The Hope College men’s ice hockey team skated out of the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference as Vezina Cup champions.
The third-ranked Flying Dutchmen defeated No. 4 Oakland University, 3-2 in overtime, on Friday and second-ranked Lawrence Tech University, 5-2, on Saturday at Patterson Ice Arena in Grand Rapids to hoist the conference’s Vezina Cup title.
Hope (31-3-1) claimed the Vezina Cup for a team-best third consecutive season and the seventh time overall.
Next season, the Flying Dutchmen will move up to the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division 1 level and compete in the Great Lakes Six Conference.
On Saturday, freshman left wing Cade Pratt (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center HS) iced the victory by scoring his second goal of the game with two minutes remaining.
Hope jumped out to a 3-0 lead on goals from senior defense Casen Faustyn (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos) six minutes into the game, Pratt 12 minutes into the first period and junior defense Austin Ieuter (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) three minutes into the second period.
Pratt and senior defenseman Nolan Holtrop (Walker, Michigan / Kenowa Hills) chipped in two assists apiece.
Senior goalie Maclane Schick (Kohler, Wisconsin / Kohler) stopped 17 shots.
On Friday, Pratt delivered the game-winning goal with 14 minutes into overtime off assists from junior center Jake Onstott (Zeeland, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) and Ieuter.
Onstott finished with one goal and two assists.
Holtrop put the Flying Dutchmen up 1-0 three minutes into the first period with a shorthanded goal.
Schick recorded 28 saves in the victory.