Dartmouth men's hockey achieved a historic milestone this week, winning the ECAC Hockey Championship for the first time in program history. The Big Green defeated Princeton 2-1 in an overtime thriller on March 21 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. Hayden Stavroff opened the scoring with his nation-leading 29th goal of the season, capitalizing on a power play opportunity in the first period. Despite being outshot by Princeton in the first period, Dartmouth maintained a 1-0 lead. The teams remained deadlocked until Princeton equalized in the third period, but Dartmouth's resilience paid off when they netted the game-winner in overtime. This victory not only secured the ECAC title but also earned the Big Green an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Following their championship win, Dartmouth learned they would face Wisconsin in the Worcester Regional of the NCAA Tournament, marking the team's first appearance in the tournament since 1980. The Big Green, currently ranked ninth nationally, will enter the tournament with a record of 23-7-4, having set a new program record for wins in a season. The matchup against the Badgers is scheduled for March 26 at 5 PM at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, and will be broadcast on ESPNU. This game represents a significant moment for Dartmouth hockey, as they seek to make their mark in the NCAA Tournament after decades away from the national stage.