THIS WEEK
National tournament week is here for the University of Mary hockey team. The Marauders open the 2025 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 National Championships on Thursday, March 13, against the University of Pittsburgh. Game time between the #14 seeded Marauders and #19 Pitt is slated for 1:45 pm at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO.
 
THE FUTURE

• The Marauders-Pitt winner advances to play #3 Ohio on Friday, March 14, at 1 pm
• UMary/Pitt need to win five total games to win the ACHA MD1 title
• Winner of the UMary/Pitt/Ohio game faces #22 John Carroll/#11 Calvin/#6 Adrian in the quarterfinals on Sunday, March 16, at 1:30 pm
• The semifinals are Monday, March 17 (4:45 pm and 8 pm) with the remaining four teams re-bracketed based on seeding
• The ACHA MD1 Championship Game is set for Tuesday, March 18, at 8 pm

 
ACHA MD1 TOURNAMENT QUICK FACTS

• 24-team single elimination tournament
• Top eight teams received 1^st round byes
• Runs March 13-18
• Held at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO
• Tickets available online at www.achahockey.com under the FIND EVENTS – 2025 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT tab and at the door
• Watch online at www.FlowHockey.tv (pay per view)

 
FOLLOW LIVE
All ACHA MD1 tournament games will be streamed live on www.FloHockey.tv (pay per view)… links to live streaming and live stats are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage
 
THE RECORDS
UMary enters the national tournament with a record of 22-14-0-0-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall and 21-14-0-0-0-0 in ACHA MD1 play... A member of the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL), Pitt is 14-11-3-0-2-2 this season… An ACHA MD1 independent, Ohio University is 18-4-1-0-0-3 this season.
 
HISTORY
This is the first meeting between the University of Mary and the University of Pittsburgh… UMary has also not played Ohio previously.
 
UMARY ACHA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
2018-19 | 1st year, ineligible (ACHA MD2)
 
2019-20 | #1 seed, cancelled due to pandemic (ACHA MD2)
 
2020-21 | 5-0, ACHA MD2 National Champions | Mandan, ND
Pool play game 1 | UMary 6 Davenport 0
Pool play game 2 | UMary 3 Providence 1
Pool play game 3 | UMary 5 North Carolina State 1
Semifinals | UMary 7 Liberty 0
Championship Game | UMary 2 Iowa State 0
 
2021-22 | 5-0, ACHA MD2 National Champions | Maryland Heights, MO
Pool play game 1 | UMary 8 Wisconsin 0
Pool play game 2 | UMary 4 Indiana 1
Pool play game 3 | UMary 3 Northeastern  1
Semifinals | UMary 6 Lindenwood 1
Championship Game | UMary 3 Florida Gulf Coast 2 (3 overtimes)
 
2022-23 | 2-1 overall ACHA MD2 | Maryland Heights, MO
Pool play game 1 | UMary 5 Bentley 0
Pool play game 2 | UMary 3 Kentucky 1
Pool play game 3 | St. Thomas 3 UMary 2 (OT)
 
2023-24 | 1-1 overall ACHA MD1 | Maryland Heights, MO
Game 1 | #10 seed UMary 3 #23 seed West Chester University 1  
Game 2 | #7 Liberty 2 UMary 1
 
ACHA MD2 TOURNAMENT RECORD | 12-1 overall
ACHA MD1 TOURNAMENT RECORD | 1-1 overall
OVERALL ACHA TOURNAMENT RECORD | 13-2 overall
 
AFTER THE ACTION
Marauders fans should make plans to stop at Buffalo Wild Wings following all home hockey contests. With two convenient Bismarck locations and great food and drink specials, it's easy to see why Buffalo Wild Winds is the preferred post-game hangout of Marauders Hockey! 
 
LEADERBOARD
Newcomers are playing a big role in the Marauders impressive start to the season as the top four scorers this season are in their first season at UMary.

• First-year player Joe Gronholz leads the team in points (38) and goals (19) and is tied for 2^nd in assists (19)
• Alex Senf leads the Marauders in power play goals (8) and power play assists (9) and is second in points (34), goals (15) and assists (19)
• Hunter Mangan (12G 19A 31 points) is 3^rd in scoring. Mangan is 2^nd in assists (19) and 4^th in power play goals and game-winners (2).
• Crae Dawson (14G 15A 29 points) is 5^th on the team in scoring and tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (3).
• Team captain Michael Heitkamp leads UMary defensemen in scoring (15G 15A 30 points) and second in goals
• Dylan Cunningham (4G 23A 27 points) leads the Marauders in assists (23) and is 6^th in points (28)
• Derek Dropik (8G 18A 26 points) is second to Heitkamp in points among returners
• Jake Murray (8G 14A 22 points), Liam Massie (9G 5A 14 points) and Lucas Medeiros (6G 11A 17 points) are right behind Dropik and Heitkamp in scoring among returners
• In his first season at UMary Lyndon Orr (8G 14A 22 points) is tied with Dawson and Gronholz for the lead in game-winning goals (3)

 
NET GAINS
A trio of Marauders goalkeepers have combined for a 2.98 goals against average with a .898 save percentage this season.

• Marino Ramirez is 7-9 in net with a 3.53 GAA and a .891 save percentage
• Caleb Cross is 11-4 with a 2.84 GAA and a save percentage of .901
• Zane Clausen has saved 91% of the shots he has faced for a record of 4-1 and a 1.99 GAA with two shutouts in five starts

 
GRONHOLZ, HEITKAMP, CUNNINGHAM EARN MCH HONORS

• Joe Gronholz claimed 2024-25 Midwest College Hockey Rookie of the Year honors. The first year forward from Alexandria, MN, also claimed a spot on both the MCH All-Rookie team and the MCH All-League 2nd team.
• Michael Heitkamp earned first team MCH honors as a defenseman for the third time is his career and first time at UMary. The Grand Rapids, MN, native and UMary team captain claimed all-league honors while skating for Waldorf University in 2021-22 and 2022-23
• Dylan Cunningham joins teammate Joe Gronholz on the 2024-25 Midwest College Hockey All-Rookie team. Cunninghams is a two-way defenseman from Helena, MT, and the Marauders team leader in assists.

 
RANKED
23 of the Marauders 35 ACHA MD1 games this season came against ranked opponents. 
 
20
With a 10-1 victory over Waldorf on Friday, UMary reached 20 wins for the 7^th straight year. Since beginning hockey in 2018-9, the Marauders have won at least 20 games each season.
 
UMARY REMAINS #13 IN ACHA MD1 NATIONAL RANKINGS
The University of Mary wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season ranked 14^th in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 poll released February 25, 2025. This is the 16^th regular season rankings overall and the 13^th by computer.
 
The computer rankings determine the 24 teams that qualify for the 2025 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships in addition to eight league champions. The preseason poll and the first three rankings of the regular season were conducted by a vote of coaches.
 
2024-25 Week By Week ACHA MD1 rankings
(Preseason through Rating 3 were coaches' polls. Rating #4 and on are computerized)
Preseason | #11
Rating 1-2 | #8
Rating 3 | #7
Rating 4 | #18
Rating 5 | #17
Rating 6 | #13
Rating 7 | #14
Rating 8 | #15
Rating 9-10 | #14
Rating 11 | #12
Rating 12 | #14
Rating 13 | #12
Rating 14 | #13
Rating 15 | #13
Rating 16 | #14
 
A final ranking will be released after the national tournament.
 
Twenty-three of the Marauders 35 ACHA MD1 games were played against ranked teams.
 
The 2025 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships presented by FloHockey will be hosted March 13-18 for the third time at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO.  This will be the second year of the 24-team format.
 

2024-2025 ACHA Men's Division I Ranking #16
Rank	School Name	M1 Record	Previous	Trend	Conference
1	Minot State	36-2-3	1	―	MCH
2	Nevada-Las Vegas	25-1-3	2	―	WCHL
3	Ohio	18-4-4	3	―	INDEP
4	Liberty	21-5-5	4	―	INDEP
5	Jamestown	23-7-2	5	―	MCH
6	Adrian	24-3-2	6	―	GL6
7	Niagara	21-5-3	7	―	INDEP
8	Utah	21-6-1	9	↑1	WCHL
9	Drury	26-2-0	8	↓1	INDEP
10	Maryville	19-9-2	10	―	INDEP
11	Calvin	23-5-0	11	―	GL6
12	Grand Canyon	15-12-2	12	―	WCHL
13	Indiana Tech	28-4-0	14	↑1	WHAC
14	Mary	21-13-1	13	↓1	MCH
15	Arizona	16-12-1	15	―	WCHL
16	Midland	18-17-2	16	―	MCH
17	Purdue Northwest	14-10-2	20	↑3	GL6
18	Oklahoma	18-8-1	17	↓1	WCHL
19	Pittsburgh	14-11-5	19	―	ESCHL
20	Arizona State	13-15-3	18	↓2	WCHL
21	Oswego State	20-7-4	21	―	NECHL
22	Stony Brook	13-11-6	22	―	ESCHL
23	Delaware	20-12-3	24	↑1	ESCHL
24	Colorado	18-15-2	23	↓1	WCHL
25	Grand Valley State	15-9-1	25	―	GL6

 
300
The University of Mary played its 300^th hockey game in program history at Waldorf on Friday, December 6. Under the direction of head coach Dan Huntley, UMary is 232-47-9-10-2-1 since first taking to the ice September 15, 2018, in an 8-0 win over visiting North Dakota State.
 
WE'RE BACK
The University of Mary returns nine players from last season: Michael Heitkamp, Liam Massie, Lucas Medeiros, Luke Schleusner, Jake Murray, Derek Dropik, Nick Bradshaw, Tucker Kruse and Brandon Kelly. Dropik is the most experienced returner as the forward is back for his fourth season. Massie, Medeiros and Kruse are back for their third seasons.
 
YEAR 2 IN ACHA MD1
2024-25 is year two for UMary competing in American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I. The Marauders spent their first five seasons at ACHA MD2, twice winning a national title (2021, 2022) and finishing with an all-time record of 12-1 at the national tournament.
 
YEAR 2 IN MIDWEST COLLEGE HOCKEY
The Marauders joined Midwest College Hockey in 2023-24, finishing the season second both the regular season (46 points with a record of 15-4-0-0-1) and the MCH tournament, which was hosted by UMary.
 
CENTURY CODE
The Marauders are 107-17-2-3-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL through Sept. 27, 2024) all-time at home. UMary earned its 100th win at home against Minot State University on January 24, 2024.
 
NEW
UMary has 16 newcomers. One recognizable name is Ben Tschida, whose older brother Marshall was an award-winning defenseman on both UMary national championship teams.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY LESSON
Under the direction of head coach Dan Huntley, a 2-time coach of the year, the University of Mary was a dominant force in ACHA M2 for all five years the program has existed.

• 2018-19 | 39-5-1-2 (not eligible for postseason as 1st year program)
• 2019-20 | 39-9-2-0 (#1 West Region seed | MWCHL tourney runner-up | #2 nationally in final poll | ACHA M2 tourney cancelled for pandemic)
• 2020-21 | 38-4-1-6 (ACHA M2 national champion | Ranked #1 in final ACHA M2 poll | #1 seed at ACHA M2 championships)
• 2021-22 | 38-4-1-2 (ACHA M2 national champion | Ranked #1 in final ACHA M2 rating | #1 seed from West region)
• 2022-23 | 38-6-3-1 (Ranked #1 in final ACHA M2 rating | #1 seed from West region | was 2-0-1-0 at ACHA M2 championships
• 2023-24 | 26-14-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOW-SOL) | #10 seed at ACHA MD1 tournament | 1-1 at nationals | 23-14-0-0-1 v ACHA MD1 foes | 15-4-0-0-1 in Midwest College Hockey (2nd place with 46 points) | 1-1 at MCH tournament (2nd place) | #11 in final rankings | ranked as high as #4 in regular season

TOTAL THROUGH 2023-24 SEASON | 218-42-8-11-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL)
 
NATIONALS
The Marauders are 13-2 all-time at ACHA nation tournaments (12-1 in three MD2 tournaments, 1-1 in MD1).
 
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