BOSTON — Long before the puck dropped, it was clear this night was never going to be just about the score.
Lines stretched out the doors. Alumni filled the aisles. The DogHouse stood packed and unrelenting, drowning out warmups with chants that echoed off the old wooden ceiling. For 115 years, Matthews Arena had been a place where college hockey learned how to sound, how to feel, how to matter. On Saturday night, it asked for one last memory.
In the final event ever held inside the historic building, No. 11 Northeastern battled No. 20 Boston University in a game that swung with the same unpredictability that defined Matthews itself. When the final horn sounded, the Huskies were left with a 4-3 loss, turning what was already an emotional night into a heavier one after a 3-2 Northeastern lead unraveled in the final two minutes.
When the puck dropped, Northeastern wasted little time feeding off the emotion in the building. From the opening shift, the Huskies dictated pace, forcing Boston University to defend early and often. Every completed check was met with noise, every offensive-zone faceoff with anticipation.
That pressure broke through on the power play. Freshman forward Jacob Mathieu capitalized on a net-front deflection to put Northeastern ahead, igniting a sustained roar from the sellout crowd.
Momentum stayed with the Huskies as they struck again before the midway point of the period. On a 2-on-1 rush, freshman forward Giacomo Martino sent a cross-ice feed to junior linemate Tyler Fukakusa, who beat Boston University goalie Mikhail Yegorov far side to double the lead as Northeastern seized control.
Boston University responded late in the frame, trimming the deficit when sophomore Brandon Svoboda capitalized on a bouncing puck to beat Northeastern’s defense. The goal quieted the building momentarily, but the Huskies still carried a 2-1 advantage into the intermission.
The energy from the first period carried into the opening moments of the second, but BU quickly flipped the script. The Terriers pressed with purpose, cycling the puck and controlling the offensive zone, forcing Northeastern to defend for long stretches.
Every time the Huskies tried to spark a breakout, BU’s forecheck cut off passing lanes, turning potential rushes into hurried plays.
Shots rained on Northeastern goaltender Lawton Zacher, who made several key stops to keep his team in the game. Despite the pressure, the Huskies’ defense worked to clear rebounds and slow down BU’s top forwards, but the Terriers’ persistence proved difficult to contain.
With just over six minutes remaining in the period, the Terriers’ offensive dominance paid off. Sophomore forward Sacha Boisvert wired a back-door shot past Zacher, knotting the score at 2-2 and sending a packed Matthews Arena into tense silence. From that point on, BU continued to generate chances that tested Northeastern’s penalty kill and defensive discipline.
Just when it seemed the visitors had fully seized control, Northeastern delivered a dramatic jolt before the period’s end. With one second remaining, junior forward Dylan Hryckowian threaded a pass to linemate Joe Connor, who snapped a backhand shot over the glove of Yegorov to regain the lead, 3-2. The goal set the building alight once more, turning tension into euphoria and reminding everyone why Matthews Arena had always demanded attention.
That final-second strike shifted momentum heading into the intermission, giving the Huskies an edge despite BU’s domination throughout the period. The roar from the sellout crowd reflected the mix of relief and emotion, a fitting reaction for a night already charged with history.
The final period promised more than just a game, it was the culmination of over a century of memories, with every shift carrying the weight of Matthews Arena’s storied past.
BU came out determined to seize control and flip the momentum in the final frame. Just over the midway point, Northeastern was awarded a penalty shot after Joe Connor was fouled on a breakaway by Gavin McCarthy, who was called for slashing.
Rather than take the two-minute power play, the Huskies opted for the one-on-one chance. Connor couldn’t convert, sending the puck wide and leaving the crowd tense and silent for a heartbeat. That missed opportunity shifted the energy, as the Terriers began to assert more control over the play.
BU pressed their advantage, sustaining long offensive possessions and testing Northeastern’s defense. Then, with 2:08 remaining, the Terriers pulled Yegorov for an extra skater. The move paid off almost instantly.
10 seconds later, sophomore forward Kamil Bednarik buried a rebound to tie the game 3-3, sending shockwaves through Matthews Arena.
The Huskies barely had time to recover before Svoboda scored his second goal just 19 seconds later, flipping the game completely in Boston University’s favor.
In the span of 19 seconds, Northeastern went from holding a 3-2 lead to trailing 4-3. It was a sudden collapse that stunned the sellout crowd, sending a hush over what had been such a vibrant atmosphere. The DogHouse continued to roar, pushing the Huskies to respond, but the Terriers’ momentum proved insurmountable.
Every shift in the final minutes carried the weight of Matthews Arena’s legacy, a dramatic and painful end to the rink’s 115-year history. Northeastern fought until the final buzzer, but the night belonged to the memories forged within its walls, and to the Terriers’ late-game surge.
The final buzzer at Matthews Arena signaled more than the end of a game; it marked the closing chapter of 115 years of history spanning from college hockey to Teddy Roosevelt political rallies. As the ice cleared, the Huskies and the crowd stayed behind for a ceremonial farewell that celebrated the building’s unmatched legacy.
Northeastern Athletics welcomed back a procession of alumni legends: Randy and Johnny Bucyk, Jay Bell, Art Chisholm, David Poile, Wayne Turner, Jeff Hiltz, David O’Brien, Dan McGillis, Jim Fahey, Mike McLaughlin, and Jordan Harris.
Their presence bridged decades of history, reminding everyone in attendance that Matthews had shaped generations of athletes. Current captain Vinny Borgesi completed the ceremony by leading his teammates on one final lap around the rink, a symbolic passing of the torch.
Throughout the ceremony, the arena was filled with nostalgia. Videos highlighted iconic moments from Northeastern athletics: Adam Gaudette’s standout season culminating in the Hobey Baker Award, Kendall Coyne Schofield’s Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2016, and Reggie Lewis’s record-setting basketball career. The emotional weight of these memories was amplified by music carefully chosen to capture the moment: Taylor Swift’s Long Live, Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again, and Augustana’s Boston, which accompanied the team’s final lap around the ice.
Athletic Director Jim Madigan gave a heartfelt speech, his voice breaking as he said, “Rest in peace, Matthews Arena.” He reflected on the people, the stories, and the memories that had defined the building—from players of the 1930s to today’s Huskies.
“You know, the results are not what we want, but there was so much more tonight than just the results of the game,” Madigan said. “It’s about celebrating Northeastern University, celebrating our hockey program, celebrating this wonderful building.” He added, “It’s about the people, and we’re fortunate to have a lot of quality people who’ve been part of this Matthews Arena journey.”
Madigan recounted encounters with former coaches and alumni, sharing stories that spanned a century. He emphasized the significance of the alumni gathered: “It was all those stories from our Northeastern alums and former coaches—this is a unique area for college hockey. To have them all in one space was special.”
Captain Vinny Borgesi described the night as “emotional,” reflecting on the history beneath the arena’s rafters. “It’s a lot bigger than just our team,” he said. “To see all those people come back for that final game shows the character of this community, this school, this hockey program itself. That’s why Northeastern is special.”
He also recalled his first time in the building during high school while being recruited: “I just kind of looked at my dad and said, ‘This is the place for me.’ It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Head Coach Jerry Keefe spoke about the challenges ahead with no home rink for the next couple of years. “You gotta have the right type of guys in your locker room,” he said. “We’ve got a group that’s going to look forward to the challenge. Every game will be meaningful, and the right culture will carry us through.”
On a personal note, he shared the family connection he felt to Matthews Arena: “My son was four, my daughter was one, and they came to every game. That’s part of what makes this building so special—it’s family.”
The ceremony blended emotion, reflection, and hope. Matthews Arena was honored not just for the games played on its ice, but for the lives it touched and the stories it carried. In that final lap, with music swelling and alumni cheering, the Huskies paid tribute to more than a century of history, closing one chapter and looking forward to the next, carrying the spirit of Matthews Arena into a new era.
Northeastern will take some time off for the winter break before resuming play. The Huskies are set to return on January 2, traveling to face Army in a road matchup to kick off the new year.
Armaan Vij is a third-year student at Northeastern University and a broadcaster and writer for WRBB Sports. He has covered Northeastern hockey, baseball, and rowing both on-air and in print for the past two years. Read all his articles here.