Hokies Keep Regionals Hopes Alive with Critical Win over Wake Forest

Vinton, V.A. - With the new semester officially in swing this week, the Virginia Tech Hokies Men's Ice Hockey Team continued its momentum on Friday night with a pivotal 5-2 win over Wake Forest at the Lot. With much at stake, including league and regional seeding, the Hokies surged when needed, coming out on top heading into the closing stretch of the season.

After a quick road trip that saw the Hokies play their best hockey of the season against #3 Ohio, the team returned home this weekend for a clash with fellow ACCHL rival Wake Forest. With heavy weather conditions limiting the scheduled two-game series to one, Friday night's game put a lot on the line for the Hokies in what would be considered a make-or-break game.

At the beginning of the week, Tech sat in the bottom half of the ACCHL Rankings behind Wake Forest, thanks to two consecutive losses to High Point at the beginning of the month. However, regionally, the Hokies moved up three spots from #16 to #13 after a successful weekend in Athens, which saw the team defeat Ohio, the same program that ended their season last year in Evansville. With a new ACHA Regional format this year, the top 16 teams in the region will play each other, so obviously, the higher the seed, the better.

In comparison to Virginia Tech, Wake Forest closed their way into the top-20 this week, earning the 17th spot, just one behind the cut-off line. A win against the Hokies this weekend would be a huge resume builder for the Demon Deacons, who look to present themselves in Cincinnati come February for the first time in program history.

With eyes turned to the Lancerlot Sports Complex on Friday Night, both teams understood the stakes of what a win could mean for the trajectory of their programs for the remainder of the season.

The opening period demonstrated the urgency of each program as the Hokies started Sophomore goaltender Tucker Forrest, who would be starting back-to-back games after picking up a win against Ohio last Saturday. On the other side, the Deacs entrusted their Sophomore tender, John Tolve, to secure their potential biggest win of the season.

Wake Forest would get on the board first, halfway through the period, with a goal from Adam Custable off a great feed from teammate Ross McKee past Forrest. The 1-0 score would be the only action seen in the first period as the Hokies would fall behind heading into the second. Before Friday night, the Hokies were 1-7 in comeback wins this season after trailing after the first period (lone win came last week against Ohio).

The second period was dominated offensively by the Hokies, as the power play unit would break through their recent struggles. Marshall Campbell tied the game seven minutes into the period with an even-strength goal, followed two minutes later thanks to an interference penalty by a JH Lages power play goal to break even and take a 2-1 lead. Later on, another interference call on Wake Forest would set up Sophomore Austin Hryn for his ninth goal of the season on the man advantage to take a commanding 3-1 score into the final period of play.

Virginia Tech's sustained momentum kept rolling in the third as the team added two more goals. Lages would collect his second of the night and tenth overall of the season in what was another impressive performance by the reigning ACCHL Defensive Player of the Year. Senior Authur Seng would also join in on the fun with his first goal of the year, and fifth unanswered for the Hokies as they took a 5-1 lead over the Deacs. A Jagger Lucas goal would be all Wake Forest could muster in the final minutes of the game, as the Hokies propelled themselves to another massive win.

The Hokies, now 12-9-3 on the season, find themselves in a prime position within the ACCHL and Regional standings after their latest win Friday night. League-wise, Virginia Tech clinched the fifth seed, thanks in part to their victory over Wake Forest, which sets up a intriging rematch with High Point in the first round of the ACCHL playoff tournament. Regionally, with cancellations due to weather, it is likely the Hokies will either stay put or inch a spot up or two.

The team returns home next Friday for Senior Night with the final game of the 2025-26 season against M1 Towson. Fans can tune in live or watch online with VTHN on YouTube. Pregame ceremonies take place after warm-ups, with puck drop set for around 7:45 pm.