Marian University Athletics
2024-25 Top 10 Moments

#4 - ACHA D2 Reclaims NCHL Hap Cup

The Marian University ACHA D2 program returned to its dominant form in 2024-25 claiming its first NCHL Conference Championship since the 2019-20 season and first NCHL Hap Cup Championship since 2022.

The season opened with a 6-3 home defeat against Purdue Northwest but the Sabres bounced back nicely with seven straight wins, including the first four NCHL games of the campaign.  The final game of the winning streak came against a strong Jamestown squad where Cayden Frenette netted a pair of goals.  After another 6-3 defeat, this time against Sault, the Sabres then went on an eight-game winning streak to improve to 15-2-0.  During that span, the Sabres were able to take claim to the Mequondulac Cup after defeating CUW 4-2 on the road and 6-1 at home.  The following weekend saw UW-Oshkosh come to town for one game where Marian easily handled the Titans 8-0 to improve to 9-0-0 in NCHL action.  The penultimate of the regular season saw the Sabres complete a perfect 10-0-0 campaign in NCHL action with another victory over UW-Oshkosh.  It marked the first time in program history Marian had a perfect season in conference action.

The NCHL Hap Cup Tournament opened with a convincing win over Roosevelt by a 10-0 final.  The semifinals began a little tougher with No. 16 Marquette leading 1-0 through the first period.  The Sabres then came alive with a four-goal second period and eventually advanced to the championship game with a 5-1 win.  The championship game was an instant classic that saw Marian take on No. 17 Purdue Northwest in a rematch of the season-opening series.  The Sabres scored just 1:06 into the game but saw the Pride take a 2-1 lead into the second stanza.  Easton Nick netted his second of the game to open the period only for PNW to retake the lead.  Gavyn Galloway put the tally at 3-3 headed into the third period after scoring with 7:40 left in the second.  Frenette had a big third period putting Marian ahead 5-3 with goals at the 1:25 and 14:03 mark.  A late short-handed goal from Purdue Northwest wasn't enough as Marian claimed its fifth NCHL Hap Cup Championship.

The season continued for Marian as the Sabres earned a spot in the ACHA D2 Central Regional for the first time since 2023.  Similarly to that season, however, Marian was eliminated in the first game falling to No. 10 Minnesota Crookston 7-4.  Marian spent the entire season ranked and was as high as No. 4 in the ACHA D2 Central Region during the season.