Miami RedHawks vs St. Cloud State 4-2 NCHC hockey recap 2025: Huskies earn weekend split with strong defensive showing

The St. Cloud State Huskies delivered a clinical 4-2 victory over the Miami RedHawks on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Goggin Ice Center in Oxford, Ohio, salvaging a critical series split in NCHC conference play. After dropping a wild 6-5 overtime decision the previous night, the Huskies rebounded with a disciplined defensive performance, jumping to an early three-goal lead and holding off a determined Miami comeback attempt. The result left both teams with identical 2-4-0 conference records, though Miami secured two points on the weekend while St. Cloud State walked away with four.

Senior wing Grant Ahcan continued his remarkable success against the RedHawks, netting two goals including the game-winner and an empty-netter to seal the victory. His performance highlighted a weekend where he scored three times against Miami, further cementing his status as a RedHawk nemesis. The Huskies’ special teams proved decisive, converting two of five power-play opportunities while successfully killing four of five Miami advantages.

First period foundation: Ahcan’s breakaway sets the tone

St. Cloud State established control early through structured defensive play and opportunistic offense. The Huskies’ opening goal came at the 13:05 mark of the first period when Grant Ahcan emerged from the penalty box following a cross-checking minor and immediately broke in alone on Miami goaltender Matteo Drobac. Receiving a perfect spring pass from junior center Tyson Gross, Ahcan made no mistake, sliding the puck through Drobac’s five-hole to give St. Cloud State a 1-0 lead. The play demonstrated exceptional penalty kill awareness and transition speed, catching Miami in a line change.

The opening frame remained relatively disciplined despite several penalties from both sides. Miami’s Vladislav Lukashevich took a hooking minor at 11:30, while St. Cloud State’s Gavyn Thoreson was whistled for goaltender interference shortly after. The RedHawks’ Matteo Giampa and the Miami bench itself were penalized in the final minute, creating a carry-over power-play opportunity for the Huskies heading into the second period. Despite these infractions, both teams’ penalty kill units held firm, with Miami successfully navigating St. Cloud State’s early advantage.

The Huskies outshot Miami 8-9 in the period, but more importantly controlled possession and limited high-danger scoring chances. The RedHawks’ struggled to generate sustained offensive zone time, managing only sporadic rushes against a structured St. Cloud State forecheck. The period ended with the Huskies holding a crucial one-goal lead and momentum heading into the middle frame.

Second period surge: Power-play precision builds 3-0 advantage

The second period proved decisive as St. Cloud State capitalized on special teams opportunities to build what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. Just 51 seconds into the frame, junior wing Barrett Hall converted a five-on-three power play with a blistering one-timer, assisted by Adam Ingram and Austin Burnevik. The goal came as a direct result of Miami’s undisciplined play, with Giampa and Ethan Hay serving overlapping minors from the end of the first period. Hall’s sixth goal of the season showcased the Huskies’ crisp passing and ability to exploit open ice with a two-man advantage.

The special teams dominance continued at 6:50 when Tyson Gross extended the lead to 3-0 with another power-play marker. Kocha Delic’s interference penalty in the defensive zone proved costly, as Gross fired home his sixth goal of the season with assists from Max Smolinski and Josh Zinger. The Huskies’ power play operated with precision, moving the puck efficiently and creating shooting lanes against Miami’s penalty kill structure. For the RedHawks, the sequence represented a concerning trend of self-inflicted wounds through unnecessary penalties.

Miami finally responded with pushback midway through the period, beginning with Giampa’s redemption goal at 10:13. On a five-on-three advantage of their own, Giampa received a pass from David Deputy and Kocha Delic before roofing a shot past Patriks Berzins to cut the deficit to 3-1. The goal energized the largest crowd at Goggin Ice Center since 2015, with over 3,400 fans creating an electric atmosphere. Deputy then scored his own highlight-reel goal at 15:06, receiving a pristine pass from freshman Owen Lalonde and sniping it home to make the score 3-2 heading into the second intermission.

The period highlighted both teams’ special teams capabilities, with each converting multiple times. Miami outshot St. Cloud State 19-9 in the middle frame, demonstrating their offensive resurgence, but Berzins stood tall with several key saves to preserve the one-goal lead. The RedHawks’ ability to generate quality chances at five-on-five provided optimism heading into the final period.

Clutch goaltending and empty-net insurance seal the victory

The third period evolved into a tactical chess match as Miami pressed desperately for the equalizer while St. Cloud State prioritized defensive structure. The RedHawks controlled territorial advantage throughout the final 20 minutes, firing 10 shots on Berzins and generating numerous scoring opportunities. However, the sophomore netminder delivered his best performance when it mattered most, turning aside every legitimate chance and demonstrating remarkable poise under pressure.

Berzins’ 35-save performance included several highlight-reel stops on Grade-A scoring chances. His positioning and rebound control limited second-chance opportunities, forcing Miami to work extremely hard for every quality look. The RedHawks’ frustration became evident as they took two more penalties in the period, including an interference call on Owen Lalonde at 5:19 and a tripping minor to Kocha Delic at 10:36. While Miami successfully killed both penalties, the infractions disrupted their offensive rhythm and prevented sustained pressure.

The game’s final moments encapsulated the entire weekend’s intensity. With Drobac pulled for the extra attacker and under 90 seconds remaining, Miami created multiple dangerous chances around the St. Cloud State net. However, Ahcan intercepted a pass near his own blue line and fired the puck the length of the ice into the empty net at 19:02, completing his brace and securing the 4-2 victory. The goal marked his second career two-goal game against Miami, with five of his 13 career goals coming against the RedHawks. The statistics revealed St. Cloud State’s dominance in key areas, winning 59.2% of faceoffs and converting two of five power plays while Miami managed just one of five.

Statistical breakdown and what it means for both teams

The boxscore told a compelling story of two teams heading in different directions stylistically. St. Cloud State finished with 29 shots to Miami’s 37, but the quality of chances and situational play favored the Huskies. In shot attempts, Miami held a 67-57 advantage, yet St. Cloud State’s defensive structure limited high-danger opportunities. The faceoff circle proved critical, with the Huskies controlling 45 of 76 draws, allowing them to dictate possession at key moments.

Special teams efficiency ultimately decided the outcome. St. Cloud State’s 40% power-play conversion rate (2-for-5) contrasted with Miami’s 20% success rate (1-for-5), representing a four-goal swing in a two-goal game. The Huskies’ penalty kill also performed better, successfully killing four of five disadvantages compared to Miami’s three of five. Discipline emerged as a concern for both squads, with St. Cloud State committing six penalties for 12 minutes and Miami seven penalties for 14 minutes.

Individual performances stood out on both sides. Ahcan’s two-goal game paced the Huskies, while Gross contributed a goal and an assist for two points. Berzins’ 35-save effort earned him first-star honors and demonstrated his growth as a sophomore starter. For Miami, Deputy’s goal and assist led all RedHawk scorers, while Giampa’s power-play marker extended his team-leading totals. The loss dropped Miami to 8-4-0 overall, while St. Cloud State improved to 7-7-0, with both teams sitting at 2-4-0 in NCHC play.

The series split holds significant implications for the NCHC standings race. While Miami earned the emotional overtime victory Friday, St. Cloud State’s ability to rebound with a structured road win demonstrates the resilience needed for postseason success. Both teams now prepare for drastically different challenges, with Miami heading to Belfast, Ireland for the prestigious Friendship Four tournament and St. Cloud State hosting North Dakota in a crucial home series.

This St. Cloud State victory reinforced their ability to execute a game plan on the road against quality competition. The Huskies demonstrated the defensive discipline and special teams excellence that will be essential as they navigate a challenging NCHC schedule. Meanwhile, Miami showed character in their comeback attempt but must address penalty issues and defensive zone coverage to maintain their early-season momentum. The weekend’s split leaves both programs with valuable lessons as the conference race intensifies through December and into the new year.

For those interested in how this series developed, our Miami RedHawks 6-5 overtime win over St Cloud State takeaways provides detailed analysis of Friday’s dramatic opener. Additionally, fans looking ahead to future matchups can consult our Miami RedHawks vs St. Cloud State Huskies: NCHC Series Preview for insights on the tactical adjustments both teams implemented after their first meeting.