PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Norwich University has been selected as the favorite in the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Men’s Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll, collecting eight first-place votes and 79 points. Babson College finished second with 70 points and the remaining two first-place votes, narrowly ahead of Plymouth State University with 68 points.

UMass Boston placed fourth with 56 points, followed by the University of Southern Maine with 49 points and Vermont State University Castleton with 41 points. New England College was selected seventh with 29 points, while UMass Dartmouth finished eighth with 25 points, one point ahead of Keene State College. Western Connecticut State University rounded out the 10-team poll with nine points.

Norwich enters the season under head coach Dominick Dawes after finishing 19-6-4 overall and 13-2-3 in conference play while advancing to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. The Cadets return reigning LEC Goaltender of the Year and first-team All-LEC selection Sami Molu, who also earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the inaugural LEC championship tournament. Fellow first-team All-LEC selection Cooper Bertrand returns after earning AHCA second-team All-America recognition. Second-team All-LEC forward Ben van Waterschoot and All-Rookie defenseman Ocean Fancy also return.

The Cadets’ roster features 12 seniors and 11 newcomers, providing a blend of veteran leadership and incoming talent. Forwards Johnny Maruna, Jake Kavanagh and Nick Metelkin are among the newcomers joining a Norwich team looking to build on last season’s NCAA tournament appearance.

Babson returns 11 players under reigning LEC Coach of the Year Jamie Rice after posting a 20-5-2 overall record and a 14-3-1 conference mark. Senior forward Jimmy Fallon headlines the returning group after earning LEC Player of the Year and first-team All-LEC honors with 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points. Junior forward Evan Brown returns after earning second-team All-LEC recognition. Senior defenseman CJ Beals, junior defenseman Raph Marcoux and senior goaltender Mason Rosado provide additional experience. The Beavers welcome 14 freshmen, including forwards Brendan Keaveney and Nolan Russell and defenseman Patrick Dotson.

Plymouth State returns several productive players after finishing 15-11-1 overall and 11-6-1 in conference play under head coach Craig Russell. Sophomore defenseman Etienne Tremblay-Mathieu leads the returning group after earning LEC Rookie of the Year, first-team All-LEC and All-Rookie honors with nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points.

The Panthers also return sophomore forward and LEC All-Rookie selection Kim Hilmersson, who recorded eight goals and 15 assists, and sophomore defenseman Tucker Shedd, who contributed seven goals and 13 assists. Junior forward Matt Hale added 20 points, while senior defenseman Severi Sulonen totaled 18 points. Senior forward Patrick O’Connell provides additional experience after recording six goals and eight assists.

UMass Boston enters the season under head coach Peter Belisle following a 15-10-2 campaign that included a 9-7-2 conference record. Senior captain Jack Mortson returns after recording 10 goals and 15 assists, while senior Chris Repmann contributed 12 goals and 10 assists. Senior assistant captain Chris Merryman added four goals and nine assists. Newcomers Billy Norcross, Avan Pyle and A.J. Bongiorno bolster the Beacons’ forward group.

Southern Maine was selected fifth after finishing 12-13-1 overall and 10-7-1 in conference play under head coach Matt Pinchevsky. Forward Ben Aucoin returns after earning LEC All-Rookie honors with a 26-point season. Goaltender Loic Morin, who posted a 10-10-1 record, and assistant captain Gavin Simopolous also return. The Huskies’ newcomers include center Tanner Anctil, defensemen Jace Cranston and Liam Murdoch, and forwards AJ Iwinski, Colin Hazlett and Hunter Belisle.

VTSU Castleton returns a productive offensive duo following a 13-11-2 season that included a 9-8-1 conference mark. Junior forwards Luke Chakrabarti and Emmett McHardy each recorded 30 points last season, while senior defenseman Cam Reid earned second-team All-LEC recognition. Head coach Kyle Richards’ incoming group includes defenseman Jacob Bernardo, forward Simon Semancik and goaltender Josh Scully.

New England College enters the season under head coach Tom Carroll after finishing 9-16-0 overall and 8-10-0 in conference play. Jack Herron, Gunnar Sibley, Dylan Duckson and Christophe Petit headline the returning group as the Pilgrims welcome several newcomers competing for roles.

UMass Dartmouth returns All-Rookie forward Kailin Chen after he recorded 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 22 games. The Corsairs finished 12-13-0 overall and 7-11-0 in conference play under head coach Erik Noack. Forward Alex Walker contributed nine goals and 16 assists, while defenseman Hunter Scanlon added seven goals and 18 assists. Forward Quinn Pine, defenseman Lexander Santiago and goaltender Ethan Kowatsch are among the newcomers.

Keene State looks to build on its first season of LEC competition after finishing 7-17-1 overall under head coach Bobby Rodrigue. Senior forward Marcus Chrisafideis returns alongside junior forwards Chase Carney and Thor Hansen, junior goaltender Ben Skelton and junior defenseman Sean McBride. Sophomore defenseman Payton Kender joins the Owls as a transfer from Rivier.

Western Connecticut begins its second varsity season under head coach Doug Friedman after going 2-23-0 overall and 1-17-0 in conference play during its inaugural campaign. Sophomore forward Francis Rose returns after totaling two goals and 16 assists, while sophomore Scott McNulty recorded 10 goals and six assists. Sophomore captain Tyler Gobel added six goals and nine assists. Goaltender Liam Lane, junior forward Phil Parker and junior defenseman Vic Fortier also return as the Wolves add experience through their incoming transfers.

2026 LEC Men’s Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Norwich – 79 (8)

2. Babson – 70 (2)

3. Plymouth State – 68

4. UMass Boston – 56

5. Southern Maine – 49

6. VTSU Castleton – 41

7. New England College – 29

8. UMass Dartmouth – 25

9. Keene State – 24

10. Western Connecticut – 9

Note: Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team. First-place votes are in parentheses.