NORTHFIELD, VT.- The Norwich University Men's Ice Hockey team opened the second half of its 2025–26 season on Thursday night, returning to Kreitzberg Arena for its first game since Thanksgiving weekend and hosting Nazareth University in the opening contest of the 25th Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament. The matchup marked the first meeting between the Cadets and Golden Flyers since Dec. 30, 2016, and delivered a dramatic finish before Nazareth escaped with a 3–2 overtime victory.

The Golden Flyers controlled much of the opening period, dictating possession and limiting Norwich's ability to establish its offensive rhythm. Nazareth pressure was relentless early, forcing the Cadets to defend for long stretches, but Sami Molu (Toronto, Ont.) was sharp from the opening faceoff. Molu turned aside chance after chance to keep the game scoreless, tracking pucks through traffic and smothering rebounds as Nazareth generated sustained zone time.

With under five minutes remaining in the first period, Nazareth was awarded its first power play and capitalized. Blake Frost fired a shot from the right circle that was redirected home by Nate Mann, giving the Golden Flyers a 1–0 lead at 15:38. Norwich was assessed another penalty late in the frame but managed to kill it off, with Molu continuing his strong play. By the end of the period, the Golden Flyers held a significant edge in shots, and Molu had already recorded 20 saves to keep the Cadets within one.

The second period followed a similar early script, with Nazareth pushing the pace and Molu holding firm in the Norwich net. As the period progressed, however, the Cadets began to find their legs. Norwich generated more offensive zone time and started testing Nazareth goaltender Paul Delessio, who responded with several key stops. One Norwich chance rang off the post as the Cadets flirted with the equalizer.

Momentum swung late in the period following a four-on-four sequence that transitioned into a Norwich power play and then a two-man advantage. With a 5-on-3 opportunity, Norwich poured shots on goal as Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, Ont.) and Ocean Fancy (Orleans, Mass.) each had chances turned aside by Delessio, creating a scramble in front. A failed clearing attempt by Nazareth landed in the slot, where Frank D'Ancona (Fort Myers, Fla.) calmly found Boyd Stahlbaum (Peterborough, Ont.). Stahlbaum snapped home the power-play goal at 17:42 to tie the game at 1–1, his first of two on the night.
Norwich continued to press at even strength in the closing minutes of the period, but Delessio stood tall, finishing the middle frame with 20 saves of his own as the teams headed to the third period deadlocked.

The final regulation period featured end-to-end action, physical play, and timely defensive efforts from both sides. Devon Thibodeau (Pelham, Ont.) made one of the game's key plays midway through the period, swiping a puck off the goal line to preserve the tie. Both teams traded chances while navigating multiple penalties, but neither side could break through as the clock wound down.

Just when overtime seemed inevitable, Nazareth regained the lead with just over a minute remaining. After extended pressure in the Norwich zone, Gabriel Laflamme threw a puck toward the net that deflected in off Mathieu Fehr, giving the Golden Flyers a 2–1 advantage at 18:53.

Norwich refused to go quietly. Molu headed to the bench for an extra skater with 38 seconds remaining, and the Cadets earned a power play two seconds later, creating a 6-on-4 advantage. Off the ensuing faceoff, D'Ancona won the draw cleanly back to Bertrand at the left point. Bertrand slid the puck to Colin Elliott (Peterborough, Ont.) at the left faceoff dot, who found Stahlbaum waiting at the right post. Stahlbaum buried his second power-play goal of the game at 19:32, tying the contest at 2–2 and forcing overtime.

Nazareth controlled the puck off the opening faceoff in overtime and forced an early save from Molu. Moments later, Elliott had a quality chance turned aside by Delessio, but the rebound sprang Nazareth forward Charles Ross on a breakaway. Ross finished the opportunity, scoring the overtime game-winner to seal the 3–2 decision for the Golden Flyers.

Molu finished the night with a strong performance in net for Norwich, making 37 stops, while Delessio proved equally effective for Nazareth by making 33 saves. Special teams powered the Cadets, converting on two of their four chances.

"We got our feet back under us after the first and had a very good second," said Head Coach Dominick Dawes '04. "We handle some adversity well late, and had a chance on 3v3 and it went the other way."

The Golden Flyers will face Cortland in the tournament championship game on Friday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m., after the Red Dragons defeated Misericordia, 3–1, earlier in the day. Norwich will take on the Cougars in the consolation game at 4 p.m. to conclude the doubleheader at Kreitzberg Arena.