BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State men's hockey team continued to show why they are one of the top teams in the SUNYAC after posting another successful season. After finishing the year with a record of 16-11-0 (9-5-0 SUNYAC), the Bengals reached the postseason for the seventh time under head coach Steve Murphy's ten seasons at the helm including a fifth trip to the semifinal game.
 
The Bengals came out firing to open the season with a 6-2 record including a 5-0 start to conference play. Buffalo State continued the momentum throughout the season as they finished third in the regular season standings, earning a home playoff game against SUNY Canton. The 2024-25 season also featured a regular season sweep of the Oswego State Lakers, which hasn't happened in program history, Murphy and his staff being named the SUNYAC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, and three All-SUNYAC selections with Vadim Kiriakov (Tyumen, Russia/Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk) earning Second Team and Don Powell (Wixom, MI/P.A.L Jr. Islanders) and Andrey Manov (West Vancouver, BC/Blind River Beavers) earning All-Rookie.
 
In the stat book, the team's 16 wins, nine SUNYAC wins, 91 goals and 23 power play goals were all the most in a season since 2017-18 and their 3.37 goals per game average was the third highest in the SUNYAC. Buffalo State was also second in the conference in power play goals. One of the top highlights of the year was the team's 4-3 win over Chatham in January which made Murphy the winningest coach in program history. Coincidentally, Murphy earned his 100^th career win as a head coach last season against the Cougars.
 
Individually, the men's hockey team had multiple players post strong seasons. Kiriakov led the team with 33 points, 11 goals, and 22 assists and finished fourth in the conference in assists and tied for third in points. Jason Kwestel (Rockaway, NJ/Valley Wildcats) and Austin Micale (Hamilton, NJ/Nashville Spartans) also had impressive seasons combining for 15 goals and 30 assists as staples of the Bengals' lineup. In goal, Marcus Cumberworth (Surrey, BC/Olds Grizzlys) made 608 saves with a .914 save percentage and a 2.70 goals against average. Cumberworth also posted two shutouts against Potsdam to give him three for his career; all three are against the Bears. Additionally, senior assistant captain Joe Glamos finished his collegiate career with 77 points to finish tied for 13^th all-time in program history.
 
Murphy has rebuilt his roster with a young and exciting core. The team nearly had every skater register at least one point and set the foundation for already one of the most consistent programs in the conference. With three-time reigning national champion Hobart and Skidmore joining the SUNYAC next year, Buffalo State is ready to continue their mission for a SUNYAC Championship in one of the best conferences in Division III.