BOSTON, Mass. - March 5, 2025 - This Saturday, the Penn State Nittany Lions will host the Mercyhurst Lakers in the 2025 Atlantic Hockey America Championship Game. It's the third consecutive year in which the Nittany Lions and Lakers will meet in the conference title game. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 8.
Quick Hitters
Championship Game Up Next
In a matchup between No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Mercyhurst, the Nittany Lions are looking to claim a third-consecutive postseason title, while the Lakers are looking to avenge title game losses in the past two postseasons.
How We Got Here
Last week, No. 1 Penn State swept No. 4 RIT in the semifinals by scores of 3-2 and 4-0.
Tessa Janecke was named AHA Forward of the Week for the semifinal round, as she collected four points on three goals and an assist in the series. On the other side, No. 2 Mercyhurst defeated No. 3 Syracuse in the semifinals two games to one. After suffering a 1-0 defeat in Game 1,
Mike Sisti's squad roared back to win Game 2 by a score of 4-0 and Game 3 by a score of 5-2.
Thea Johansson netted a hat trick, and freshman
Julia Schalin tallied three points on two goals and an assist in the winner-take-all Game 3.
Luggin Slams the Door
Mercyhurst goaltender
Magdalena Luggin earned wins in both of her starts for the Lakers in the semifinals. With Mercyhurst down 1-0 in the series, Luggin stopped all 16 shots she faced on Saturday to earn the shutout victory and tie the series 1-1. In the winner-take-all Game 3, Luggin made 16 saves to give Mercyhurst a 5-2 win. In total, Luggin made 32 saves on 34 shots over the weekend, which was good for a save percentage of .941 and goals-against average of 1.00. For her efforts, Luggin was named AHA Goaltender of the Week for the semifinals.
AHA Announces All-Conference Teams
Last week on Feb. 26, Atlantic Hockey America announced the all-conference and all-rookie teams for 2024-25. Click
HERE for the full press release.
2024-25 ALL-AHA FIRST TEAM
| Name |
Pos. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Tessa Janecke |
F |
Jr. |
Penn State |
Orangeville, Ill. |
| Vanessa Upson |
F |
Sr. |
Mercyhurst |
Stoney Creek, Ont. |
| Katelyn Roberts |
F |
Jr. |
Penn State |
Chanhassen, Minn. |
| Kendall Butze |
D |
Jr. |
Penn State |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| Emma Pickering |
D |
So. |
RIT |
Fishers, Ind. |
| Katie DeSa |
G |
Jr. |
Penn State |
Pawcatuck, Conn. |
2024-25 ALL-AHA SECOND TEAM
| Name |
Pos. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Bryn Saarela |
F |
Gr. |
Syracuse |
Denver, Colo. |
| Maddy Christian |
F |
Jr. |
Penn State |
Elk River, Minn. |
| Morgan Neitzke |
F |
Sr. |
Lindenwood |
Jackson, Mich. |
| Lyndie Lobdell |
D |
Gr. |
Penn State |
Aurora, Ill. |
| Megan McKay |
D |
Jr. |
Mercyhurst |
Zionsville, Ind. |
| Allie Kelley |
G |
Gr. |
Syracuse |
East Berne, N.Y. |
2024-25 AHA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
| Name |
Pos. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Julia Schalin |
F |
Fr. |
Mercyhurst |
Espoo, Finland |
| Grace Outwater |
F |
Fr. |
Penn State |
Picton, Ont. |
| Brac Kelley |
F |
Fr. |
RIT |
Wilkes-Barre, Penn. |
| Grace Tullock |
D |
Fr. |
Penn State |
Burnt Hills, N.Y. |
| Jessica Cheung |
D |
Fr. |
Syracuse |
Ottawa, Ont. |
| Magdalena Luggin |
G |
Fr. |
Mercyhurst |
Vienna, Austria |
AHA Championship Game
Saturday, March 8
No. 2 Mercyhurst at No. 1 Penn State / 2:00 p.m. ET /
FloHockey
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.