AUBURN, Mass. – Anna Maria College men’s ice hockey shut out Westfield State University 3-0 to win the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in just its second season in the conference, punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
The championship victory capped an undefeated home season for the AMCATS, who finished 20-5-2 overall, 14-1-1 in conference play, and 12-0-2 at home with a pair of shootout wins.
Goaltender Matthew Hennessey was named the MASCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Most Valuable Player after making an impressive 48 saves to preserve the shutout and secure the title.
After a scoreless first period, the AMCATS broke through in the second when Dylan McElhinny intercepted a pass from the Westfield goaltender and scored on a nearly empty net to give the home team a 1-0 lead seven minutes and 15 seconds into the period.
Hayden Rynard extended the lead to 2-0 with just 10 seconds remaining in the second period, finding the back of the net off assists from Pearce Baker and Nicholas Frederick.
The Owls pushed hard in the third period, outshooting the AMCATS 19-10 in the final frame. Hennessey turned aside every attempt, and Braeden McKinnon sealed the victory with an empty net goal in the final two minutes to secure the championship for Anna Maria.
The AMCATS will next compete in the 2026 NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. The 14-team bracket and Anna Maria’s opponent will be revealed during Selection Sunday on March 8 at 9:30 p.m.
Release courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information
