Earlier this month, the Prep hockey team competed in the MacPherson Invitational at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario. It was a successful weekend for the Huskies, who finished 4–1 and defeated rival St. Andrew’s twice in their own tournament.
The Prep hockey team won the MacPherson Invitational at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario. Photo provided.
The Huskies opened the weekend with a dominant 7–2 win over the Bishop Kearney Selects.
Game two was one you did not want to miss. In front of a sold-out crowd with a loud, heckling student section, the Huskies faced the Saints. Northwood shut out the noise early, scoring two goals before the 10-minute mark of the first period from Hunter Chadbourne ’27 and Anton Stackow ’27. The Saints pushed back with two quick goals in the second period, regaining momentum and getting the crowd back into the game. But the Huskies answered late in the second when Parker Thompson ’26 scored to make it 3–2, which held as the game-winner.
On Saturday morning, the Huskies looked a little tired from the night before and did not bring their A-game. They fell 2–1 to Victory Honda, with the lone goal coming from Cody Betsch ’26.
Game four was a semifinal matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. It was a late start at 8:30 p.m., and the Penguins struck first in the second period to take a 1–0 lead. With about 30 seconds left in regulation and the goalie pulled, Parker Thompson ’26 scored to tie the game and send it to overtime. After two overtimes, Henry Kress ’26 delivered a perfect pass to the front of the net, where Charles Pigeon ’26 finished the play to seal the win and send the Huskies to Championship Sunday against none other than St. Andrew’s.
The Huskies knew it would not be easy. The Saints were hungry for payback after losing in front of their home crowd earlier in the weekend. St. Andrew’s scored first, setting the tone. But late in the second period, Max Stracar ’26 buried a loose puck in the slot to tie the game 1–1.
Heading into the third period tied, the Huskies knew it was the final period of the weekend and that they had to find just a little more — and that’s exactly what they did. Two quick goals from Stracar ’26 and Thompson ’26 gave Northwood a 3–1 lead. The Saints pushed back and cut it to 3–2, but the Huskies weathered the storm, killing a penalty with two and a half minutes left, and the Saints’ goalie pulled to secure the championship.
It marked the third time in the last twenty years that Northwood has won the tournament, with previous titles coming in 2017 and 2006.
Several Huskies earned individual honors as well. Patrick McCormick ’26, Owen Maclean ’26, and Cody Betsch ’26 were named to the All-Tournament First Team, and Henry Kress ’26 was named Tournament MVP.
It was a big weekend for the Huskies — and one they will not forget anytime soon.
