Stags D3 Hockey earned a bid to the AAU College Hockey Nationals for the second consecutive year, setting their sights on bringing home a national title. The fifth-seeded Stags traveled to Jacksonville, Florida with a 14-3-1 record, highlighted by a regular season and MCHC league title, and were ready to compete against anyone in their path.

In Game 1, the Stags faced Alabama Huntsville and handled them with ease. Seven different players found the back of the net, while goaltender #29 Paddy Kirchner stopped 24 of 26 shots to secure a 7-2 victory.

Advancing to the winners bracket, the Stags were matched up against #4 seed Jefferson Community College the following day. In a gritty, hard-fought game, the Stags came out on top behind balanced scoring and strong goaltending. Goals from #8 DiNicola and #19 Ryan in the first period were followed by #28 Wetzel and #72 Pers in the second, before #10 Vitka sealed the win in the third. Kirchner stood tall once again, making 42 saves on 44 shots in an impressive performance.

With momentum building, the Stags prepared for their toughest test yet: a matchup against #1 seed Liberty with a semifinal berth on the line. The game quickly turned into a fast-paced, physical battle. After falling behind 2–0 in the first period, the Stags fought to stay composed. Despite controlling much of the play early in the second, Liberty extended their lead to 3-0. DiNicola netted his third goal of the tournament, but it wasn't enough, as Liberty secured a 5-1 win.

The loss of freshman #19 Luke Ryan, who suffered a broken collarbone, proved to be a major setback. However, the Stags used it as motivation heading into a rematch against Jefferson Community College, with another shot at the semifinals on the line.

Jefferson struggled to stay disciplined, committing 13 penalties and allowing four power-play goals. The Stags capitalized, cruising to a 4-0 shutout victory behind another stellar performance from Kirchner, who stopped all 19 shots he faced.

Back in the semifinals for the second straight year, the Stags faced a familiar opponent in St. John Fisher, the same team that ended their run the previous season. With the game scheduled for 10:00 PM the same day, the Stags focused on recovery and preparation.

From the opening puck drop, the intensity was high as the Stags sought revenge. However, they fell behind just a minute into the game and found themselves chasing early. A late goal in the first period made it 2-0, forcing the Stags to dig deep. St. John Fisher added another in the second before freshman David Wetzel got Fairfield on the board with his third goal of the tournament. Despite their effort and resilience, fatigue proved to be a factor, and the Stags ultimately fell 5-1, ending their national title run in the semifinals.

Following the game, the team took time on the ice to honor their seniors in an emotional moment marking their final game at Fairfield. #3 Lucas Chaconas, #20 Nick Cocca, and post-grad #47 Kyle Dillon each had outstanding seasons and careers with the D3 program, leaving a lasting impact that will be remembered for years to come.

Thank you to the seniors, and best of luck in the future.