Senior night against UNC to close out home stint (Rescheduled for 2/19 at 8:15 pm)

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.