2025 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament: Islanders’ Cole Eiserman, Kings’ Hampton Slukynsky highlight standouts from Day 1

The 2025 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament got off to an exciting start on Thursday, with the Toledo and Fargo Regionals getting underway.

The opening game of the national tournament was a very strange one between Big Ten runner-up Ohio State and Boston University in Toledo. The “home” Buckeyes came out flying, outshooting the Terriers 15-2 in the opening 20 minutes. Yet, BU was able to weather the storm, and after a wild second period – where the teams combined for five goals – the Terriers took over in the third, scoring five goals on eight shots to grab an 8-3 win.

The second contest in Toledo came down to the wire. Michigan State went up against 15th-ranked Cornell, and though the Spartans controlled the play throughout, outshooting the Big Red 30-9 through two periods, Cornell hung around. MSU had a 3-2 lead heading into the late stages of the third period, but after a tying marker from Ryan Walsh, Sullivan Mack scored a power-play goal with just 8.5 seconds remaining to give the Big Red a momentous upset.

It sets up an exciting Northeast battle in the Midwest between Cornell and Boston University on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, ESPNU, ESPN+, TSN+). The Big Red haven’t been to the Frozen Four since 2003.

The first game in Fargo featured an intriguing matchup. Western Michigan, the highest-scoring team in college hockey, met the best defense in the land, Minnesota State. The game exceeded expectations, as the Mavericks were able to survive an early onslaught from the Broncos and kept things close, forcing overtime…and a second. Despite a valiant effort from Mankato netminder Alex Tracy, WMU’s Grant Slukynsky scored the winner to give the Broncos just their second-ever win in the national tournament.

The final game of the night had its share of craziness. Led by St. Louis Blues prospect Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota had a 3-1 lead over UMass in the third period. However, the Minutemen scored three in a row to take the lead. One of the goals came against Golden Gopher netminder Nathan Airey, who was thrust into the game after starter Liam Souliere had to leave the game with an equipment issue.

Snuggerud scored his second of the game to force overtime, but Calgary Flames prospect Aydar Suniev potted the game-winner for UMass to send the Gopher faithful back to Minnesota empty-handed.

It was the Minutmen’s first win in the national tournament since they won the whole thing in 2021. Western Michigan will take on UMass on Saturday night (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU, ESPN+, TSN+), with the Broncos trying to advance to the Frozen Four for the first time.

Toledo

Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (New York Islanders): With the man with the same-sounding last name inside the home of the Detroit Red Wings’ ECHL affiliate, the Isles prospect stepped up, being a big part of the Terriers’ comeback against Ohio State. Consistently generating offensive chances, he finished tied with fellow rookie Cole Hutson with four shots on goal. Eiserman put BU on the board in the second period before scoring an insurance marker in the third to push the Terriers to the regional final.

Ryan Walsh, C, Cornell (Boston Bruins): While the Big Red were getting heavily outplayed by Michigan State, Walsh was putting in a solid effort to try and give his team a chance. Even though the Spartans took an early lead, Walsh tied the game with a shot that beat Augustine.

Then, when MSU was up late in the third, Walsh found himself at the right place at the right time to jump on a rebound for his team-leading 18th goal of the season.

The sophomore has been on a roll lately for Cornell. After posting two assists in the ECAC Semifinal against Quinnipiac, he scored in the conference title game against Clarkson, giving five points over the past three games.

Ian Shane, G, Cornell: When going up against one of the best goaltending prospects in college hockey, Detroit Red Wings draft pick Trey Augustine, Shane was going to have to stand on his head. The senior did that and then some. When MSU was bringing the heat, Shane made some clutch saves, especially in the second period when he turned away 16 of the 17 shots he faced. With Cornell being outshot 37-21, it’s safe to say that Shane outplayed a future NHL backstop.

Fargo

Hampton Slukynsky, G, Western Michigan (Los Angeles Kings): While being a freshman in college hockey might not present the same difficulties as they do in other sports, coming into a national tournament can be a tough challenge. Thankfully, the Broncos had a young man with a winning pedigree in Hampton Slukynsky. While he didn’t have as many shots as his counterpart, the Kings prospect made several crucial saves, especially in the first overtime, to give WMU a chance to win.

Slukynsky ended up making 28 saves in the victorious effort.

Alex Tracy, G, Minnesota State: It would be wrong not to acknowledge the effort made at the other end of the rink in the first game in Fargo. Tracy showed why he isn’t only a finalist for the Mike Richter Award but is also a dark horse in the race for the Hobey Baker Award. Western Michigan got after the sophomore early and often, but the junior netminder stood tall, keeping the CCHA Champions in the running. Tracy was credited with 42 stops, 10 of which came in the first 20 minutes.

Aydar Suniev, RW, Massachusetts (Calgary Flames): Up against a Gophers team featuring NHL prospects like Snuggerud, Sam Rinzel and Brody Lamb, Suniev stepped up to give the Minutemen a chance. His goal a little over seven minutes into the third period spurred the comeback.

The crafty playmaker managed to put himself in enough open space to tip in the winner in overtime. The sophomore has been a key scorer for a UMass team that has struggled to find goals throughout the year. With his two goals on Thursday night, he’s tied for the team lead with Nashville Predators prospect Cole O’Hara.