February 22, 2025 - The Holy Cross Crusaders secured at least a share of the 2024-25 AHA regular season title on Saturday night. The Crusaders wrap up the 2024-25 regular season on Monday, Feb. 24 vs. AIC, and one point would give them the title outright. Sacred Heart can earn a share of the regular season title if Holy Cross does not earn at least a point.

Regardless of Monday's outcome, the Crusaders will be the No. 1 seed in the AHA Postseason Tournament, as they own the tiebreaker over Sacred Heart in head-to-head points. With a bye in the first round, Holy Cross will host the lowest remaining seed in the best-of-three quarterfinal round on March 7-9.

Holy Cross' previous two Atlantic Hockey regular season titles came in 2004 and 2006.

The Crusaders were propelled to the top of the AHA regular season standings by reeling off 16 straight conference wins (including OT/SO) from Nov. 22 - Feb. 14, which set an Atlantic Hockey record. Bill Riga's squad collected 12 regulation wins, three overtime wins, and one shootout victory during the historic streak.

Senior forward Liam McLinskey led the way offensively for the Crusaders, as his 19 goals in conference play are tops in Atlantic Hockey. Overall, McLinskey leads Atlantic Hockey and ranks tied for ninth in the nation with 40 points on 20 goals and 20 assists.

Other steady offensive contributors in AHA league play include junior forward Devin Phillips (7g, 15a), junior forward Matt DeBoer (6g, 15a), Michael Abgrall (5g, 14a), and sophomore forward Jack Stockfish (10g, 8a). Junior defenseman Mack Oliphant led Crusader blueliners with 16 points on two goals and 14 assists in conference play.

Senior goaltender Thomas Gale has been outstanding between the pipes all season long. Gale currently boasts a 1.73 goals-against average and .939 save percentage in AHA play, both of which lead the league. Earlier this month, Gale was named a semifinalist for the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Mike Richter Award for 2025, which is given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey.

The Atlantic Hockey Championship is scheduled for Saturday, March 22. The 2025 Atlantic Hockey America postseason champion will earn the conference's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament. 

About Atlantic Hockey America
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) embarks on its first season in 2024-25 after the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 11 men’s teams (American International College, Bentley University, Canisius University, The College of Holy Cross, Mercyhurst University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Military Academy), and six women’s teams (Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, and Syracuse University). In 2025-26, Delaware University will join the women’s league. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.