A Historic Triumph in Belfast
In November 2025, Miami Hockey etched a milestone, capturing the Friendship Four trophy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, ending a decade‑long drought.
The RedHawks, representing the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, navigated a knockout format, dispatching RIT 4‑0 in the semifinals before edging Union 3‑2 in a nail‑biting final.
Forward Matteo Giampa emerged as the game’s standout, netting two goals and earning Player of the Game honors, while net‑minder Matteo Drobac turned in a herculean performance, stopping 52 shots, including 29 in the championship, securing Player of the Tournament.
The double triumph propelled the program back into the USCHO national rankings for the first time since 2019, underscoring a season that concluded at 18‑16‑2 and featured a 9‑1 stretch in non‑conference play.
The run represented the largest single‑season jump in wins in Miami’s history, a +15 surge from the 1996‑97 campaign, and ranked among the top three turnarounds nationally over the past fifty years, excluding pandemic‑related anomalies.
The victory marks a turning point for Miami Hockey, signaling that the program is once again a contender on the national stage.