Hockey / Championship Preview: Marian looks to add to Hap Cup Title Record, PNW goes for First Championship

Championship Preview: Marian looks to add to Hap Cup Title Record, PNW goes for First Championship

Date:  Source: Northern Collegiate Hockey League

Championship Game: Marian University v. Purdue University NW:
The 2025 NCHL Conference Tournament Championship Game will feature Marian University against Purdue University NW. The dichotomy could not be starker between these two teams as this will be Marian’s sixth finals appearance but the first for PNW. Over those previous five appearances Marian has come out victorious a record four times. This will also be Marian’s first trip back to the finals since 2022.

The path to the finals has been pretty smooth sailing for Marian, having defeated Roosevelt University and Marquette University. They have also averaged 7.5 goals for and only 0.5 goal per game against in those two games. 

PNW has had a more challenging route as their victories over UW Oshkosh and Aurora University were both one goal affairs, 3-2 and 4-3, respectively. 

There is a bit of familiarity this season between Marian and PNW due to their interdivision matchup back in the beginning of October. That series ended in a split and interestingly each team won on the others home ice by a score of 6-3. They also played a series last season, where they split again. Looking at the goals average over those previous four contests, Marian holds a slim 0.5 goal advantage, 3.75 for to 3.25 against. 

Marian has put on an offensive show so far in the Conference Tournament but one player to watch is Simon Ellingson. In the quarterfinals, Ellingson tallied a hat trick and added another goal in the semifinals. He also put two goals up, along with one assist, in their regular season matchup. One other player to watch will be Cayden Frenette based on his three goals and two assists from the quarter and semifinals.

PNW has Colin Kozijn leading the way during the Conference Tournament. Over the two games he scored three goals. In addition, during the regular season matchup he scored once and assisted on two other goals. Another PNW player having a good tournament run is Jacob Behnke, with one goal and two assists. During the regular season series, he put up one goal as well.