Syracuse Showcases Comeback Spirit in First ESCHL Championship Game Appearance in Six Years

By Brooke Killgore, Head Beat Writer

Taken by Maria Kaffes / @mariakaffesimages

A season for the storybook came to a dramatic end for the Orange after an impressive post season run. Syracuse Men’s Hockey made it to the ESCHL Championship game at the conference tournament in early March. The Orange would eventually fall to the ACHA National Tournament bound Delaware Blue Hens 5-4 in overtime.

The Orange entered the tournament as the number 5 seed with a 14-14-4 regular season record and 8 ESCHL conference points. SU would make its first ESCHL post-season appearance in five years, the last team to qualify was the 2019-20 Orange who fell to NYU in the first round of the tourney. With freshman Cam Gaffney and junior Jack Alecia combining for 61 regular season points and junior goaltender A.J. Finta just below a .900 SV%, ‘Cuse looked to close the 2024-25 season on a run.

SU vs. Drexel - February 28

SU made its way to the Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, Pennsylvania to face off against the defending ESCHL Conference Tournament champions, Drexel University. The Dragons stunned fans last season, defeating Delaware, Niagara, and Rhode Island on their way to the 2023-24 tournament title. 

The last time the two met in late January, the Orange fell in the first matchup 8-7 in a tight shootout loss before taking the 4-3 win the next day. Finta saw 60 minutes of action in game 2 of that series and turned away 26/31 shots in the Keystone State.

Now, the two rematched in the single-elimination ESCHL Quarterfinal on Friday evening. Finta would start in net for the Orange but was ejected from the game early in the second period after responding to a Dragons player bumping him in the blue paint. Senior Chris Spano backstopped SU the rest of the way making 14 saves on 16 attempts and earning the eventual win. 

The Orange trailed the Dragons 3-1 at the start of the third. Then, SU came alive. 

Five Orange goals would come in the closing frame, with freshman Cam Gaffney getting the go-ahead score with two minutes left. Senior Max Gargurevich would put another into the empty net moments later, starting off the tournament with a Syracuse win in comeback fashion, 6-4. 

SU vs. Stony Brook - March 1

Stony Brook skated into Saturday with revenge on their minds. The Orange had swept the Seawolves on their home ice two weekends prior - stealing a pair of games in overtime. 

The Seawolves were well-rested, having earned a first-round bye after securing the tournament’s No. 2 seed. 

Syracuse fired out of the gate with seasoned, albeit tired legs. Anthony Larkin got Syracuse going 4 and a half minutes into the game and the Orange never looked back jumping out to a 3-0 lead. 'Cuse entered the final intermission ahead on the scoreboard, 6-2. 

Stony Brook would show signs of life in the third, netting three goals. However, Syracuse’s hot sticks responded with three of their own, punching their ticket to Sunday’s final with a 9-5 decision. The line of Vassilovski, Wren, and Duffy combined for 6 points in the semi-final win.

ESCHL Championship - SU vs. Delaware - March 2

It all came down to the final 60+ minutes of the ESCHL postseason. A Syracuse-Delaware matchup was destined to be a tight game, with both teams taking two apiece during the four game regular season series. The Orange collected 2 of their biggest wins on the year against UD which came during October's Hall of Fame Alumni Weekend. ‘Cuse swept the Blue Hens in a 6-5 shootout win and skated away with a 3-2 victory the next day.

Now, the two played for the trophy in what would be the final ESCHL Tournament for both programs. Before the puck dropped for the 2024-2025 season, both teams announced they would join the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Conference (ACCHL) for its inaugural season in 2025-26. With their departure, the ESCHL ceases after the 2024-25 season.

The first period proved to be a challenge defensively for the Orange. Delaware sunk three past Syracuse through the first 20 minutes, with goals from Ryan Rodrigues - the eventual Tournament MVP, Tanner Mahoney and Chance Debolt. However, the first round matchup with Drexel showcased Syracuse’s ability to come back late — and this game would be no different.

Fifth-year and captain Sam Hutchinson lit the lamp at the start of the second period, taking advantage of a Blue Hen’s minor seconds before. His power-play goal marked his 14th of the season and secured his 100th career point with the Orange. 

Alecia followed suit shortly after and added to his team-high 19-goal performance, closing the gap to 3-2 heading into the second intermission.

With what looked to be the final 20 minutes on the board, Blue Hen’s Justin Guelph slid  one past Finta to grow the deficit once again. However, sophomore forward Brendan Duffy put up his fourth goal of the weekend minutes after and set up the momentum.

The freshman star and soon-to-be ESCHL All-Rookie Team nominee Cam Gaffney poetically forced the overtime with nine minutes remaining in the third when he jammed home a loose puck on the powerplay. Following Finta’s defense, the Orange prepared themselves for extra time against the Blue Hens.

The conference tournament would come down to a do-or-die sudden death overtime period.

OT proved to be a defensive battle, with both teams taking multiple shots at the crease. However, Syracuse couldn’t convert and Rodrigues notched the game-winning goal unassisted for Delaware at the ten minute mark. The Blue Hen senior from New Jersey put together a 5 point (4-1-5) weekend in the pair of Delaware post season games. The Orange concluded their comeback performance as the runners-up in the 2024-2025 ESCHL Tournament, something the program hadn’t seen in five years.

The Orange celebrate the end of a storybook season, finishing the 2024-2025 season 16-14-4 and the runner-ups of the final ESCHL Tournament in division history. 

Contact me:

X: @BKillgore13

Email: bnkillgo@syr.edu