Emilia Farrell ‘28

by Emilia Farrell ‘28 on February 5, 2026

It is not a secret to anyone on the Providence College campus that the men’s ice hockey team has been on a roll this year. The Friars have swept opponents the past three consecutive weekends, which pushed them to a dominant seven-game win streak. The team’s overall performance has resulted in them rising to the top rank of Hockey East with a conference record of 11–3–1. The first pair of wins came against the University of Maine, then rival Boston College, and quickly Boston University as well. Each weekend has tested the team in different ways, but every time they have risen to the occasion while under immense pressure. 

The standout player across all of these recent games is alternate captain Aleksi Kivioja ’28. A native of Espoo, Finland, Kivioja is in the midst of his second strong season at PC. Before suiting up for the Friars, Kivioja played for two years with the Omaha Lancers, where he served as an alternate captain and appeared in 103 games, which allowed him to gain valuable hockey and leadership experience. No. 14’s most recent success has come through his impressive work on both ends of the ice. On the defensive side, Kivioja blocked a shot or more in all of the six swept games. On offense, he is equally as effective, scoring goals in three of the six games and recording assists two. One special goal for Kivioja was the game-winner in a close game against Boston University on Jan. 23, after which was awarded Hockey East Play of the Week. To start this play, Kivioja passed the puck to No. 22 Clint Levens ’27, who then passed it right back to Kivioja for a quick goal with 2:41 left in regulation. This important recognition by the Hockey East Conference reinforces how skillfully he has been playing as of late. Three out of Kivioja’s four goals on the season have been in the past five games alone, demonstrating how far he has progressed recently. His ability to transition seamlessly between offense and defense makes him a critical presence on the ice for the Friars. Overall, Kivioja demonstrates what it means to be a team player on both ends of the ice. His performance has played a catalytic  role in Providence’s recent success. As the regular season is coming to an end, Kivioja will no doubt also be playing a key role in the team’s aspirations for postseason play.