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Head Coach Brian Becker‘s squad features an even blend of new and returning talent, as eleven newcomers join eleven returning players in Hilbert’s first season of United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action.

Seniors Tia Card, Jacqueline Alaburda, and Caitlin Conrad will be relied upon to lead the Hawks in their fourth season with the program. The trio all enters their senior campaigns at Hilbert already holding program records

Card, who has backstopped the Hawks since she arrived in Hamburg, is the program career leader in goalie games played and started (30-25), saves (1195), and save percentage (.875). The senior goalie from Burlington, ON also recorded the first win in team history with a 26-save effort against King’s College on 10/28/23.

Alaburda is the current program leader in blocked shots (108) and shots on goal (101), while she also ranks second in program history with five goals and nine points. The San Jose, CA native finished third on last year’s squad with four points in eight games played.

Conrad, who has spent time playing both forward and defense, is the program leader in games played (47), while she currently sits second in program history in blocked shots (92) and seventh in points (six). Her four career goals are the most all-time by a Hilbert defenseman. Conrad led last year’s team with 49 blocked shots and a .200 shooting percentage.

Izabelle Wagner, Kelsey Fuller, and Brooke Kwiecien will all look to follow up a 2024-25 season that saw them each finish top five on the Hawks in scoring.

Wagner led the team with four assists and six points in her rookie campaign. The Miles City, MT native fired 21 shots on goal with a .095 shooting percentage.

Fuller tallied two goals and an assist in her first year of collegiate hockey, while also leading the team with 55 shots.

Kwiecien’s four points a year ago matched her freshman point total, as she enters her junior year with eight career points, good enough for fifth all-time in program history.

Wilkes transfer Amelia Murphy will look to produce right away on the Hawks’ blueline, while incoming freshman Victoria Battaglia will aim to make an immediate impact offensively for Hilbert.

The 27-game campaign kicked off on the road with an exhibition contest against Buff State (October 22nd), before the Hawks return to Hamburg to take on Keene State (October 31st and November 1st) and Niagara University Club (Exhibition on November 6th) ahead of the team’s first two UCHC weekend series’.

The first conference games in program history are set for November 14th and 15th on the road against Utica, with the following weekend marking the first home league games for the Hawks against Albertus Magnus at the Nike Base.

Hilbert will follow these first four UCHC matchups with nine consecutive nonconference contests, bookended by home doubleheaders against Buff State (December 5th and 6th) and Hood College (January 16th and 17th).  The team will make trips to take on MCLA (December 12th and 13th), Neumann University (January 2nd and 3rd), and Buff State (January 9th) in this span to prepare for five-straight weekends of UCHC action to end the regular season.

January sees the Hawks host Elmira College (23rd and 24th) and travel to Rye, NY for the first two meetings with Manhattanville (30th and 31st) in program history, before Hilbert finishes its campaign with February series’ against Chatham (away on the 6th, home on the 7th), Nazareth (home on 13th and 14th), and St. John Fisher (away on 20th and 21st).

Hilbert will be working to earn a spot in the UCHC postseason which begins on Wednesday February 25th, with the first round winners moving on to play in the semifinals on Saturday February 28th, for the right to play in the Saturday March 7th UCHC Final.

COACHING / SUPPORT STAFF
After joining the staff last season as an assistant, Brian Becker takes over as the team’s Head Coach this season. Becker previously served as the St. Francis High School Prep Hockey head coach from 2021-2024 following stints with Frontier High School, the Lockport Express (NAHL), Hamburg Hawks 18u AAA, and the Buffalo Stars (Empire Junior Hockey League).

Stephen Hurtubise will join Becker behind the bench for his second season with the Hawks, while Matt Krug rounds out the coaching staff.

Prior to his first year with Hilbert, Hurtubise served as the commissioner for the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League Division I since 2022 after guiding the Canisius University Men’s Ice Hockey team in the American Collegiate Hockey League Division I from 2010 through to 2022.  Since 2022, the Williamsville native has served as the director of hockey development with the Golden Griffins in the ACHL.

Krug brings experience and a winning pedigree to the program, as the Buffalo, NY native was a member of the 2013-14 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship-winning Union Garnet Chargers.

Richard Luczak will serve as the program’s Director of Hockey Operations where he will oversee all organizational aspects of the program, including budget management, travel coordination, and logistical planning.

Laura Dannebohm, J.D., M.A. will support the hockey program by serving as the team’s Faculty Team Advisor. She is an additional source of academic support and serves as a resource regarding academic issues for the hockey student-athletes and coaches. Dannebohm’s association with the department also creates a communication link between faculty, student-athletes, and coaches.

HAMILTON – Jack Brandt tallied three points including two in the third period to help propel the Raiders to their first win of the season by a score of 5-3 over Canisius.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first period started with Canisius taking an early lead against Colgate. The Raiders had a power play opportunity after Brice Cooke was penalized for hooking at 9:19, but they were unable to capitalize. Both teams had opportunities, but strong defensive efforts and blocked shots, notably by Colgate’s Brett Merner and Simone Dadiè, kept the game close. The period ended with the Golden Griffins holding a 1-0 advantage.

Colgate tied the game at one in the second frame with Tyson Doucette scoring at 1:42, assisted by Daniel Panetta. The Golden Griffins quickly responded with a power-play goal from Grant Porter at 3:20, to regain the lead. As the period progressed, Colgate capitalized on a late power play, with Jack Brandt finding the back of the net at 19:18, assisted by Isaiah Norlin and Ryan Sullivan, tying the game again at 2-2. However, Canisius regained the edge in the final seconds, with Zacher scoring at the buzzer, assisted by FJ Buteau, securing a 3-2 lead by the end of the frame.

Jake Schneider opened the scoring for Colgate in the third period with a goal at 1:27, assisted by Panetta, to tie the game at three apiece. Midway through the period, Brandt extended the lead to 4-3, scoring the eventual game-winning goal with an assist from Michael Neumeier at 9:09. Max Nagel solidified Colgate’s advantage by netting an insurance goal at 11:52, assisted by Brandt and Sullivan. The Golden Griffins pushed to close the gap, pulling their goaltender for an extra skater with 2:22 remaining, but Reid Dyck made several key saves to secure the victory.

GAME NOTES

• Brandt posted the three points including his first two goals of the season.
• Reid Dyck earned his first career win with 17 saves.
• Colgate scored five goals for the first time since March 1, 2025 against Union.
• The Raiders have scored two or more goals in 70 out of 76 games under head coach Mike Harder.

Plattsburgh State Athletics News: Cardinals Dominate Rivier 13–0 in Exhibition to Open 2025–26 Season

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men’s ice hockey team opened its 2025–26 campaign in commanding fashion Saturday evening, cruising to a 13–0 exhibition victory over Rivier University at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

The Cardinals, who reached their third straight SUNYAC Championship Game last season, wasted no time reminding fans of their offensive depth and balanced attack. Thirteen different players recorded at least one point, while Plattsburgh outshot Rivier by a staggering 59–21 margin in front of over 1,200 spectators.

Sophomore Quinn Tavares (Mississauga, Ontario) led the offensive outburst with six points on two goals and four assists, earning a hand in four of the team’s first five tallies. First-year Gabriel Filion (Montreal, Quebec) added five points (one goal, four assists), while senior Colin Callanan (Stony Point, N.Y.) and first-year defenseman Kyle James (Almonte, Ontario) each posted three-point nights.

Plattsburgh scored five times in the opening period to set the tone. James opened the scoring just 2:05 in, before Tavares, Callanan, sophomore Shane Bondy (Sharon, Ontario), and first-year Mike English (Hague, N.Y.) all found the back of the net in a relentless first frame that included two power-play goals.

The Cardinals added four more goals in the second period, highlighted by tallies from Filion, junior Sam D’Amico (St. Catharines, Ontario), and first-year Thierry Lizotte (Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec), while Tavares capped the frame with his second goal of the night. Plattsburgh then closed out the third with another four-goal surge from Callanan, Bondy, senior captain Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio), and senior Riley Sutherland (Burlington, Ontario) to seal the shutout victory.

On the back end, the Cardinals were equally dominant defensively, holding Rivier scoreless on three power-play opportunities while converting three of their own. Three goaltenders split time to preserve the shutout. Junior Dominik Bovan (Bratislava, Slovakia) stopped all five shots he faced in the first period, first-year Beau Lane (Pembroke, Mass.) turned aside eight more in the second, and classmate Bradon Spry (Belleville, Ontario) closed the door with eight saves in the third.

NEWARK, Del.  – Syracuse University women’s ice hockey rallied late when sophomore  Rylee McLeod found a way to score to give the Orange the win 1-0 against Delaware Saturday afternoon at the Fred Rust Ice Arena.

Syracuse (4-4-0, 2-0-0) was in a lock down battle with the Blue Hens, until McLeod found the net to put the Orange up late in the third period. Freshman Ava Drabyk earns her first shutout of her career and had 22 saves on the day.

Delaware (1-6-0, 0-3-0) was unable to find a way offensively to get on the board. The defense for the Blue Hens tallied 30 blocks on the afternoon. Mattie Robitzer took the loss in goal with 30 saves.

How it Happened

• Both sides traded shots. Delaware outshot Syracuse 11-8 in the first period, but neither team lit the lamp.
• The offense for Syracuse ramped up in the second with 18 shots but none found their way to the back of the net.
• Late in the third period with 11:12 on the clock, McLeod took the puck down the ice and scored the lone goal of the day giving ‘Cuse the win.

Behind the Numbers

• Delaware had 30 blocks total on defense.
• Syracuse did not give up a power-play goal against Delaware in the series, holding the Blue Hens to 0-14 on power play attempts this weekend.
• Emma Gnade had six shots on the day and went six for nine in faceoffs.
• The Orange won 33 of 50 faceoffs.
• ‘Cuse remains undefeated on the road this season.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – Jack Brandt earned ECAC Forward of the Week, presented by Bluebird Hotels, the conference announced on Monday.

Brandt scored two goals and added three assists over the weekend against Canisius. The sophomore buried the go-ahead goal halfway through the final period before providing the assist for the insurance goal three minutes later.

Brandt has logged a point in all four games this year and has already matched his point total from last season as he leads the Raiders with seven points.

Colgate (1-2-1) is back on the road this weekend as they take on Maine. Puck drop for Friday is set for 7 p.m.

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UTICA, NY – The Utica University women’s ice hockey team begins gearing up for its 25th season as it hosts the first of two preseason exhibitions on Saturday, October 18th. The Pioneers will renew an old series from their ECAC West Conference days as they face SUNY Potsdam at 3 PM inside the Utica University Nexus Center. Admission remains free of charge.

Follow Along: Live video is available at https://www.empire8network.com/utica/ or on the FREE Empire 8 Network app available on participating mobile or tv-connected platforms. Live Stats are also available at https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/whockey/summary.

Recapping Last Year: The Pioneers finished last season 19-8-0 overall, and 9-3-0 in UCHC play to earn the conference tournament’s second overall seed. They appeared in their third straight conference final, which ended in an overtime loss to Nazareth. The Pioneers were particularly good at home from beginning to end, with a 9-3-0 overall record inside the Nexus Center and neighboring Utica Memorial Auditorium. Home success has been a key ingredient in Utica’s results with a .500 or better record on home ice in each of the last five years. Signature wins for the program include a 3-2 overtime win over then-#5 Elmira in the Utica Kickoff Tournament, two home wins against Nazareth, and a 3-1 win over nationally-ranked Norwich University in Tampa, Florida. Departing forward Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Westfield), and departing netminder Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) were selected as AHCA East All-Americans. Kowalski was the UCHC Co-Player of the Year, and Hawthorne finished her career as a three-time UCHC Goaltender of the Year. Head Coach Melissa Lomanto was picked as the UCHC Co-Coach of the Year by her peers across the conference.

The Current Totals: As the Pioneers approach their 25th season, they have achieved an overall mark of 366-222-37, good for an overall winning percentage of 61.7 percent. The team has been at .500 or above for 21 out of 24 seasons. Current head coach Melissa Lomanto was around at the very beginning as the team’s first captain, and contributed to 52 wins as a player to get the program off the ground. She was 19-8-0 in her first season as head coach, and now eyes a sophomore campaign as the program’s leader. Her predecessor, Dave Clausen, won 347 games in 23 seasons before shifting to a position coaching golf at St. Lawrence.

Model of Consistency: The Pioneers have become a recent fixture in the UCHC finals, with three appearances in the last three seasons. The Pioneers have three twenty-win seasons in the last four years, and are 84-21-5 over that span.

Back For Another Go: A dozen players return from last year’s roster, with senior Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/) posting the most prolific output last year. Ryder, a second team all-conference pick, had 20 points on seven goals and thirteen assists, and had the game-winning goal in both of Utica’s home wins over Nazareth last season. Kendall Best (Troy, MI/) should shine as a sophomore after logging 17 points and a +19 rating as a rookie, which earned All-Rookie Team honors in the conference. With three goals and thirteen assists last year, Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark’s) is the top returning point-earner from the defense position for Utica. Kelsey Elliott’s (Attleboro, MA/) production has slowly grown each year and that expansion of role should continue in 25-26 as she enters her senior campaign. Sophomore defender Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/) is also back in the fold after amassing UCHC All-Rookie honors a season ago. Other returners include Abby Cangemi (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy), Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels), Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, Fl/), Alex Cenning, Madison Richman (Scituate, MA/), Elliana Lasher (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), and Sophia Jimenez (Wilmette, IL/).

Happy Trails: Utica saw the departure of one of its most prolific senior classes in history, which included some five year players that won 90 games over that span, and collectively, the four-year and five-year seniors led Utica to three straight conference title games. A trio of transfer contributors will be among the most significant losses, with first team All-Conference honorees Allison Mish, Riley Calhoun (New Hartford, NY/Plattsburgh State University (NCAA DIII)), and Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Westfield), the conference Co-Player of the Year, departing. Five year starter Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) departed the program as the most decorated goaltender in program history, as a three-time goaltender of the year and a five-time all-conference or all-rookie pick. Hawthorne had 21 career shutouts, was the winningest goaltender in school history by number of victories, and had the best save percentage and goals against average of anyone to play 900 minutes or make 300 saves in their career. Second team all-conference defender Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) departs as the program’s most offensively productive defender in history, with 69 career points and 53 career assists. Like Hawthorne, she is a five time all-conference or all-rookie selection in the conference. Carly Stefanini’s (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) 130 career points, and Hailey Modlin’s (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) 90 career points will also be missed, with both totals ranking in the top ten in program history. For what it’s worth, Modlin and Novotny share the career games played record at Utica now, with 123 apiece, and Stefanini sits two games back of that at 121. Chatham transfer Ally Nolan (Westford, MA/Chatham University (NCAA DIII)) gave Utica a great campaign in the final year of her career with 19 points. Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary’s) rallied through an injury-riddled year to give Utica some huge goals at the end of the season. Sydney Mintz (Kelowna, BC/Okanagan Hockey Academy), Jordan Hancock (Albuquerque, NM/Belle Tire), Cameran Evans (Emsworth, PA/Pittsburgh Penguins Elite), Abbey Lendzyk (Carver, MN/Woodbury (Minnesota Ice Cougars)), Sophia Capone (Cumberland, RI/Portsmouth Abbey School), Faithe Harris (West Kelowna, BC/Manhattanville College (NCAA DIII)), Cordie Wemyss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pittsburgh Pens Elite), Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)), and Lauryn Brown (Eden, NY/Syracuse Valley Eagles) also do not return.

By the Numbers: The Pioneers sported the nation’s third-ranked scoring offense last year with 4.40 goals per game. That was aided by a 24 percent power play unit, which ranked seventh nationally last season, but is now missing some of its most important components, such as Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School). Stefanini’s net front presence was a contributing factor to scoring 20 power play goals in her career, which sits just one off the program record. On defense, the Pioneers ranked sixth nationally at 1.07 goals per game, and the penalty kill unit was 11th at 93.9 percent.

A Family Affair: Assistant coach Lora Ardoin departed for a head coach opportunity with Roger Williams University, and the Pioneers will continue a family tradition with her replacement. Rachel Corbett just finished her college career at Oswego, where she helped spearhead a program renaissance under Mark Digby in recent years. She will be the third member of her immediate family to be part of the Pioneers’ program. Twin sister Emma just wrapped up her career in Blue and Orange after transferring from Adrian, and older sister Katie was the Director of Hockey Operations at Utica as an undergraduate.

The Global Game: This year’s Pioneers roster features players from four countries. As is customary, the majority of the roster is from the United States and Canada, but the roster will also welcome two newcomers from Europe this season. Norwegian defender Nora Pollestad (Stavanger, Norway/) signs on as a transfer from Castleton, where she had six points across two years. She has suited up in IIHF World Championship competition at the 18U level for Norway. British defender Chloe Needham-Potts (London, United Kingdom/) joins the fold after skating for the Lawrenceville School and East Coast Valkyries. She also has international experience on the IIHF World Championship scene, playing for Great Britain in a total of four World Championships. She has a total of 20 World Championship caps at the 18u and Senior levels.

Who Else Is New: Beyond the two European newcomers, the Pioneers also welcome thirteen additional new faces. By way of transfer, two skaters enter the program from perennial national contenders. Forward Olivia Marcinkowski (Peabody, MA/) joins the squad after two seasons playing for Adrian College, where she appeared in sixteen games. Grace Joscelyn (Loudon, NH/) played in 40 games across two years for the Norwich University Cadets, contributing a goal and six assists during her time in Northfield, Vermont. Eleven others are freshmen. The forward group includes Camryn Behonick (Vestal, NY/), a Binghamton-area product. She enters from the Rome Girls’ Hockey organization, continuing a great local pipeline to the program. Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/) was a team captain last season with the Arizona Kachinas, and will reunite with former teammate Brooklyn Higgins (Gilbert, AZ/) from that organization. Higgins had 23 points in 68 games last year for Lovell Academy in her final pre-collegiate campaign on a squad laden with Division I players. Maddi Vitali (Downington, PA/) spent the past year with the JWHL Junior Flyers, and reunites with teammate Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/) at Utica. Dobrzynski had 7 points in 21 JWHL games last year. Skylar MacLean (Port Hood, Nova Scotia/), a Nova Scotia product, was 51st in total points among JWHL skaters last year with ten points across 24 appearances, and also tore up the Canadian Scholastic Ranks with the fifteenth-highest point total at that level. Cate Hart (Norfolk, MA/Proctor Academy) rounds out the newcomer forward group out of Proctor Academy. On defense, two other rookie defenders are in the mix alongside Needham-Potts. Veronica Houk (Richboro, PA/) joins after a multi-year career with Newark Ironbound, where she had 31 points across her two most recent seasons. Molly Rybarczyk (Toledo, OH) will shore up the blue line as a graduate of one of the nation’s elite AAA programs – Little Ceasars. In net, two newcomers are in the hunt to claim the starting job against returner Alex Venning (Courtice, ON/). Isabella Boehm (Framingham, MA/) had an eye-popping 96 percent save percentage at Lovell Academy last year while winning 24 games, and previously played under Trevor Gilligan at Northwood School in Lake Placid. Katie Sheahan’s development path was also a strong one as she spent two years with the North American Hockey Academy, and previously was with Team Illinois.

About Potsdam: The Bears were 6-13-4 last season, and 2-12-4 against SUNYAC competition. A season ago, they were led by graduate student Rebecca Holmes (6-6-12). Rebecca Cain (3-7-10) and Jalynn Castro (6-3-9) are the top returning scorers for the Bears. In net, Magalie Parent also returns on the heels of a season where she posted a .942 save percentage across twelve appearances. Utica is 11-2-5 against the Bears all-time, and has won the last four meetings, but the two sides haven’t played a regular season game in almost a decade now.

What’s Next: An old conference matchup gets re-ignited to wrap up Utica’s exhibition schedule as the Pioneers battle the William Smith Herons on Friday, October 24th. Puck drop is set for 7 PM.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Following a strong 2024–25 campaign that saw the Cardinals reach the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship Game for the second consecutive season, the Plattsburgh State men’s ice hockey team enters the 2025–26 season with high expectations and a renewed focus on returning to the top of the conference. The Cardinals aim to capture their 25th SUNYAC title in program history and extend their streak to 34 consecutive SUNYAC Tournament appearances.

Led once again by head coach Steve Moffat, the Cardinals finished last season with a record of 16–11–1 (8–6 SUNYAC), highlighted by an overtime win over Cortland in the SUNYAC Semifinals and a resilient championship run that came just short of the title. With a strong core of returners and a talented incoming class, Plattsburgh State looks to blend experience, depth, and discipline in pursuit of another postseason push.

Goaltenders

The Cardinals’ goaltending group features returning junior Dominik Bovan (Bratislava, Slovakia), who appeared in two games last season, including a standout 23-save performance in the SUNYAC Championship Game. He will be joined by two promising first-year goaltenders — Beau Lane (Pembroke, Mass.) and Bradon Spry (Belleville, Ontario). Lane joins the Cardinals following stints with the Philadelphia Rebels and South Shore Kings, where he earned NZ Prep Goalie of the Year honors in 2023. Spry arrives after helping lead the Trenton Golden Hawks to a league championship, bringing additional depth and athleticism to the crease.

Defensemen

Experience anchors the Cardinals’ blue line this season, with several key returners complemented by an influx of young talent. Senior Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio) returns as a steady presence after leading the team with 41 blocked shots and serving as co-captain last season. Fellow senior Brannon Butler (Toronto, Ontario) adds leadership and defensive reliability, finishing last year with a team-best +10 rating. Senior Lonan Bulger (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) also returns after earning SUNYAC All-Tournament Team honors and contributing seven points, including a standout four-point game in the conference playoffs.

Juniors Simon Singher (Beloeil, Quebec) and Sam D’Amico (St. Catharines, Ontario) add further stability, Singher recorded two assists in 17 games last season, while D’Amico looks to return from injury.
First-year additions Thierry Lizotte (Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec), Jaden Ward (East Aurora, N.Y.), Mike English (Hague, N.Y.), and Kyle James (Almonte, Ontario) round out the defensive unit, providing size, mobility, and developmental potential for the future.

Forwards

The 2025–26 forward group combines proven scoring ability with new offensive depth. Senior Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec) headlines the attack after leading the team with 24 points on nine goals and 15 assists last season, while junior Vlad Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia) returns after producing 18 points in just 17 games since joining the team midseason. Juniors Aaron Catron (Middletown, Del.) and Patrick Cole (Lancaster, N.Y.) add further firepower, each reaching double-digit goal totals a season ago.

Seniors Riley Sutherland (Burlington, Ontario) and Colin Callanan (Stony Point, N.Y.) bring veteran leadership and clutch scoring, while senior Joshua Belgrave (Burlington, Ontario) looks to return to full strength after a season cut short by injury. Sophomores Tyler Ramm, Shane Bondy, and Blake Hall headline a talented young core that made an immediate impact last season, with Ramm tying for the team lead in goals (11) and earning SUNYAC Rookie of the Week honors.

An exciting class of newcomers joins the forward unit, including Alexandro Moliner (Delson, Quebec), Zander Latreille (Windsor, Ontario), Gabriel Filion (Montreal, Quebec), Devin Mauro (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario), Ty Oller (Wayne, N.J.), and Felix-Antoine Parenteau (St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec). Each brings unique skill and scoring touch, adding even greater offensive depth to an already potent lineup.

By Plattsburgh sports information department

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Coming off another deep State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoff run and looking to return to national prominence, head coach Kevin Houle and the Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team enter the 2025–26 campaign with high expectations and a renewed sense of determination.

With Houle back behind the bench, the Cardinals continue their pursuit of an NCAA Division III–record eighth national championship and their first SUNYAC title since the conference’s inception. Entering his 23rd season at the helm, Houle boasts a career record of 517-69-28, one of the highest winning percentages in Division III history. His leadership and consistency remain central to Plattsburgh State’s national success as the program looks to build upon its storied tradition.

This year’s roster features a balanced mix of veteran leadership and promising young talent. The team welcomes eight newcomers to a lineup already loaded with returning contributors from last year’s SUNYAC championship squad. The Cardinals will once again lean on their depth, structure, and trademark defensive strength as they open the 2025–26 season.

Goaltenders

The Cardinals return a strong goaltending unit anchored by junior Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass.), who emerged as one of the top goalies in Division III last season. Lewis started all 28 games, posting an impressive 0.89 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage, both ranking among the best marks in the SUNYAC and nationwide. Her 12 shutouts and SUNYAC Tournament MVP performance propelled Plattsburgh deep into postseason play.

She will be joined by sophomore Maddie Stetson (Wasilla, Alaska), who appeared in two games during her first collegiate season, and sophomore Ava Varecka (West Falls, N.Y.), who made her debut against Middlebury. Together, the trio forms one of the most complete and experienced goaltending groups in the conference.

Defense

Plattsburgh’s blue line remains a strength entering 2025–26, led by returning standouts Adriana Urban (Monroe, N.J.), Taya Balfour (Moorestown, N.J.), Su-An Cho (Madison, Ala.), Maeghan Forsyth (Billings, Mont.), and Seoyoung Yoo (Yongin, Republic of Korea). Urban was one of the team’s most reliable two-way defenders last season, tallying 11 points and leading the team with 62 blocked shots. Yoo matched her point total and provided steady play throughout her first collegiate season. Balfour, who appeared in all 28 games, recorded eight points and ranked second on the team with 34 blocked shots. Cho and Forsyth also contributed offensively, combining for nine points while providing veteran stability on the back end.

The blue line also features several exciting newcomers, including Nikola Janekova (Banská Bystrica, Slovakia), who competed in the EWHL for HK PSRZ Bratislava, and Lauren Farris (Northville, Mich.), a proven winner with multiple state and national titles. Their arrival gives the Cardinals a deep and dynamic defensive corps.

Forwards

The Cardinals return a deep offensive unit led by last season’s point leaders: senior Molly Riggi (Farmingdale, N.J.), sophomore Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y.), and sophomore Kayson Ruegge (Edmond, Okla.). Riggi tallied 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) and three game-winning goals while earning All-Tournament honors during the SUNYAC Championship run. Morris led the team with 11 goals, tying for the conference lead and earning both All-Tournament and All-Rookie honors for her clutch postseason play. Ruegge also impressed in her rookie campaign, producing 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) and three game-winning tallies en route to SUNYAC All-Rookie Team recognition.

Additional key returners include junior Emily Kasprzak (Niagara, N.Y.), who tied for second on the team with seven goals and 13 total points, and junior Sydnee Francis (Canton, N.Y.), whose strong two-way play and +16 plus-minus rating anchored the top lines. Sophomore Kate Conlon (New Hudson, Mich.) was dominant in the faceoff circle and adds grit and consistency up front. Sophomore Ella Procyk (Stratford, Conn.) and senior Ella Fesette (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) add depth and experience, while sophomore Brooke Terry (Massena, N.Y.) joins the program after transferring from Nazareth University.

The 2025–26 roster also welcomes several talented first-year forwards who will look to make an immediate impact: Riley Keller (Cuba, N.Y.), Bailey MacKeller (Hamburg, N.Y.), Piper Smith (Newnan, Ga.), Faith Steiner (Burlington, Mass.), Parker Riley (London, Ontario), and Zoe Puc (West Palm Beach, Fla.). This mix of proven returners and promising newcomers provides Houle with an abundance of options up front as the Cardinals set their sights on another championship-caliber season.