The Hamilton College Continentals make the 10-mile drive to the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, N.Y., for their 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Championship semifinal with the Aurora University Spartans on Friday, March 27 at 3 p.m.
 
Hamilton is in the national semifinals for the first time in team history after reaching the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2025. The Continentals have never played Aurora.
 
Here's a glance at Friday afternoon's matchup as Hamilton aims to advance to Sunday's NCAA final where the Continentals would take on either Hobart College or University of Wisconsin-Stout.
 
Records
Hamilton: 21-5-2 overall (14-3-1 in New England Small College Athletic Conference, first place)
Aurora: 25-5-1 overall (13-4-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, fourth place)
 
Rankings
Hamilton: No. 6 in March 9 USCHO.com Division III Top 15 poll and No. 3 in March 8 NCAA Power Index
Aurora: No. 4 in March 9 USCHO.com Division III Top 15 poll and No. 7 in March 8 NCAA Power Index
 
How They Got Here
Hamilton: Defeated Neumann University 6-2 in NCAA first round on March 14 and Norwich University 2-1 (OT) on March 21; NCAA at-large bid
Aurora: Defeated Saint John's University 6-1 in NCAA first round on March 14 and won 3-2 (2OT) at Endicott College on March 21; NCAA at-large bid
 
NCAA History
Hamilton: Third appearance (2017, 2025), 4-2 record in NCAA Championship
Aurora: Second appearance (2025), 3-1 record in NCAA Championship
 
Head Coaches
Hamilton: Rob Haberbusch, 14th season, 184-135-40 record
Aurora: Jason Bloomingburg, 10th season, 139-102-20 record
 
Team Stats
Hamilton: 3.8 goals/game; 1.8 goals allowed/game; 35.8 shots/game; 23.7% PP pct. (28-118); 87.5% PK pct. (9-72); 6.9 PIM/game; 53.2% faceoff win pct.
Aurora: 4.7 goals/game; 2.2 goals allowed/game; 35.2 shots/game; 27.2% PP pct. (37-136); 87.2% PK pct. (17-133); 14.1 PIM/game; 49.4% faceoff win pct.
 
Individual Stat Leaders
Hamilton: Luke Tchor '27 (F, 5-10, 180, 16G-15A-31P); Devon de Vries '27 (F, 5-11, 175, 6G-24A-30P); John Wojciechowski '28 (D, 5-11, 180, 5G-19A-24P); Justin Biraben '27 (F, 6-0, 180, 8G-15A-23P); Jackson Krock '26 (F, 5-11, 188, 8G-13A-21P); Noah Leibl '27 (F, 6-2, 189, 9G-11A-20P); Ryan Sordillo '27 (F, 6-0, 180, 7G-13A-20P); Max Bulawka '26 (F, 6-1, 189, 12G-8A-20P)
Aurora: Hassan Akl (Sr., F, 5-11, 155, 13G-26A-39P); Jakson Kirk (Jr., F, 6-0, 180, 23G-13A-36P); Jaden Davis (Fy., F, 5-8, 165, 13G-20A-33P); Lukas Sedlacek (Sr., F, 6-1, 185, 18G-14A-32P); Chayce Schmidt (Jr., F, 5-11, 195, 8G-21A-29P); Landry Schmuck (So., F, 5-10, 175, 10G-18A-28P); Simon Diaz (So., D, 5-9, 170, 5G-21A-26P); Jacob Brockman (Sr., F, 6-3, 195, 8G-14A-22P)
 
The Goaltenders
Hamilton: Aksel Reid '27 (6-1, 185, 26 starts, 18-5-2 record, 1.84 GAA, .920 save pct., 5 shutouts)
Aurora: Matt O'Donnell (Jr., 6-3, 195, 27 starts, 22-3-1 record, 2.05 GAA, .931 save pct., 5 shutouts)
 
Notes
Hamilton won in the first round and reached the quarterfinals in both of its previous NCAA championship appearances in 2017 and 2025. … The Continentals advanced to the 2026 NESCAC championship semifinals. … Luke Tchor '27 was selected the NESCAC Player of the Year and Rob Haberbusch was voted NESCAC Coach of the Year – both for the second year in a row. … Forwards Tchor, Jackson Krock '26, and Devon de Vries '27, defensemen John Wojciechowski '28 and Connor Thue '29, and goaltender Aksel Reid '27 made the all-NESCAC team. … Tchor made the 2024-25 American Hockey Coaches Association All-America Team and was a Sid Watson Award finalist for the national player of the year in 2025 and 2026. … Tchor needs one point to become the 27^th player in team history with 100 for his career, but just the third in the last 20 years. … Hamilton has posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time. … The Continentals have been ranked as high as second in the USCHO.com poll and the NCAA Power Index. … Hamilton is fifth in NCAA Division III in scoring defense. … The Continentals will set a team record for wins in a season with one more victory. ... Krock scored the overtime game-winning goal against Norwich in the semifinals. ... Max Bulawka '26 has scored five goals in four postseason games in 2026. ... Hamilton is 2-0 in the Adirondack Bank Center this season as the Continentals defeated Utica University and SUNY Morrisville in a tournament in late November.
 
Aurora is 7-1-1 in its last nine games. … The Spartans lost 3-1 at St. Norbert College in the championship game of the NCHA Harris Cup Playoffs. … Head Coach Jason Bloomingburg is a finalist for the Edward Jeremiah Award, which is presented annually to the top NCAA Division II-III men's hockey coach. … Aurora's 25 wins are a team record for one season. … Jakson Kirk holds season and career records for most goals with 23 and 49, respectively. … Career-high 56 saves for Matt O'Donnell in the NCAA quarterfinal win at Endicott. … Kirk is seventh in NCAA Division III in goals per game and is tied for fourth with eight power-play goals. … The Spartans have scored six short-handed goals. … Aurora is fourth in Division III in scoring offense and fifth in power-play percentage.