BRISTOL, R.I. (2/20/2026) – The Nichols College men's ice hockey team defeated conference opponent Roger Williams University, 3-1 on Friday night at Driscoll Arena, earning themselves a berth in the 2025-26 CNE Championship Tournament. 

The Bison move to 10-13-1 (7-11-1 CNE) overall with the win, while the Hawks fall to 6-17-1 (4-14-1 CNE). Nichols locks up the No. 5 seed in the upcoming playoffs, which begins next week.

After a scoreless opening period, Nichols struck first less than six minutes into the second after a faceoff win opened up some space for Luca Ricci to maneuver with the puck, before passing to a wide-open Jeremy Tremblay on the far post for his eighth goal of the season. The Bison would pad their lead with a second goal with 3:30 left in the period, this time off a one-timer from up high by freshman Herman Åsberg for the first goal of his collegiate career and the eventual game-winner, with Tristan Kimmen and CJ Zezima adding the helpers.

The Hawks netted their first and only goal of the game at 16:53 of the third period, capitalizing on a Bison turnover from behind the net that popped out in front of freshman netminder Ryan Henry, cutting Nichols' lead in half, 2-1. However, the Bison would hold off the Hawks the rest of the way, and eventually be rewarded with a late empty netter from Kimmen, finalizing the 3-1 victory for Nichols.  

Henry, facing the Hawks for the second time, stopped 14 of 15 shots faced to earn his sixth win of the season.

The Bison have one more stop to make in their regular season slate with a visit to No. 6 University of New England (19-5-0, 16-3-0 CNE) tomorrow evening, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM at the Harold Alfond Forum.