CNE CHAMPIONSHIP: Gibbs' Multi-Goal Game Powers Men's Ice Hockey To CNE Championship, 2-1

BEVERLY, Mass. — Led by freshman Noah Gibbs' (Saint-Basile, New Brunswick, Canada) multi-goal game, the No. 7 Endicott men's ice hockey team defeated the No. 5 University of New England (UNE), 2-1, in the Conference of New England (CNE) Championship game on Saturday evening at Harold Alfond Forum.

Endicott captured its fifth conference championship in program history. The Blue and Green have captured the most conference championships in the league's 10-year existence on the men's side (2016-17, 2019-20, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26).

For his efforts in the playoffs, Peter Sterling (Manassas, Va.) was named the CNE Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP). The freshman goalie stopped 51 shots across the two games, allowing just one goal (.962 save percentage).

Just a minute into the second period, Gibbs scored off a tick-tac-toe passing play set up by Louie Kamienski (Elmhurst, Ill.) and Sebastian Speck (Dryden, Mich.) to give Endicott a 1-0 advantage.

The freshman doubled the Gulls' lead with just over two minutes remaining in the second period as he sniped home his 14th tally of the season. Both Antti Autere (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Kyle Furey (Marblehead, Mass.) added assists on the goal.

The top-seeded Nor'easters found the back of the net on the power play with 7:20 to play. From there, Sterling stopped five potential game-tying shots, while Kamienski blocked one shot, to secure the championship road victory.

Sterling finished the contest with 24 saves to pick up his 21st win of the season (tied for most in a single season). The shutout was his sixth this season as well.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott leads the all-time series 13-10-5 (3-2 in postseason play).
• First career game-winning goal for Gibbs.
• Gibbs notched his second multi-goal game of the season.
• First road conference championship victory in program history.
• Endicott has now won back-to-back road playoff games at UNE.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (21-3-3) has earned the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Gulls will find out their next opponent on Sunday, March 8, at 9:30 PM.

UNE (21-6-0) will await the announcement of a potential at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. 

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(Photo Credit - Jonah Bean'28)