 RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for its final regular-season weekend series, facing the Cardinals on Friday and Saturday before returning to Raleigh.
Louisville enters the weekend 14-12-1 overall after splitting a home-and-home series with Kentucky last weekend. The Cardinals also played Alabama four times, winning all four matchups. The Icepack faced Alabama four times as well, winning three. Louisville and NC State share another common opponent in West Virginia, with the Cardinals dropping two games and the Icepack winning two. Although this trip was originally scheduled to conclude the regular season, a rescheduled Senior Night means NC State will have one more home game remaining. The adjustment also provided the team with an extra weekend off. Defenseman Tait Sawden said the team used the time to focus on individual skill development while also spending their off time together. “We spent a lot of time together as a team,” Sawden said. “Practicing was more focused on individual skills, and I think we worked on our individual game more, which was nice.” Sawden said he is looking forward to the trip and believes the team has grown significantly since the beginning of the season. “We’re a lot more disciplined,” Sawden said. “I think we work more cohesively – five guys out there thinking all together, as opposed to where we were at the beginning of the year.” This series marks NC State’s first games since Jan. 24, when it defeated Oregon in a game added at the last minute. The Icepack enters the weekend 17-10-1 will look to add two more wins this weekend to secure the ACCHL South Division title. The teams will meet at the Iceland Sports Complex in Louisville. Friday’s puck drop is set for 10 p.m., and Saturday’s is scheduled for 9 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on Louisville’s YouTube channel, uoflicehockey2558.
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 RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State will close out its home schedule for the 2025-26 season this weekend against rival North Carolina. Captain Zach Herman, alternates Nick Librizzi and Joey Gouveia and goaltender Isaac Tawyer will all be celebrated for Senior Night.
All four Icepack seniors will be recognized for their contributions on and off the ice, where teammates credit them with shaping the program's culture and setting standards in the locker room. Herman, a four-year Icepack player and the team’s captain, reflected on his time with the program and the responsibility of leadership. “I hope that during my time here and especially over the last couple of years, I have helped show younger guys truly how much of an honor it is to be able to put on our jersey every week,” Herman said. “I want the younger guys to realize that over these years, you will make great memories with the guys, both at the rink and away from the rink, and that those are memories that when college is over, you wouldn’t trade for the world. I hope that over the last four years, I have helped leave this program in a better place than where it was when I got here. This program has given me so much, and I hope that I was able to do the same for the program.” Earlier this season, Herman reached the 100-game milestone and scored the game-winning goal in that matchup. He also moved into second place on the Icepack’s all-time career points list. His favorite memory came during NC State’s outdoor game at Carter-Finley Stadium, where the Icepack defeated UNC 7-3 in front of more than 26,000 fans. Reece Johnson praised Herman’s influence as both a captain and a teammate. “He always pushes people to be better and brings a level of compete and seriousness to practices and games that encourages everybody to reach a higher level,” Johnson says. Johnson listed going to the gym and spending more time talking than working out, as well as just getting to hang out and talk with Herman, as things he is going to miss. Aside from Herman’s impact on the team, he wants to see the team continue to improve. “There is so much that our families and fans have provided us with, and I know that this program is going to continue to do great things,” he said on the community and program. Herman plans to remain in the Raleigh area after graduation and hopes to stay involved in hockey through coaching. Librizzi joined NC State as a transfer ahead of the 2024-25 season and quickly became a central figure in the program. In addition to serving as an alternate captain, he is president of the Icepack Hockey Club. “I just wanted everyone to be happy to be at the rink and happy to be around each other,” Librizzi said. Defenseman Tait Sawden, Librizzi’s former defensive partner and roommate, highlighted his leadership. “He makes sure to talk to everybody in the locker room and support everybody,” Sawden said. “He makes sure everybody has a role in the team.” As roommates, Librizzi and Sawden carpool to practices and have many memories outside of hockey. Sawden’s favorite is the Dr. Pepper wall in their house, complete with cutouts of Dr. Pepper and diet Dr. Pepper, that reaches the ceiling. Librizzi hopes to pursue a career in the NIL space or work as a hockey skills coach following graduation. Gouveia, an alternate captain in his third season with the Icepack, is enjoying his most productive season to date. Gouveia's contributions to the locker room are numerous, including leadership, passion, work ethic, “spunk,” and a balance of a funny side with a serious one. Jake Gifford, Gouveia’s roommate and linemate, said Gouveia is a leader and has served as a mentor to younger players. “ He’s a big brother to a lot of the guys,” Gifford said. Many of Gouveia’s favorite memories include Gifford, with “moving into their new crib” and playing together as highlights. Gifford laughed and brought up the carbon monoxide detectors going off in their house three weeks after they moved in, but he will also miss the car rides they share. After graduation, Gouveia will be working in pharmaceutical sales and looks forward to seeing the program continue to grow and “work towards winning the Natty.” Tawyer, a five-year member of the Icepack, became the program’s all-time leader in saves and wins earlier this season. He hopes he was a good mentor to the younger guys on the team, and after graduation, he wants to continue seeing the guys around Raleigh. Fellow goaltender Pieter Bartelse credited Tawyer with setting the tone in the locker room. “I think [Isaac] kind of lightens the mood a little bit. He's definitely a good team guy, and obviously a very good goalie as well,” Bartelse said. “My mood definitely brightens every time I see [Isaac] walk in the room, that's for sure.” Bartelse claimed that Tawyer’s “insane actions,” such as drinking his third Monster of the day while walking into practice at 10:45 p.m., or eating 20 McNuggets before playing at Lenovo, are what make him such a fun guy. “He’s also a great Fortnite player,” Bartelse ends with. Tawyer will remain in Raleigh after graduation to work as a manufacturing engineer at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. All four seniors cited NC State’s 2024 basketball Final Four run in 2024 and rushing the Belltower as some of their favorite campus memories. On the ice, each has loved beating UNC at the Governor’s Cup, including this season’s 7-0 win, and shutting the Tar Heels out to win the ACC Championship. NC State and North Carolina have met three times this season, with the Icepack winning two matchups. Most recently, NC State shut out the Tar Heels 7-0 at the Lenovo Center in the Governor’s Cup. Earlier in the season, the teams split a weekend series that included a game at First Horizon Coliseum, home of the Greensboro Gargoyles. UNC enters the weekend with a 6-10-3 record, while NC State comes off a weekend sweep of Oregon. The Tar Heels replaced Delaware as this weekend’s opponent due to weather concerns. In a special event for Friday, three fans will be able to take a shot from half-ice for a chance to win $10,000. Contestants will attempt to shoot the puck through an opening in the net to win the pot, and contestants will be notified of their participation earlier in the day. Friday’s Senior Night game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and will be the Icepack’s final home rivalry game of the season.  On Friday night three lucky fans will take their shot at $10,000 from half-ice for the Bull Market Big Shot! Season ticket holders and anyone who buys a ticket by 2:00 pm Friday will have the chance to have their name drawn for a chance to take their shot. Contestants will be notified at roughly 4:00 pm the day of the game. Contestants will attempt to shot a puck from center ice through a 1 3/4 high by 3 1/2 inch long opening in the goal.
Contestants cannot be a current or former or semi-professional hockey players or coaches. Nor can they be former or current team personnel or family members of anyone in the Icepack organization. Prize is paid out by The Interactive Promotions Group.  RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State defeated Oregon 7-4 on Pink the Rink night in a high-scoring, physical contest featuring controversial calls, heavy usage of the special teams, and pink jerseys.
BOX SCORE | SKATER STATS | HIGHLIGHTS NC State controlled play from the opening faceoff and earned the game’s first power play six minutes in. A puck that appeared to slip through the legs of Oregon’s goaltender sparked an early celebration, but the would-be goal by Joey Gouveia was waved off. Responding to the confusion, Daniel Prazma opened the scoring less than a minute later, assisted by alternate captain Nick Librizzi and Jack Ammons. Captain Zach Herman followed with a tip-in off a rebound from Erik Dahlin’s shot, redirected by Reece Johnson, to give NC State a 2-0 lead after one period. Oregon cut into the lead midway through the second period, but Jake Lipani answered with a clean shot. Librizzi added another goal less than two minutes later to extend the lead to 4-1. The Ducks scored again late in the period on a disputed play, kicking the puck under the side of the net with under a minute remaining. Prazma responded immediately, with his second goal of the night with one second left in the period off an assist by Holden Koufman to make it 5-2. Oregon scored twice early in the third period following a major penalty assessed to Librizzi, pulling within one. After their man advantage ended, Oregon was called for too many men on the ice. Johnson capitalized on the ensuing power play to restore a two-goal buffer at 6-4. A slashing penalty to Oregon midway through the third led to 10 seconds on the power play before it received a tripping penalty, resulting in a Ducks penalty shot that was stopped. Brandon Raleigh sealed the win for NC State with a breakaway goal from a difficult angle, assisted by Patrick Maxwell, marking Maxwell’s first point with the Icepack. NC State finished with 50 shots on goal. Goaltender Pieter Bartelse earned his seventh win of the season as the Icepack remained undefeated in games he started. Coach Tim Healy praised the team’s responses and consistency throughout the game. “I thought it was maybe our best 60-minute game of the year,” Healy said. “One thing that I was really proud of tonight was anytime Oregon scored, we had a great response back to it, right? Our bench stayed up.” Healy also highlighted the team’s physical play and how that energy translates through the rest of the game. “When we're physical without crossing the line, it shows a level of engagement,” Healy said. “Our energy and that physicality … really lets a lot of our skill take over once we get into space.” NC State and Oregon will meet again in a last-minute matinee matchup due to winter weather that cancelled the Duck’s other weekend games.  RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State follows its weekend series against Navy with a Friday night home game against Oregon.
The Ducks travel from Eugene, Ore., to face the Icepack before heading to Chapel Hill for a back-to-back against North Carolina. Oregon is 11-10 on the season and shares just one common opponent with NC State because of its West Coast location. Alabama played at Oregon last weekend, with the teams splitting the series. Freshman defenseman Kyler Sun said the Icepack must be prepared for a different look than it is used to. “They’re a good team, a different team than we’re used to,” Sun said. “They should be good competition for us and seem to be playing the same way we are so far this season.” Sun said NC State is focused on finishing the regular season strong as it prepares for the playoffs, aiming to return to the level of play it showed earlier in the year against Liberty and Kentucky. “We’re still learning as the season goes on. Nothing stays the same for the entire year, ” Sun said. “We’re getting new guys – getting to see [Jack Ray] score was fun – and we’re just trying to get back to where we were at the beginning.” Sun has personal connections to both the University of Oregon, where his last-year roommate plays, and Pink the Rink. He said the themed nights like Pink the Rink, along with the others the Icepack has hosted this season, are important for fans and community engagement. “It’s important to have, especially when we’re promoting it in our local community. We don't get many options or many opportunities to do that,” Sun said. “I have a personal relationship to it since my mom had cancer, but it’s always fun to be a part of these big games.” NC State will wear pink jerseys for Pink the Rink, with puck drop at 8 p.m. A dollar for each ticket purchased, as well as the proceeds from Chuck-a-Puck, will be donated to the Pretty in Pink Foundation. |
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