Provided by University of Arkansas Hockey
By Greg Coon
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ICE HOCKEY CLUB WINS INAUGURAL SEC FROZEN SHOWCASE CHAMPIONSHIP
BELLEVUE, Tenn. – The University of Arkansas Men’s Division II hockey team has been crowned champions of the first-ever ACHA Southeast Collegiate Frozen Showcase. In an action-packed weekend at the Ford Ice Center Bellevue, located in the Nashville area, the Razorbacks battled through a field of eight premier programs to secure the title with a 5–3 victory over Texas A&M on Sunday afternoon.
The ACHA Southeast Collegiate Frozen Showcase featured a competitive field including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas, and Texas A&M. Following this landmark success, the Razorbacks return to Fayetteville as the inaugural champions.
The Razorbacks’ dominant run began on Friday with a 9–3 opening-round win over the University of Texas. Captain David Markovich led the offensive surge with a hat trick, supported by two goals from Ayden Frolik and additional scores from Ethan Rogers, Joe Menconi, Cole Helm, and Alex Fendler.
Advancing to the semifinals on Saturday, Arkansas defeated rival Missouri 8–5 in a high-scoring affair to punch their ticket to the championship game. The offensive effort against Missouri was balanced, featuring two goals from Chris Colon, along with individual tallies from Alex Fendler, Ayden Frolik, Anthony Conti, Jack Lehman, Bryson Andregg, and Miles Watson.
The weekend culminated in a nail-biting final on Sunday, where Arkansas outlasted the Texas A&M Aggies with a 5–3 regulation victory to bring the inaugural showcase guitar trophy home to Fayetteville. In the championship decider, the Razorbacks’ scoring opened in the first period with goals from Adam Markovich and Ayden Frolik. Brenden Coon added a third goal in the second period, followed by a second goal from Ayden Frolik in the third. Ethan Rogers sealed the championship with an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game. Tournament MVP
Tournament MVP Bryson Andregg noted “It’s a great feeling to see all the hard work we’ve put in this season pay off on such a big stage. This was a true team effort from the first puck drop on Friday. Being named MVP is an honor, but seeing us lift that trophy as a team is what matters most.”
Team Captain David Markovich added “Winning the first-ever Frozen Showcase is an incredible honor for our team and the university. We knew every team here would bring their best, especially with the rivalry atmosphere at the Ford Ice Center. This championship shows exactly what Razorback hockey is capable of when we play our game.”
Reflecting on the achievement, Head Coach Keller Sims stated “This weekend was a testament to the growth of this program and the grit of these players. To come into Bellevue and compete at such a high level in the heart of SEC country was a challenge we were ready for. I couldn’t be prouder of the way this group stayed focused through three tough games to finish the job on Sunday.”
