrimack March 18, 1988 at Matthews Arena NCAA First Round- Two Game, Total Goals Series Northeastern 5, Merrimack 3 Northeastern vs. Merrimack March 18, 1988 at Matthews Arena NCAA First Round- Two Game, Total Goals Series Merrimack 7, Northeastern 3

Kevin Heffernan

1994 NCAA Tournament

The 1994 championship bracket held a plethora of familiar teams for Northeastern fans. Hockey East opponents UMass-Lowell (coached by former Husky bench boss Bruce Crowder) and New Hampshire as well as Beanpot foes BU and Harvard joined the Huskies in the field of 12. NU's hopes were short-lived, however, as the Huskies were ousted in the first round. Lake Superior State, led by goalie Blaine Lacher, dispatched the Dan McGillis-led Huskies 6-5 in an exciting, high-scoring game, which ended 15 seconds into sudden death overtime. Replays showed that a Dan Lupo shot crossed the goal line in the third period, but the apparent go-ahead tally for NU was ruled a Lacher save. Lake State went on to the national title.

Northeastern vs. Lake Superior State March 26, 1994 at Munn Ice Arena (East Lansing, Mich.) NCAA Tournament - First Round Lake Superior State 6, Northeastern 5

Dan Lupo

2009 NCAA Tournament

In 2009, Northeastern returned to the NCAA Tournament after a 14-year hiatus in what had become one of the most successful seasons in Huskies history. Head coach Greg Cronin guided the Huskies to a 25-11-4 record and a second-place finish in Hockey East with an 18-6-3 mark. After dispatching Massachusetts in the Hockey East quarterfinals, the Huskies lost to UMass Lowell in overtime in the semis. Despite the loss, the Huskies earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and were awarded the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Huskies faced Cornell in the opening round and started strong with a 2-0 lead on goals by Louis Liotti and Steve Silva. But Cornell responded with three unanswered goals, including the game-winner with just 18 seconds remaining in regulation, to end Northeastern's Frozen Four hopes. It was the final game for Huskies All-American goalie Brad Thiessen, who went on to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.

Northeastern vs. Cornell March 28, 2009 at Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapis, Mich.) NCAA Tournament - First Round Cornell 3, Northeastern 2

Brad Thiessen

2016 NCAA Tournament

Northeastern returned to the national tournament for the fifth time in program history in 2016, capping an improbable second half run. After beginning the year 1-11-2 and in last place in the league standings, the Huskies finished the year 22-3-3 in their final 28 games, highlighted by the team's first Hockey East Tournament title since 1988. After sweeps of Maine and Notre Dame in the first and quarterfinal rounds, respectively, Northeastern upended No. 5/4 Boston College in the conference semifinal before earning a 3-2 victory against No. 8/8 UMass Lowell in the championship game to earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. Selected as the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region, Northeastern drew North Dakota in the first round in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, the Fighting Hawks cooled of the nation's hottest team with a 6-2 win over the Huskies.

Northeastern vs. North Dakota March 25, 2016 at U.S. Bank Arena (Cincinnati, Ohio) NCAA Tournament - First Round North Dakota 6, Northeastern 2

Zach Aston-Reese

 

2018 NCAA Tournament

Led by Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Gaudette, who led the nation with 60 points (30 goals, 30 assists), the Huskies returned to the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in program history, and second in the last three seasons. Northeastern, which earned the No. 3 seed in the Northeast Region with an at-large bid thanks to a 23-9-5 record to that point in the season, was matched up with No. 2 seeded Michigan. Northeastern erased a pair of one-goal deficits during the game thanks to goals from Dylan Sikura and Eric Williams, while Cayden Primeau made 29 saves, but a goal from Cooper Marody with 4:30 left in regulation proved to be the difference and eliminate the Huskies. Michigan went on to advance to the Frozen Four.

Northeastern vs. Michigan March 24, 2018 at DCU Center (Worcester, Mass.) NCAA Tournament - First Round Michigan 3, Northeastern 2

Adam Gaudette

 

2019 NCAA Tournament

On the back of a 27-11-1 overall record and winning the Hockey East crown, the 2018-19 Northeastern Huskies claimed the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament after one of their most successful seasons ever. Paced by outstanding team performances and the Mike Richter Award-winning goaltender Cayden Primeau, the Huskies reached their seventh NCAA tournament, squaring off against the No. 3 seed Cornell. Northeastern started behind the game early letting up four unanswered goals in the first two periods. After recording a power-play goal from Liam Pecarraro, the Huskies could not climb any closer, ultimately falling 5-1.

Northeastern vs. Cornell March 30, 2019 at Dunkin' Donuts Center (Providence, R.I.) NCAA Tournament - First Round Cornell 5, Northeastern 1

Cayden Primeau

2022 NCAA Tournament

The Huskies earned an at large bid after their groundbreaking 25-13-1 record, going 15-8-1 in Hockey East play to capture the program's first regular season championship. Led by Hockey East First Team All-Stars Jordan Harris, Aidan McDonough, and Devon Levi, the Huskies were the four seed in the Worcester Regional, facing top-seeded and #3 overall seed Western Michigan. The Broncos took an early 1-0 lead but the Huskies surged from there, gaining all the momentum in the game and culminating in a great individual effort by assistant captain Aidan McDonough, who tied the game with four minutes left in regulation. Hockey East Rookie of the Year Devon Levi made the highlight real with several top notch saves, ending the game with 34 - one potential highlight-reel save involved him diving back into his crease to catch a shot off a turnover. What was initially was called a save was overturned via video replay and called a good goal, giving the Broncos the overtime victory.

Northeastern vs. Western Michigan March 25, 2022 at the DCU Center (Worcester, Mass.) NCAA Tournament - First Round Western Michigan 2, Northeastern 1 (OT)

Aidan McDonough