PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Little East Conference (LEC) announced the results of its first-ever Women’s Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll Thursday, which saw Norwich University named the unanimous favorite to take home the inaugural LEC title by the league’s seven head coaches.
 
The Cadets totaled 36 points while receiving each of a possible six first-place votes. Norwich is coming off a 2024-25 season that saw it go 19-8-0 overall as it finished atop the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) regular season standings with a near-perfect league record of 17-1-0. The Cadets advanced to the NEHC tournament final, dropping a 1-0 decision to Elmira College.
 
Additionally, Norwich enters the 2025-26 season as the 15th-ranked team in DIII, according to the recently released USCHO.com Division III Preseason Poll.
 
Vermont State University Castleton was picked to finish second with 24 points, just one ahead of both University of Massachusetts Boston and Plymouth State University who tied for third with 23 points. The Spartans were 11-14-1 overall last season while finishing seventh in the NEHC at 7-10-1, while the Beacons were 10-14-2 overall and finished fourth in the NEHC at 9-7-2.
 
Plymouth State is coming off the most successful season in program history, posting an overall rerecord of 18-7-2 on its way to winning the MASCAC regular season and tournament championships in its lone season in the league. The 18 wins set a new program record for victories in a season.
 
The complete 2025 LEC Women’s Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll is as follows.
 
Institution - Points (First Place Votes)
1. Norwich - 36 (6)
2. VTSU Castleton - 24
T3. UMass Boston - 23 (1)
T3. Plymouth State - 23
5. Southern Maine - 22
6. Keene State - 13
7. New England College - 6
 
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.