THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 20, 2026 Page 5 Saugus resident Lily Brazis and her Northeastern University teammates are just two wins away from a National Collegiate Women’s ice Hockey title Feeling that Frozen Four Fever By Mark E. Vogler T hree years ago as a freshman on the Northeastern University women’s hockey team, Lily Brazis was an observer from the bench as her Huskies competed in the Frozen Four tournament, losing 3-0 to Ohio State in the semifinals. This afternoon (Friday, March 20), Brazis – now a senior and center on the team’s third line – expects to get some playing time on the ice rink as Northeastern plays Ohio State for the second time in four years in the semifinals round of the Frozen Four tournament. If fifth-ranked Northeastern upsets No. 1 Ohio State, Brazis and her team will advance to the 2026 National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championship game on Sunday. “We have another shot against Ohio State and we have something to prove,” the 22-year-old Brazis said in an interview this week, referring to the first semifinal matchup of the day, which is set for 4 p.m. No. 2 Wisconsin faces thirdranked Penn State in the 7:30 p.m. game. The two semifinal winners will face off for the National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championship game at 4 p.m. Sunday. This marks the fourth time A TRIUMPHANT TICKET: Saugus’ Lily Brazis (right) celebrated with two other teammates last Saturday after No. 5-ranked Northeastern University beat No. 4-ranked University of Minnesota 4-2 to advance to the Frozen Four tournament of National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey. Northeastern will play top-ranked Ohio State this afternoon (Friday, March 20) in the semifinals. Ohio State has been in the final four for six consecutive years. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) in the history of the women’s hockey program at Northeastern that the Huskies have made it as far as the Frozen Four. If they win both games, the team will win its first national title. Brazis, who started playing hockey as a three-year-old in Saugus Youth Hockey, looks at competing in the Frozen Four as “the greatest moment” of her hockey career. “It’s a huge deal for me,” Brazis told The Saugus Advocate this week. “Really, it’s a huge deal in general for anyone who watches women’s collegiate hockey. For us, this is like playing for the Stanley Cup,” she said, referring to the coveted trophy awarded each year to the winner of the National Hockey League playoffs. Brazis’ participation in this weekend’s Frozen Four is also a big deal for her entire family, who have made hockey their sport. Her father Scott and brother played hockey at FOUR-YEAR PLAYER: Lily Brazis has played 140 games for Northeastern University during her women’s collegiate hockey career, scoring 8 goals with 16 assists for 24 points. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) the University of New Haven. Scott Brazis was a standout hockey player at Saugus High School and the University of New Haven, getting inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at both schools. He also coached the Saugus High School hockey team for nine years – seven as the head coach. “My dad is very excited about the Frozen Four and is very proud of me. I want to make ALL DEPOSITS ARE INSURED IN FULL. LOCK IN THIS RATE BEFORE IT’S GONE: 4.00% APY* 6 or 24-Month CD You choose, you can’t lose! *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty 419 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 771 SALEM ST. LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 331 MONTVALE AVE. WOBURN, MA 01801 EVERETTBANK.COM 617-387-1110 781-776-4444 781-281-9092 MEMBER FDIC | MEMBER DIF him proud as well,” Lily Brazis said. The Brazis family plans to be well-represented when the puck drops for this afternoon’s game at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. “My parents [Scott and Christine Brazis], my brother [Zak], my sister [Karli Brazis, administrative assistant to the town’s HOCKEY| SEE PAGE 7
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