This season marks the final year Calvin’s American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 3 hockey team will compete in this league. Starting next year, the team will make the jump to Division 2. If this year’s results are any indication, the jump is an obvious step for a program on the rise.
At the time this article was written, the #1-seeded Knights had clinched a spot in the D3 ACHA semifinals after an undefeated performance in pool play. They opened nationals play in St. Louis on Wednesday, March 18, with a demanding 5-1 win over #16 Purdue. Going into the third period, the game was 2-1, but the Knights dominated the final period, outscoring Purdue 3-0. They followed up that performance with another impressive performance against #9 University of Nebraska at Omaha, winning 5-2. In their final matchup of pool play, Calvin cruised to a 3-1 victory over #8 Dordt University.
The D3 ACHA tournament consists of four pools, each consisting of four teams. Each team plays three games within its pool. The winner of each pool advances to the Final Four; from there, it is a single-elimination tournament. The Knights look to bring a national title to the school for the first time since 2004.
Headed into this season, the Knights hoped to use their strong resume of successful seasons as a tool for the postseason. Sophomore Luke Afman said, “[This season], we’re always focused on the ultimate goal of [reaching] nationals and hopefully [winning a championship], but it is also important to focus on each individual game, to [ensure] we play [to our expectations].
Calvin’s D3 hockey team began in the 2018-2019 season. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the team started to make large strides of progression, including a qualification for their first ACHA D3 tournament in the 2022-2023 season. The team has continued improving since then, with this year marking their fourth consecutive year of qualifying for this tournament. The last 3 seasons finished with an overall record of 59-30-4.
The past season resulted in an unexpected end, with Calvin swiftly winning their first two games in the ACHA D3 tournament pool play but falling to Lawrence Tech in the final game, making them ineligible for the Final Four qualification. Afman commented on the end of last season, saying, “We had the expectation [of winning a National Championship], but we let that get in the way, and we didn’t play in the way that we really needed to [in the final stretch].” Current senior captain Owen Duiker explained that this loss led to the preparation for this season, saying, “[The loss] was a letdown for us. It really shifted the focus to this year and forced us to take our preparation to the next level for [this season]. It helped us recognize what we needed to [improve].”
This season, Calvin quickly regained their footing with an 11-0-1 record to start. By the end of the regular season, they earned a record of 16-3-1; two of these three losses were against higher-division opponents. The team additionally won the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) conference championship; according to Duiker, Calvin hasn’t accomplished this feat in 20 years. Junior Josiah Lambers commented on the season, saying, “We faced adversity throughout the season with injuries, but found a way to get through to the postseason and keep our number one seed.”
The man behind the success has been head coach Austin Huizenga, who was just named MCHC D3 Hockey coach of the year for the 2025-2026 season. A Grand Rapids native, Huizenga himself played on the Calvin Hockey team, beginning at the D3 level and eventually moving to the D1 level. Duiker praised the job his coach has done, emphasizing Huizenga’s communication skills and his ability to “talk to us as a fellow, as another player, [instead of] talking down to us like he’s a coach.” Duiker also mentioned how Huizenga’s calm, cool and collected presence helps the team stay grounded during intense moments.
Evident in the team is the community among the athletes. Goalie Ryan Worosz remarked on how close the athletes are to each other, explaining that this season has been unlike any other he has experienced. “If a person is having a rough game, there will 100% be someone there to pick them up,” he said. “On our team, there is no such thing as a bad day; there is truly nothing like it.” He continued by explaining how long this community has been developing, saying, “It has really been a 4-year journey. We have 11 seniors this year on the team, and we have built a culture this year that makes [the team] come together. It has built this family culture, and we are here for one thing: to win a national championship and bring it back to Calvin.”
Afman and Duiker discussed the privilege it has been to play for something greater than themselves, something they’ve talked about at team Bible study. Afman talked about how he immediately felt welcomed on the team and has been able to grow at a spiritual level. “Being able to find peers and role models within the team spiritually and also to be able to share that with them is incredibly special,” he said. “It speaks volumes to the program that we’ve become.”
As Calvin University’s ACHA D3 hockey team sets its sights on a championship run, it’s clear this season is about more than just talent on the ice. Built on the foundation of past seasons, the program has grown through adversity and commitment to improvement. Those experiences, along with the strong community that has been developed, have turned this season into a shared pursuit. With momentum building, Calvin isn’t just hoping to compete; they’re aiming to finish the job.
