Top 2025-26 Moments: #7 Hockey Wins Friendship Four Title
7/9/2026 1:55:00 PM | Hockey
Our Welling and Co. Jewelers Sparkling and Dazzling Top 10 Countdown continues at No. 7 with Miami Hockey capturing the tournament title at the 2025 Friendship Four.
OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami Hockey made history in November 2025, becoming the first NCHC team to compete in the prestigious Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland and then bringing home the trophy. After several memorable days of sightseeing in Dublin and then Belfast, the RedHawks took care of business on the ice, first blanking RIT 4-0 in the semifinals and then edging No. 20 Union 3-2 in the final to capture the Belpot Trophy. The championship marked the Red and White's first trophy since 2015 and Miami's first in-season multi-opponent tournament title since the 2011 Denver Cup Classic.
Forward Matteo Giampa was named the Player of the Game in the championship contest, lighting the lamp twice. Goaltender Matteo Drobac made 52 saves during the weekend, including 29 in the final, and was recognized as the Player of the Tournament. The victories in Belfast vaulted Miami back into the USCHO national rankings for the first time since 2019. The RedHawks went on to finish 9-1 in non-conference games en route to an 18-16-2 overall record last season, matching the largest single-season improvement in regular-season wins in program history (+15 in 1996-97) and the third-largest nationally over the past half-century (excluding forfeits and COVID).
Meet the Matteos 🤝 How Drobac and Giampa helped lift Miami Hockey to a @Friendship_Four championship last weekend in Belfast!
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) December 4, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/KvsWKGytn4#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/mWatJJFiiC
Friendship Four frames 🖼️ #RiseUpRedHawks | @friendship_four pic.twitter.com/CEBPEA5nX8
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) December 1, 2025
2025 FRIENDSHIP FOUR CHAMPS 🏆#RiseUpRedHawks | @friendship_four pic.twitter.com/mz07VTXqRY
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 29, 2025
Redhawks WIN!!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/RzlUx5k3g6
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 29, 2025
Started our morning at Cregagh Primary School, learning more about Belfast and playing some hockey! #RiseUpRedHawks | @Friendship_Four pic.twitter.com/WUnmpVvMTr
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 27, 2025
📍 Giant's Causeway#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/IQOkCziAVH
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 26, 2025
Day 2 started with the Game of Thrones Studio Tour!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/aBidBTZFHY
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 25, 2025
Day one in Dublin on the digital camera!
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 25, 2025
📸 the guys#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/hXsITOziMG
Kicking off our time in Dublin with a tour! 🇮🇪#RiseUpRedHawks | @Friendship_Four pic.twitter.com/95HsxissW6
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) November 24, 2025
