Tar Heel Hockey November Recap

By Caleb Herrera, Sarah Stephens & Emma Mays

Tar Heel Hockey wrapped up November with their final games of 2025. With the outdoor clash against the South Carolina Gamecocks behind them, here’s what fans may have missed and what lies ahead for the team in 2026.

Greensboro matchup against NC State

After a tough 4-1 loss the night before, the North Carolina Tar Heels bounced back to defeat the NC State IcePack 3-2, evening the home-and-home season series. The game was played at Greensboro Coliseum, home of the Greensboro Gargoyles – the ECHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. 

UNC got on the board in the first period when Will Hilton scored unassisted with 9:38 remaining in the first period. About 7 minutes later, forward Daniel Kauber capitalized on a turnover at the top of the right faceoff dot with just over two minutes left in the period. UNC went 0-for-1 on the power play in the opening frame.

During the second period, UNC controlled the puck, keeping the IcePack from settling in the offensive zone. NC State went on the power-play with 11:28 remaining in the period after a five-minute major on Jack Sangster for slashing. They converted on a 5-on-3 powerplay chance with a goal from Reese Johnson, cutting the Tar Heels lead to 2-1.

The game remained a stalemate until NC State earned another power-play in the third period, following a slashing penalty taken by Florian Zajic. IcePack Alternate Captain Joey Gouveia tied the game with 5:16 remaining after receiving a cross-ice pass from Daniel Prazma. 

With 2:10 remaining, Adam Zukowski scored to give UNC the lead back at 3-2. NC State pulled their goalie with 1:30 left in the game, but the Tar Heels held firm, closing out the win in Greensboro.

George Mason 

Coming off a short hiatus from home, the Tar Heels returned to the Orange County Sportsplex to play their second-to-last game of 2025 against the George Mason Patriots. The team partnered with the Raleigh Testicular Cancer Foundation, an organization that works to educate, spread awareness and support patients, caregivers and survivors impacted by testicular cancer. 

After George Mason scored the first goal of the game, Tar Heel captain Patrick O’Shaughnessy quickly answered to tie the game. UNC held strong through the rest of the period, protecting their net with intensity.

30 seconds into the second period, UNC forward Owen Kenny scored to give the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead. His chemistry with his linemates O’Shaughnessy and Adam Zukowski set up multiple opportunities in the offensive zone throughout the game. UNC’s lead lasted for the majority of the frame until George Mason capitalized on two turnovers in front of Ander Andreev’s net to lead 3-2.

Coming off a 5-on-3 power play and down by one, the Tar Heels pressed for a tying goal in the third, with Andreev holding strong in net. The period was action-packed, but despite solid defense and several chances, UNC couldn’t find the back of the net and another loss added to the season. 

Governor’s Cup

The Tar Heels headed into this highly anticipated matchup looking for a momentum boost. It had been a tough stretch of games for UNC after falling to the South Carolina Gamecocks in back-to-back games and a 3-2 loss to George Mason. The team’s last win came against the IcePack in their Greensboro matchup on Oct. 25. 

Unfortunately, the Tar Heels unraveled rather quickly. Puck management issues resulted in the IcePack controlling the pace of play for the majority of the first period and beyond. Forward Holden Koufman got behind the defense and deked around goaltender Lucas Brown at 15:23 to give NC State a 1-0 lead. 

The goal sparked a three-goal surge in just 3:31 to close the first period. A blown defensive assignment in the slot left Joey Gouveia free to snipe a shot past Brown, and a low-danger blue-line shot from Mason Payne made it 3-0 — aided by UNC forward Issa Mansour inadvertently screening his own goaltender.

After allowing a goal by Jack Ammons with 12:33 remaining in the second period, Brown was pulled from the game, with Ander Andreev, coming off a 3-2 loss to George Mason the night before, taking his place. 

Ideally, a goaltender change would give the team life – a signal from Coach Steve Rice that things needed to change with a sense of urgency. Despite his best efforts, Andreev could not overcome the overwhelming pace of State’s offense combined with a shaky defensive performance by the team in front of him. 

The Tar Heels had multiple power play chances but could not convert. Perimeter passing rather than driving the puck to the crease stymied their offense and any chance of making a competitive showing.

To the team’s credit, it’s not that they didn’t have any offensive chances. They didn’t back down from NC State’s physicality or post-whistle scrums. And the Tar Heel fans inside Lenovo Center did their best to energize the team despite the very large deficit. In the end, whether it was exhaustion from playing a back-to-back, the weight of the early deficit or simply the IcePack’s skill , UNC couldn’t will itself back into the game. 

NC State’s Joey Gouveia finished the game with two goals, and goaltender Ethan Roberts was named the first star of the game – earning a 27 save shutout. The IcePack won the game 7-0, clinching their second consecutive Governor’s Cup win. 

Florian Zajic’s last game 

Amid the frustration and heartbreak from the Governor’s cup loss, the moment carried an underlying sadness – a final chapter for one of Tar Heel Hockey’s longest tenured players and respected leader in the locker room. 

Defenceman Florian Zajic played his last game for UNC on Sunday, as he will be graduating from the Kenan-Flagler Business School in December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “Flo” was named an alternate captain last July and quickly became a reliable voice in the locker room and on UNC’s blue line. 

Zajic finishes his Tar Heel Hockey career with 11 goals and 30 points in 89 games played.

Tar Heel Hockey entering the break

As the Tar Heels head into their winter break, an opportunity arises to reassess where they stand and what needs to change going into the second half of the season. 

UNC sits at 4-9-1 through 15 games – including one shootout win and one shootout loss – for tenth place in the MD1 ACCHL division. The team has scored 38 goals while allowing 60, giving them a -22 goal differential, along with a 22.6% power play and a 50% penalty kill. 

The Tar Heels will return to Orange County Sportsplex on Jan. 9 to face Westchester.

@UNCHockey