Sacred Heart Hockey Atlantic Hockey Playoffs: No. 2 Seed Clinched

By J.J. Pavlick | West Point, NY | February 27, 2026

Pioneers Edge Army 3–2 in Gritty Road Win

A pivotal matchup for Sacred Heart hockey Atlantic Hockey playoffs positioning took place Friday night at Tate Rink, where the Pioneers held off a relentless third‑period push from Army West Point. By securing a 3–2 victory, Sacred Heart officially locked up the No. 2 seed in the conference, guaranteeing home ice and solidifying its postseason path.

Tate Rink had a playoff feel Friday night as Sacred Heart held off a relentless third‑period push from Army West Point to secure a 3–2 win and lock up the No. 2 seed in Atlantic Hockey for the second straight season. Special teams, timely scoring, and late defensive grit defined a game that felt like a March preview.

The Turning Point: Special Teams Swing

Army (12‑15‑6, 7‑14‑4 AHA) landed the first blow with Jack Ivey crashing the net in the final seconds of the first period. However, Sacred Heart (18‑12‑3, 14‑8‑3 AHA) flipped the script in the middle frame, turning special teams into a weapon.

First, Reid Pabich struck shorthanded to tie the game, a deflating moment for the home crowd. Moments later, Gavin Bryant ripped a power‑play goal to give the Pioneers a 2–1 lead they would never relinquish. Goaltender Ajeet Gundarah was the anchor, stopping 30 of 32 shots—including a 16-shot barrage in the third period—to preserve the win.

Army’s Late Push

Jude Brower buried a power-play goal with 91 seconds left to cut the lead to one, sending Tate Rink into a frenzy, but the Black Knights could not find the equalizer before the buzzer.

Coaches’ Reactions: Momentum & Identity

Sacred Heart: “Other Fish to Fry”

Sacred Heart Head Coach C.J. Marottolo immediately identified the game’s pivot point: the five-minute major his team successfully killed. He noted that his group “had to fight through a lot of adversity” during that stretch, emphasizing that special teams “this time of year are the separator.”

Sacred Heart Hockey Atlantic Hockey Playoffs Outlook

With this victory, the Sacred Heart hockey Atlantic Hockey playoffs picture is now clear. Clinching the No. 2 seed for the second straight year is a testament to the program’s consistency.

While Marottolo praised the “tremendous” penalty kill, he framed the No. 2 seed less as a trophy and more as proof of consistency. “It’s hard to stay in that top four every year,” he said, acknowledging the accomplishment while making it clear the group has “other fish to fry.” With the bye week eliminated in the new format, he insisted the final weekend is about maintaining rhythm: “We need to keep it going and roll into the following week.”

Army West Point: “We’ve Got to Play with Desperation”

On the opposing bench, Army Head Coach Zach McKelvie was blunt about where the game slipped away. He tied the loss directly to the second-period sequence where a crucial power play morphed into a Sacred Heart shorthanded goal.

“We needed a big‑time power play,” McKelvie said, lamenting that instead, “they got a shorthanded goal” which “really changed the momentum of the game.” He added that losing offensive leaders Nils Fort Sillius and Ben Ivey to injury weighed on the team, noting that Ben is “one of the guys on the team that everybody looks to.”

Despite the frustration, McKelvie’s tone shifted from tactical to personal when discussing the upcoming Senior Night. He expressed deep respect for the players who commit to the Academy, stating simply, “I love every one of those guys.” Looking ahead to the rematch, his message was clear: “We’ve got to play with desperation.”

Looking Ahead

The two teams meet again Saturday at Tate Rink as Army honors its seniors. Sacred Heart enters with seeding secured but standards unchanged; Army enters with urgency and something to prove. If Friday night was any indication, the rematch will be played with playoff intensity.

Key Takeaways

• Special Teams Dominance
  Sacred Heart scored both shorthanded (Pabich) and on the power play (Bryant), proving that special teams are indeed the “separator.”
• Goaltending Duel
  Gundarah (30 saves) and Cataldo (29 saves) kept the score tight, with Gundarah making three key stops in the final minute.
• Playoff Picture
  Sacred Heart locks up the No. 2 seed, while Army looks to regain health and discipline before the tournament begins.

Bad Dawg Sports: Real reporting – Real access – No nonsense

Friday night at Tate Rink didn’t feel like a regular-season game — it felt like a warning label for March. Sacred Heart turned one Army power play into a shorthanded gut punch, cashed in on the man advantage, and then survived a third-period surge that had the building leaning forward on every bounce. That’s how playoff hockey gets decided: special teams, one swing, and a goalie who refuses to blink. Want every boom and echo? Don’t miss our upcoming coverage — where we break down every ripple, every shockwave, and what it means for the season ahead.

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