Happy New Year everyone! Hoping that your Thursday will be full of family, good food and better friends…
While some teams are taking a break over the opening holiday weekend to start out 2026, there are some terrific holiday tournaments, a Florida college hockey jamboree and some terrific non-conference action to take in across the country. What better way to start the year than with some great hockey action as we start the race to league championships and the national tournament in earnest.
Here are the New Year’s weekend picks – no mirror ball-drop included:
Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Sunday, January 3, 2026
CNE
(7) University of New England v. Colby
It has been a very long time since all the teams in Maine hosted an in-season tournament and the inaugural Lobster Pot should be a showcase of some great hockey hosted in Falmouth, Maine. UNE has been a solid club all season but should not under-estimate Blaise Macdonald’s squad who can skate with anybody out there. Thrilling game where one big save is the difference in a Nor’easters win – UNE, 3-2
Little East
(5) Hamilton v. Plymouth State
The Continentals, like Hobart, is a team that still has not had a loss on their record. The Panthers would love to be the first to take down the NESCAC juggernaut but best beware the consequences of playing a man-down against a deep and dynamic group of forwards. One too many PPGs is the difference in a one-goal game going to the visitors – Hamilton, 4-3
MAC
Misericordia v. Cortland
The opening game of the Northfield Bank Tournament hosted by Norwich features a matchup between MAC and SUNYAC squads that should produce some goals. The Red Dragons found their stride late in the semester and quickly return to the form that helped them be successful in an exciting and goal-filled affair at Kreitzberg – Cortland, 5-4
MASCAC
Western New England v. Worcester State
This first-round game in the oldest D-III tournament still running, the Codfish Bowl, brings together teams from the CNE and MASCAC in a fun non-conference battle. The Golden Bears have struggled for most of the first half but finished the semester with a win. The Lancers have hovered around the .500 mark but get some offense from Bryce Grandbois and Shane Prifrel to earn a less than comfortable win over WNEU – Worcester State, 6-3
MIAC
(12) Trine v. St John’s
The leaders in the MIAC face a Thunder team that has played much better at home than away from their friendly confines in Indiana. No time like the present to change that record before conference play resumes. Trine’s Alexander Babich and Brody Simko are tough to contain. Game will be tight with special teams being a critical factor in a solid road win for the Thunder – Trine, 4-2
NCHA
(4) Aurora v. (2) Adrian
The top five in the NCHA is going to be bloodied by their conference schedule and the Spartans and Bulldogs waste no time in opening the second half with a key non-conference matchup against each other. Talk about gluttons for punishment. Only giving the advantage by a goal to the home team who sees Jacob Suede and Bradley Somers come up big in a nice win in front of the home crowd – Adrian, 4-3
NESCAC
Salve Regina v. Tufts
One of the hottest teams in the country (Salve Regina) meets a Jumbo team with a history of knocking off teams that are better on paper. The round-robin event that is the Tampa College Hockey Invitational kicks off with a good one as the Jumbos repeat what only Conn College has done so far this season with an upset of SRU backed by Gustave Bylin’s great goaltending – Tufts, 3-2
NE-10
Rivier v. St Michael’s
The Purple Knights started to build some momentum at the end of the semester with two big wins against Franklin Pierce. Now first year coach Jack Fitzgerald is hoping the boys didn’t forget what got them the two conference wins. It’s closer than the hosts would like, but an empty-net goal and great goaltending from Evan Plunkett helps seal the win – SMC, 5-3
SUNYAC
Wesleyan v. Plattsburgh
The first-round game in the Plattsburgh Winter Classic features a pair of Cardinal squads looking for some mojo to start the second half. Don’t count out the boys from Connecticut who show up ready to play but are done in by the home team who has a penchant for overtime wins. Vlad strikes again to give the host team a spot in the championship game – Plattsburgh, 3-2
UCHC
Nazareth v. Norwich
This first round game in the Northfield Bank Tournament features a Golden Flyers squad that plays everyone tough against a team that is looking to start out the second half with a win in their own tournament. This one will be a battle and may see some overtime hockey to decide who advances to the title game. Cadets get it done in bonus hockey – Norwich, 3-2
WIAC
Wisconsin – Stevens Point v. (3) St. Norbert
The Green Knights host UWSP in a game that should show-off some highly skilled players and none more so than forward Logan Dombrowsky who makes life miserable for all opposing teams and especially on home ice. After a slow start the home team gets it going for a not so comfortable win over the Pointers who are coming off a key WIAC matchup with Eau Claire the night before – SNC, 5-4
Ringing in the New Year means some great holiday tournaments including the Codfish Bowl (Massachusetts-Boston*, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Western New England and Worcester State); Inaugural Lobster Pot (Bowdoin, Colby, Southern Maine and University of New England); Oswego State Classic (Babson, Elmira, Oswego* and Williams); Tampa College Hockey Invitational (Geneseo, Salve Regina and Tufts); Plattsburgh Winter Classic (Amherst, Plattsburgh,* Suffolk and Wesleyan); Northfield Bank Tournament (Cortland, Misericordia, Nazareth and Norwich*); Boston Landing Invitational (Conn College, Nichols,* Potsdam and Southern New Hampshire). There’s also plenty of non-conference action so a find a game nearby and make sure to tell the ref to – “Drop the Puck!”
*Host team(s) – Tournament participants listed alphabetically