Wednesday, December 31, 2025

U.S. Collegiate Selects Fall in Spengler Cup Final

Host HC Davos break open tight game in third period for 17th title

U.S. Collegiate Selects Fall in Spengler Cup Final
Alex Tracy, Gavin McCarthy and the U.S. Collegiate Selects receive a standing ovation at the Spengler Cup post-game ceremony (Photo: Keystone).

Davos, SWITZERLAND – The United States Collegiate Selects’ dream run to a Spengler Cup title came up one period short on Wednesday, falling to host HC Davos, 6-3, at zondacrypto-Arena. The Selects concluded their trip with a 2-2-0 record, winning Group Cattini and earning a bye into the semifinal round. Davos claims its record 17th Spengler Cup, breaking a tie it held with Team Canada.

A wildly entering first two periods could not separate the two sides, as the score read 3-3 through 40 minutes of play. Rasmus Asplund opened the scoring at 11:15 – just three seconds into the first power play of the game – before Ryan Walsh (Rochester, N.Y./Cornell) equalized from Cole Knuble (Grand Rapids, Mich./Notre Dame) just 2:10 later.

Adam Tambellini netted the first of his two goals on the day to put Davos back in front at 14:59 from Lucas Frick.

The USCS struck back with Aiden Fink (Calgary, Alta./Penn State) scoring his fourth goal in the last 24 hours, knotting things at 2-2, just under four minutes into the second period. Eric Pohlkamp (Baxter, Minn./Denver) and Walsh earned the assists on the goal in which Fink banked home a shot off the Davos goaltender from the behind the net.

Tambellini once again put the hosts back in the lead with his second goal of the game, connecting with Enzo Corvi for a 3-2 advantage at 11:03.

Fink then set up Jack Musa (Orange Park, Fla./Massachusetts) for his second goal of the tournament at 13:42, once again pulling the Selects even. T.J. Hughes (Hamilton, Ont./Michigan) contributed the secondary assist – his fourth of the Spengler Cup and third in knockout competition.

A late second period double-minor on Quinn Finley (Suamico, Wis./Wisconsin) gave Davos a big chance to start the third, but the USCS penalty kill was up the task, killing off all four minutes.

With over 15 minutes gone in the frame, Filip Zadina finally broke through for the pro side, ripping a shot through a screen and past Adam Gajan (Poprad, Slovakia/Minnesota Duluth) for the eventual game-winning goal. Corvi then drove the net and lifted a shot into the top right corner just 1:27 later, before an empty-net goal put the game away.

Gajan (1-1-0) finished with 26 saves for the USCS, while Davos netminder Sandro Aeschlimann (3-2) had 19 stops at the other end of the ice.

Davos’ record-setting title is its first since 2023. The current roster is comprised of players with over 1,800 games of NHL experience and is currently in first place in the Swiss National League – one of the top professional leagues in Europe.

The Selects’ showing at this year’s tournament can only be seen as a success for college hockey and those who came together to turn this dream into a reality.

On top of beating every team they played in the competition, the USCS went 131:15 straight minutes without trailing, following their opening loss to Team Canada. They scored eight goals in two games with Davos, which allowed a combined two goals in its other three games.

For more information on the Spengler Cup, visit www.spenglercup.ch/en.

Contact: Perry Laskaris
Director of Communications
United States Collegiate Selects
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065