For years, Utica University has been known nationally for their men’s and women’s hockey programs. The 2024-2025 season is no exception, as the 2nd ranked men and the 14th ranked women have dominated their competition all season long. 

Both teams will play in their respective UCHC Championships on Saturday, March 8. The women’s game starts at 3 p.m. at Nazareth University, and the men’s game at 7 p.m. vs. SUNY Geneseo at the Adirondack Bank Center.

Utica Women’s Hockey knows this rivalry with the Golden Eagles all too well. Unfortunately for Utica fans, Utica has lost to the Naz in the UCHC Championship two years in a row, one being in double overtime. 

Utica Assistant Captain Hailey “Mods” Modlin knows this best. She is a graduate student from Arizona who has been through it all with the Utica team.

“Ever since my freshman year, it’s always been the weekend where we don’t win,” Modlin said. “Naz is normally the team we can’t beat, until this year where we won a couple games against them which is very impressive for us. We’ve gone four years without getting close.”

However, Utica has another legitimate chance at winning the UCHC. If the fact that each series they have played this season has split isn’t compelling enough, it should also be a goalie faceoff. Angela Hawthorne, Utica’s goalie, and McKinley Hoff, Nazareth’s goalie, have been having spectacular 2024-2025 campaigns, each with 10 shutouts. Hawthorne currently holds the record for saves in the program’s history and has been a catalyst for this Utica team.

Not only do both teams have studs between the pipes, but also have offensive powerhouses as well. Pioneers like Jordan Kowalski, the UCHC Co-Player of the Year, Riley Calhoun, Carly Stefanini and Kaci Ryder have had major influences on the outcome of their season so far. 

However, playing Naz in the past has had its challenges and mental blocks. Modlin knows it’s been difficult to get over the hump, but is optimistic for this weekend because of this season’s success.

“That rink gets in our heads, but knowing that we beat Naz is a big motivator for us this time around,” Modlin said.

Although the team would have preferred to have a home game with the enthusiastic Pioneer faithful, her and team hope that the same energy is brought to Rochester.

“We have a big Utica group of supporters heading out there so I feel like it will still feel like home. To beat them in the game that really matters would be really special,” Modlin added.

However, they’ve certainly met their match in players like Amy Laskowski, the other UCHC Co-Player of the Year, Brooke Judkiewicz, Allie Zack, and Ivey Lyden on the other side of the ice. It will certainly be a thriller at Tim Horton’s Iceplex on Saturday.

The Geneseo Knights are coming into town on Saturday as well for a rivalry matchup. Coach Gary Heenan highlighted this new competitive nature that has entered the UCHC. 

“They are traditionally a top 5 top (to) 10 team in terms of the NCAA, as we’ve become one as well, so this should be a tremendous hockey game,” Heenan said.

Although the Utica men’s team has won three straight UCHC championships and is in a different position compared to the women’s team in that regard, nobody should count Geneseo out too quickly. Heenan knows how this contention will probably fare with the passionate Utica fans in the Aud.

“It’s definitely a rivalry already,” Heenan said. “They’re two of the best buildings in the country in terms of atmosphere and support.”

It’s true. The Aud is one of the hardest places to come in and win as an opponent, and Utica’s home record proves it. The Pioneers are not only 13-1-0 at home this season, but 76-7-6 over the past six seasons. This consistency shows that Utica Hockey is unlike most programs in the country.

“The Aud is everything. For us to have home ice against Geneseo is enormous,” Heenan said. “They too have an amazing atmosphere and they feed off of that at their place. As we go on in playoffs, the crowds seem to get better…it should be an absolutely electric atmosphere that we will most certainly feed off of.”