Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Official Website of Sault College Athletics
Fri, Feb 20 3:00 PM
ACHA M. Ice Hockey
vs University of Minnesota-Crookston
ACHA M2 Regionals
The Men’s Hockey squad is unbeaten in four games and building expectations for a strong showing at the ACHA Men’s Division 2 Regionals (Central), set for Hammond, IN
The Men’s Hockey squad is unbeaten in four games and building expectations for a strong showing at the ACHA Men’s Division 2 Regionals (Central), set for Hammond, IN
Posted: Feb 17, 2026

Cougars look to keep momentum alive in pursuit of Nationals berth

Thiago Neuenschwander
tneuenschwan@saultcollege.ca

After closing out the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) regular season with four consecutive victories, the Sault College Cougars Men's Hockey team now begins its quest for a spot at the ACHA National Championship. The battle for one of four available berths gets underway this Friday (Feb. 20) at 2 p.m., when the Cougars (#12 in the Central Region M2 final ranking) face the University of Minnesota-Crookston (#5) in their opening game of the ACHA Men's Division 2 Regionals (Central) at Kube Sports Complex in Hammond, Indiana. 

The tournament features the top 16 teams in the Central Region and will be hosted by Purdue University Northwest. The four national qualifiers will be determined following two knockout rounds determined by ranking. With a 16–11 record in the regular season, Tanner Burton's squad is looking to maintain the consistency it has found since late January. During that stretch, the Cougars delivered four strong performances, earning consecutive wins over Minnesota, Davenport and Lake Superior (twice), while scoring 19 goals and allowing just two.

The team is led by veterans Nick Jameus (48 points, 18 goals, 30 assists), Jakob Kovacs (37 points, 22 goals, 15 assists), Brock Santa Maria (27 points, 11 goals, 16 assists) and Caleb Wood (27 points, 10 goals, 17 assists), which have proven fundamental to the game's current balance. The Cougars are aiming to return to the ACHA National Championship for the first time since capturing the league's Division 3 national title in 2019. On that occasion, Sault College defeated Grand Valley State University by 12-3 in a game held in Frisco, Texas, and made its mark in history books. 

The momentum built during the final stretch of the 2025-26 regular season has filled the head coach with optimism heading into the tournament. "I expect our team to be the best they've been all year. As a coach, you teach, correct, and guide all season long. We have built a solid foundation over the course of the season and now that it's crunch time, there's nothing left for me to do but get out of their way and let the players play. I'm looking forward to game one vs. Minnesota-Crookston. They have a great team. It should be a fantastic weekend of hockey", Burton said.

The Nationals will be held next month in St Louis, Missouri, between March 12 and 22. The city will receive all three Men's and two Women's ACHA divisions finalists at the Centene Community Ice Center & Maryville University Hockey Center.