Night of Upsets! College Hockey No. 1, 2 and 4 Teams All Lose: Puck Drop
Somewhere, the Hockey Gods are laughing and having a really great time.
There were just four games on the college hockey docket Thursday night, not including an exhibition for the U.S. Under-18 Team, and the lineup looked pretty straightforward minus the expected main event of Boston College at Minnesota.
No. 1 Western Michigan was set to raise its national championship banner, No. 2 Michigan State was celebrating back-to-back Big Ten titles, and No. 4 Penn State welcomed (Gavin) McKenna mania to Happy Valley, where fans were ready to see the Nittany Lions play in Pegula Ice Arena for the first time since their Frozen Four run in March.
Only someone forgot to tell the visiting teams.
Clarkson set the tone, scoring three goals in the third period to come from behind and defeat Penn State 6-4. Although sophomore forward JJ Wiebusch scored four goals for the home team, senior Erik Bargholtz scored on a shorthanded breakaway to pull his team within 4-3 in the second period. Luka Sukovic and freshman Adrian Misaljevic subsequently scored to give the Knights the lead, and Bargholtz added an empty-netter to cap the scoring. He and Misaljevic both had two goals.
Penn State outshot the Knights 40-26, and Clarkson blocked 21 shots.
About 30 minutes later, New Hampshire had the buzzer-beater of the night in East Lansing, where a costly turnover deep in Michigan State’s zone led to junior forward Marty Lavins beating both the 2025 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year Trey Augustine and the clock with 5 seconds remaining.
3.8 SECONDS LEFT FOR THE WIN FOR @UNHMHOCKEY 😱#NCAAHockey x 🎥 B1G+ pic.twitter.com/qzfkcs5sLV
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) October 10, 2025
Senior Senior Morgan Winters led the Wildcats with two goals and freshman Sam Oliver had two assists.
"That's a super tough finish," Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale said during his postgame press conference. "But, I told the guys after the game, I mean, this is a team sport. You win as a team, you lose as a team, and clearly, we've got a lot to work on."
The Spartans had a 37-26 edge in shots, but only led for three minutes in the first period. UNH also blocked 24 shots. For more game coverage check out Michigan Spartans On SI.
Finally, Carter Rapalje, a junior who previously played at Long Island and Stonehill, scored two second period goals and former North Dakota goaltender Hobie Hedquist made a career-high 48 saves as Ferris State shocked Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, 3-2. It was the Bulldogs' first win over a reigning national champion since 2005.
Ferris State was outshot 50-18, but had 12 blocked shots.
🎥 Carter Rapalje scored twice and Hobie Hedquist made 48 saves to lead @FerrisHockey past No. 1 Western Michigan on Thursday night, snapping a 12-game winless streak against the Broncos.
— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) October 10, 2025
📺: https://t.co/yRw1IaFMPQ #CCHAHockey | #ProtectThePound pic.twitter.com/gc9bPfwHVY
Finally, No. 11 Boston College notched its first win of the season with a 3-1 victory at No. 12 Minnesota, as none of the four ranked teams hosting games managed to win their home openers.
Puck Drop: Friday, October 10, 2025
Games between ranked opponents are bolded. All times ET.
Thursday's Scores
MEN
Non-Conference
Clarkson 6, No. 4 Penn State 4
Ferris State 3, No. 1 Western Michigan 2
New Hampshire 4, No. 2 Michigan State 3
No. 11 Boston College 3, No, 12 Minnesota 1
Exhibition
Wisconsin 6, .S. Under-18 Team 0
Friday's Games
MEN
Alaska Fairbanks at No. 8 Quinnipiac, 5 p.m.
Bowling Green at Niagara, 6 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m.
LIU at Canisius, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Michigan at No. 7 Providence, 7 p.m.
Union at Mercyhurst, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at No. 6 Maine, 7 p.m.
Army at Northeastern, 7 p.m.
Miami at RPI, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Boston College at No. 12 Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Clarkson at No. 4 Penn State, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Western Michigan at Ferris State, 7 p.m.
Colgate at No. 3 Boston University, 7 p.m.
Lowell at Merrimack, 7 p.m.
No. 14 UMass at Stonehill, 7 p.m.
Lindenwood at Lake Superior State, 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart at RIT, 7:05 p.m.
St. Lawrence at Vermont, 7:05 p.m.
New Hampshire at No. 2 Michigan State, 7:30 p.m.
No. 20 Minnesota State at Omaha, 8:07 p.m.
No. 19 St. Thomas at No. 10 North Dakota, 8:07 p.m.
St. Cloud State at Bemidji State, 8:07 p.m.
Augustana at Minnesota Duluth, 8:07 p.m.
Bentley at Colorado College, 9 p.m.
No. 5 Denver at Air Force, 9 p.m.
Notre Dame at No. 15 Arizona State, 10 p.m.
WOMEN
No. 4 Minnesota Duluth at No. 1 Wisconsin, noon
St. Thomas at Minnesota State, 1 p.m.
Assumption at Post, 1 p.m.
Providence at No. 13 Northeastern, 1:30 p.m.
Saint Anselm at Maine, 2 p.m.
No. 7 Quinnipiac at Syracuse, 5 p.m.
Merrimack at Lindenwood, 5 p.m.
Franklin Pierce at Sacred Heart, 5 p.m.
Bemidji State at No. 2 Ohio State, 6 p.m.
No. 14 Boston University at No. 8 Colgate, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Penn State at Delaware, 6 p.m.
Vermont at No. 12 St. Lawrence, 6 p.m.
Holy Cross at Boston College, 6 p.m.
New Hampshire at Union, 6:30 p.m.
No. 10 St. Cloud State at No. 3 Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.
RIT at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
LIU at Saint Michael’s, 7:10 p.m.
Saturday's Games
MEN
Union at Mercyhurst, 5 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Ohio State, 5 p.m.
Bowling Green at Niagara, 5 p.m.
Sacred Heart at RIT, 5:05 p.m.
Miami at RPI, 6 p.m.
Colgate at No. 3 Boston University, 6 p.m.
Lindenwood at Lake Superior State, 6 p.m.
LIU at Canisius, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Michigan at No. 7 Providence, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at No. 6 Maine, 7 p.m.
Colorado College at Air Force, 7:05 p.m.
No. 20 Minnesota State at Omaha, 7:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at St. Cloud State, 7:07 p.m.
Augustana at Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 p.m.
Bentley at No. 5 Denver, 9 p.m.
WOMEN
No. 5 Penn State at Delaware, 2 p.m.
RPI at No. 13 Northeastern, 2 p.m.
No. 3 Minnesota at No. 10 St. Cloud State, 2 p.m.
Merrimack at Lindenwood, 2 p.m.
Boston College at Providence 2 p.m.
Franklin Pierce at Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.
Vermont at No. 12 St. Lawrence, 3 p.m.
No. 7 Quinnipiac at Syracuse, 3 p.m.
St. Thomas at Minnesota State, 3 p.m.
Stonehill at Saint Anselm, 3 p.m.
New Hampshire at Union, 3 p.m.
LIU at Saint Michael’s, 3 p.m.
No. 14 Boston University at No. 8 Colgate, 6 p.m.
Bemidji State at No. 2 Ohio State, 6 p.m.
RIT at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
Sunday's Games
MEN
Stonehill at Army, 4 p.m.
Vermont at St. Lawrence, 4 p.m.
WOMEN
No. 4 Minnesota Duluth at No. 1 Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
Did You Notice?
• NBC announced that Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk (U.S. Hall of Fame), AJ Mleczko (Harvard), Brian Boucher and Jen Botterill (Harvard) will headline its hockey coverage at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
• The first players who will represent the U.S. in the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament over the holidays were announced: Penn State forward Aiden Fink, North Dakota defenseman Jake Livanavage, Minnesota State goalie Alex Tracy, Connecticut forward Joey Muldowney, and Penn State defenseman Mac Gadowsky. The team will be made up of current college players who are at least sophomores, and are not playing in the World Junior tournament.
• Former Miami center Jack Roslovic signed on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Edmonton Oilers. The eighth-year veteran had been a free agent after playing with the Carolina Hurricanes last season, fishing with 22 goals and 17 assists.
• Penn State Is Buzzing for the Nittany Lions' Hockey Home-Opener
• NCAA Tournament or bust: Gophers' Mara Braun, Amaya Battle set goals high
On This Date in Hockey History:
October 10, 1915: Hall of Fame referee Bill Chadwick, the league's first American-born official in 1939, was born in Manhattan.
October 10, 1919: Hall of Fame center Edgar Laprade was born in Port Arthur, Ontario.
October 10, 1963: Michigan State left wing Mike Donnelly was born in Detroit.
October 10, 1970: The Buffalo Sabres made their league debut with a 2-1 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
October 10, 1972: Bowling Green center Brian Holzinger was born in Parma, Ohio.
October 10, 1974: Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger was born in Dryden, Ontario.
October 10, 1985: Former RPI center Adam Oates scored his first NHL goal and also had an assist, but the Detroit Red Wings lost to the Minnesota North Stars 6-5.
October 10, 1985: Former Northern Arizona left wing Greg Adams set an NHL record for most assists in an opening night game, five, as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5.
October 10, 1992: Former Minnesota goaltender Robb Stauber notched his first NHL win as the Los Angeles Kings started a 12-game home winning streak with a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
October 10, 1995: Former Minnesota center Darby Hendrickson scored his first NHL goal as the host Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New York Islanders 7-3. American coach Peter Laviolette, out of Westfield State College, had the Islanders off to a 3-0 start.
October 10, 1998: The Nashville Predators played their first home game, but lost 1-0 to the Vancouver Canucks as Kirk McLean notched the shutout.
October 10, 2000: Ohio State forward Georgii Merkulov was born in Ryazan, Russia.
October 10, 2001: Former St. Cloud State right wing Mark Parrish scored two third-period goals as the New York Islanders notched their 1,000th win with a 6-3 victory over Pittbsurgh.
October 10, 2002: Former North Dakota goaltender Ed Belfour made 33 saves and got the shutout his first start with the Toronto Maple Leafs. They pummeled the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-0.
October 10, 2014: Former North Dakota center Brock Nelson tied a New York Islanders team record for most points in a season opener with four (two goals, two assists) during a 5-3 victory at Carolina.
October 10, 2017: Before hosting their first NHL home game, the Vegas Golden Knights held an emotional pregame ceremony to honor the victims and first responders from a mass shooting at a concert. A 58-second moment of silence was held in remembrance of the 58 victims, and the No. 58 jersey was eventually retired in their memory. When the game started the new franchise scored four goals in the first period en route to a 5-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
Hockey Quote of the Day
“I just loved it, right from the get-go at 5 years old,” she said. “It wasn’t a sport that you go to school and all your friends play. Obviously my brother played, but I definitely just fell in love with the sport. I loved to compete. I loved to skate. I loved to be on the rink. It was an immediate passion for the sport right away.”Krissy Wendell-Pohl
We'll Leave You With This ...
Speaking of Parrish ...
Truly honored to be inducted into @stcloudstate Hall of Fame. Thank you to everyone involved in the decision and the support of my enormous hockey family. Love you all@SCSUHuskies @SCSUHuskies_MH pic.twitter.com/3RxwkHG5GU
— Mark Parrish (@MarkDParrish) October 8, 2025
Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of Alabama Crimson Tide On SI, which first published as BamaCentral in 2018, and is also the publisher of the Boston College, Missouri and Vanderbilt sites . He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004 and is the author of 27 books including “100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” and “Nick Saban vs. College Football.” He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.
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