Just seven points separated first-place Yale and Princeton from seventh place Brown at the end of last season and I expect it will be an equally tight fight for the championship this season. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like any place in this conference is secure. The teams in the lower half have been rocking the boat and taking points off those up top and the margins at the end of the season make every one of those half points incredibly important. Three ECAC teams earned berths into the NCAA tournament – Yale, Quinnipiac and Princeton, but for the first time in the last three seasons, no ECAC team advanced to the Frozen Four. Teams like Princeton and Quinnipiac will be looking to make their first trip to the final weekend while Colgate and Clarkson look to make a return trip. The coaches picked Quinnipiac first in the preseason poll. The Bobcats have only won the regular season title once – back in 2014-15. Princeton received three first place votes and placed nine points behind QU. They won their first-ever ECAC Championship, sharing the top spot with Yale last season.
ECAC games are available on paid streams on ESPN+ in the US and on ECACHockey.tv internationally. Games hosted at Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale will be accessible on IvyLeague.tv.
Brown
The Bears’ 18 wins and 12 conference wins last season were the program’s most since 2003-2004. It says so much about the strength of the conference that they still finished just seventh – but they were also only 3.5 points out of fourth. They had several wins over ranked opponents and were one goal from advancing to the ECAC semifinals. They return two of their top three leading scorers and their goaltending tandem and it feels like this is a team full of possibilities.
Last Season
18-14-2, 12-8-2 (seven). Lost to Quinnipiac in the ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Key Returners
Junior forward Monique Lyons, senior Margot Norehad
Both players have shown tremendous growth and improvement over their careers and are the offensive engine that pushes the Bears. They’re largely responsible for the team averaging 0.8 more goals per season last season than in 24-25 as well as the 20 more goals the team scored last year over the year before.
Key Departure
Forward Jade Iginla (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Forward Bogi Bahiczki-Toth
She’s a 6’0” Hungarian national who prepped at NAHA. Both Norehad and Lyons are smaller players, so I’m intrigued by what having someone of her size to park in front of the net can add to the Bears’ offense.
Prediction
Sixth
Clarkson
The coaches have them fourth in the preseason poll and that might be fair in light of their shocking early exit from the last postseason, but this feels like a team on the verge. There is so much potential in this very talented roster. The standouts last season were freshmen so they added some experience and leadership via the transfer portal. I’m not seeing a lot of missing pieces, so it seems like the question here is less on if it will all come together, but when. The ECAC is going to require you don’t leave points on the table and you are consistent – something Clarkson wasn’t able to do last year. If they can figure that out this season, they’re probably fighting for the conference title.
Last Season
20-12-3, 13-7-2 (fifth). Lost to Union in the opening round of the ECAC Tournament.
Key Returners
Sophomore forwards Sara Manness and Manon Le Scodan, sophomore defender Kate Manness
Sara Manness is the reigning ECAC Forward, Rookie and Player of the Year. She led the league in scoring. Kate Manness was on the All-ECAC Rookie and First-Team. Both were named to the ECAC Women’s Hockey Preseason All-League Team. LeScodan was fourth in the team in scoring. She gives Sara Manness a foil and her finishing keeps defenses honest.
Key Departures
Forward Sena Catterall, graduate student Holly Gruber (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomers
Junior forwards Jessie Pellerin (Providence) and Isa Goettl (Bemidji State)
The Golden Knights weren’t in need of young talent – they needed some veterans. With just three rookie skaters joining the squad, these two bring not only offensive talent, but experience and leadership. Pellerin is a prolific scorer that should slot in well with the Clarkson lines. Goettl’s game should grow with the quality of the line around her.
Prediction
Fourth
Colgate
The Raiders lost 11 more games last season than they did the year before. It’s an interesting time in Hamilton as the program had seemed to establish itself over an eight year period following their first NCAA appearance. This is a pivotal season for them if they’re going to prove that they’re a perpetual contender instead of one whose fortunes hinge on the relative talent of one or two recruiting classes
Last Season
19-16-1, 13-8-1 (sixth). Lost to Cornell in the ECAC Tournament quarterfinals
Key Returners
Senior defender Avery Pickering, sophomore goalie Brooke Davis
There are plenty of forwards that I could have mentioned, but I don’t think offense is the key for the Raiders – they’re going to score goals. Last season they were 28th of 45 programs in Team Defense, allowing nearly three goals per game. If Colgate is going to be in the fight at the top of the table, they have to tighten things up on defense.
Key Departures
Forwards Elyssa Biederman, Alexis Petford (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Czech forward Linda Vocetková
The U18 World Championship team captain in 2025, she played the last three seasons with Djurgårdens IF in the SDHL. I was surprised at that tournament that she was not yet committed to an NCAA program, but she was added by Colgate right after. She made her Czechia senior national team debut at the Olympics.
Prediction
Sixth
Cornell
On paper it looks like a four-team fight for the top spot and I expect Cornell to be a part of the melee. They graduated a core of strong defenders and will need some younger players to take on bigger roles – luckily they have Annelies Bergmann in net to hold things down if the transition isn’t as smooth as they’d like. Despite a lot of roster changes last offseason, the Big Red were just 3.5 points outside of first. I think I’ll always hope for a little more offseason from them and I think they could use a bit more cushion for themselves this year, but I also know that’s not exactly their style. Still, clean, smart hockey is likely to take them a long way this season.
Last Season
20-11-2, 12-4-1 (fourth). Lost to Yale in the ECAC Tournament semifinals
Key Returners
Senior goalie Annelies Bergmann
It’s honestly mindboggling that she’s already a senior, but her presence in net is the basis on which their ranking is built. That’s not to say that the rest of the team isn’t talented, just that having a top tier goalie puts a team several steps ahead of others before taking anything else into account.
Key Departures
Forward Avi Adam, defenders Alyssa Regalado, Grace Dwyer (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Forward Jill McLaughlin
She won gold with USA at the 2026 U18 World Championships. She’s tenacious and strong on the puck and I liked how often I noticed her impacting a play two or three different times. She just never gave up on the puck.
Prediction
Third
Dartmouth
I fear things it’s going to be another tough season for the Big Green. I love their grit and how hard they fight, but points are so hard to win in the ECAC. The preseason poll had them 22 points behind Brown, who were ranked one spot above them. Even if they win several more games, I’m not sure it much changes where they finish, which is incredibly discouraging. That being said, they had eight one-goal losses alongside their three ties last year. It still feels like they are on the verge, but I’m not sure what it will take for them to metaphorically get over the hump.
Last Season
5-23-3, 3-16-3 (tenth). Lost to Brown in the opening round of the ECAC tournament.
Key Returners
Junior goalie Michaela Hesová, junior forward Ella Inglis
Inglis led the team in scoring, but she was the only one with double-digit points. On the one hand, there is good distribution of points along the roster, but it’s simply far too few points overall. Inglis cannot do it herself and the next two highest goal scorers are Dixon and Messner, who graduated.
Key Departures
Forwards Cally Dixon, Shae Messner (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Swiss freshman defender Rebecca Langenegger
Langenegger played in the last two U18 World Championships with Switzerland. She’s a mainstay in their pipeline as a player and has coached. She’s more stay at home than one who is going to get involved on offense, but her international experience should help her transition.
Prediction
Tenth
Harvard
The Crimson made huge gains last season, earning 14 more wins than they did the season before. I liked how much of a team effort it was. Obviously the goaltending is massive, but on the ice they had 10 players in double digits in scoring. They aren’t relying on any one player or line and that more than anything else is the thing that could propel them higher in the standings. It’s going to be tough to break through to the top of the table, but I feel like this is the bottom half team with the most potential heading into the season.
Last Season
16-15-2, 8-11-3 (twelfth). Lost to Princeton in the quarterfinals of the ECAC tournament.
Key Returners
Junior goalie Ainsley Tuffy, sophomore forwards Morgan McGathey and Carla McSweeney
Tuffy had a very good rookie season but really came into her own last year, ending with a 1.85 goals against and a .950 save percentage, which was best in the ECAC and third-best in the nation. She was absolutely outstanding, racking up six games with more than 40 saves, topping out at 55 in a 3-2 OT win over Minnesota Duluth in Belfast, Ireland.
Key Departures
Defender Kate Kasica, goalie Emily Davidson (graduation)
They were the only seniors from last season’s team.
Most intriguing newcomer
Forward Lindsay Stepnowski
She stood out at U18s last year for the way she played with linemates Emily Pohl and Talia Hansen. Their chemistry was outstanding and her ability to adapt and mesh with them on short notice was amazing. She ended the tournament with six goals and three assists. She seems like the kind of offensive powerhouse this team needs.
Prediction
Seventh
Princeton
The coaches picked Quinnipiac first, but I’m putting my money on the Tigers after winning their first conference regular season title. The rest of the roster has to prove they can step up, but on paper they are more than capable. Being an Ivy that starts their season later means they have a shorter runaway to figure things out, but they have a friendly schedule for the first few weeks. They’re playing in the D1 in DC tournament after Thanksgiving where they’ll face Minnesota and Boston College and they close the first half with a game against Penn State. Where they stand on December 10 should be very telling.
Last Season
23-11, 16-6 (Tied for first). Lost to Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Key Returners
Junior forward Mackenzie Alexander, senior goalie Uma Corneia
Alexander is one of the best 200-foot forwards returning this season. She’s not afraid to get in front of a puck on defense, she’s got great vision both on sending outlet passes and getting open for them and she’s an absolutely beautiful finisher. There will be more attention and pressure on her without Wunder, but I expect her to be able to handle it without issue.
Key Departures
Forwards Issy Wunder, Jane Kuehl, Emerson O’Leary (graduation)
Wunder led the team in scoring while Kuehl was third and O’Leary was sixth. They were leaders on and off the ice and leave a big space for the rest of the roster to fill.
Most intriguing newcomer
Forwards Caroline Averill, Christina Scalese
Both of them represented the US at two U18 World Championships and each won a gold and silver. Scalese is great in tight spaces – I liked her patience and puck handling when time and space were at a minimum. Averill is solid and strong on her skates. She tends more towards playmaking, but she has a very good nose for the net and probably should take shots more often than she does.
Prediction
First
Quinnipiac
The Bobcats return much of last year’s NCAA Tournament team, including Patty Kazmaier Top-Ten Finalist Kahlen LaMarche, whose 42 goals were the most in the nation. They’re a perpetually strong defensive team and I expect they’ll figure things out sooner rather than later, but I do think most of their questions come at the blue line. We know they can score and we know they have great goaltending, but I think there’s room to improve in the transition game and how the offense and defense connect. I’m nitpicking, but it’s those small things that make the difference at the very top of the polls.
Last Season
29-9-3, 14-6-2 (third). Lost to Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
Key Returners
Senior forward Kahlen LaMarche, junior goalie Felicia Frank
LaMarche was outstanding on offense last season, but I’d love to see more of a 200-foot game from her if I’m going to believe this is a team that can win a conference title and fight to be a top-four team in the country.
Key Departures
Forwards Emerson Jarvis, Laurence Frenette (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Defender Rosalie Breton
She could be the kind of offensive defender that bridges the gap and helps fix some of the disconnect on the ice for the Bobcats. She’s very mobile and reactive in the defensive zone, has really good vision and instincts in distributing the puck and is a scoring threat herself. Quinnipiac tends to keep their defenders a little more stay at home, but Breton projects to be the kind of blueliner you bend your rules for.
Prediction
Second
RPI
The Engineers won half as many games last season as the one before and allowed 1.2 more goals per game. It was rough on pretty much every front except the power play, which was ranked 13th in the country. RPI was bottom five in team offense and team defense. The previous two seasons they finished closer to .500 and their goals for and goals against average were roughly the same. There simply isn’t a lot of optimism when you’re allowing two more goals allowed than you’re scoring per game.
Last Season
7-28-0, 4-18 (eleventh). Lost to Colgate in the opening round of the ECAC tournament.
Key Returners
Sophomore Mia Montonari, senior goalie Reese Keating
Montonari led the team in scoring as a freshman. With two of the other top four scorers graduating or transferring, she’ll be counted on to fill an even bigger role this season. Keating has been a workhorse for the Engineers, playing more than 60 games and 3,400 minutes over the past two seasons while maintaining a save percentage above .900 and facing nearly 1800 shots.
Key Departures
Forwards Charlotte Wensley (transfer to Maine), Nina Christof (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomers
Czechia forward Barbora Černá Prošková
She first appeared with Czechia at the U18 World Championship in 2023 as a 15 year old. She played in three tournaments, earning silver in 2024. She has been in the system with Brynäs IF of the SDHL, playing at U19, U20 and a few games with the senior team. She’s small but uses her size well and isn’t easily pushed off the puck. I feel like she has the kind of tenacity they could use.
Prediction
Twelfth
St. Lawrence
The Saints are looking to bounce back after they won half as many games last year as the season before.
Last Season
11-21-3, 18-13-1 (ninth). Lost to Harvard in the opening round of the ECAC Tournament.
Key Returners
Sophomore forwards Brooke Mulvihill, Rylan Haslem
These two really stepped up as rookies, handling the transition to college and immediately taking on a big role on offense. Mulvihill led the team with 20 points. Haslem’s 11 goals were the most on the squad. They should have a little more support this season – if the Saints are going to push up in the standings, they’ll have to have more than one player scoring 20 or more points.
Key Departures
Forward Kennedy Wilson, goalie Emma-Sofie Nordström (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Swedish goalie Maja Helge, forward Kendall Doiron
Kassidy Lawrence stepped up and took about half the starts last season, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Helge earn the opportunity to at least split time in net. She was Sweden’s starting netminder at the 2024 and 2025 U18 World Championships and finished second among all goalies in 2025. She’s also been playing with Frölunda HC in the SDHL since the 23-24 season. She won the title with the team in 2025 and this past season had a 1.63 goals against and 0.932 save percentage in 14 starts. Doiron carried herself like someone much older than her teenage years when I spoke with her a few times at the last World Championship. She was very thoughtful and precise and I feel like you can see that about her on the ice, as well.
Prediction
Ninth
Union
After taking steps forward two seasons ago, last year was a tough one for the Garnet Chargers, with just three conference wins. That being said one of the wins was over #4 Cornell. the program’s first victory over a top-five opponent. They also beat Clarkson in the first round of the ECAC tournament. They needed to score more goals and did that last season, but took steps backwards on defense – the Union penalty was the worst in the country last season, allowing opponents to score nearly 30% of the time.
Last Season
11-22-3, 3-17-2 (twelfth). Lost to Yale in the ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Key Returners
Junior forward Karianne Engelbert
I love how she uses her height and size, particularly on the power play (which was a bright point for Union and finished ranked 14th in the country). She set a new program record with eight power play goals.
Key Departures
Defender Stephanie Bourque (graduation)
She led the team in blocks and was fourth on the squad in scoring. She covered a lot of ice in a way that is going to be very difficult to replace.
Most intriguing newcomers
Forward Evie Hanson
Prediction
Eleventh
Yale
The Bulldogs are coming off a spectacular season where they flew a bit under the radar for a lot of people until suddenly they were winning a share of the conference title. Graduating their two top scorers and not returning their star goalie means they’ve probably got a lot of work to do. But I also think this conference is particularly wide open this year. Teams at the top are going to beat each other up a bit, which could leave room for a team like Yale to steal some points. I have them fifth for now because of all the holes they have to fill, but I also believe they have players that are likely to step into bigger roles and take on those mantles. I think they could be a dark horse this year if the teams at the top leave the door open.
Last Season
26-10, 16-6 (Tied for first). Lost to Ohio State in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.
Key Returners
Sophomore defender Molly Boyle, senior goalie Anna Phillips
Samson Frey was a stalwart last season, but Phillips took about half the starts last season and is the most experienced goalie on the roster. At 5’11” she makes it difficult for her opponents to block her and she covers a lot of around in front of the net. Boyle was third on the team in scoring as a rookie defender and the team’s top two scorers graduated. She was outstanding in her debut, earning accolades including ECAC Defender of the Year, Ivy League Rookie of the Year, First Team All-USCHO, Second Team AHCA All-American, First Team All-ECAC and First Team All-Ivy.
Key Departures
Jordan Ray, Carina DiAntonio, Gracie Gilkyson (graduation), sophomore goalie Samson Frey (stepped away)
Most intriguing newcomer
Forward Greta Hulbig
Captain of her team at Noble & Greenough, she scored more than 100 points in her career. This team needs to replace some scoring and they need a player that can come in and make an immediate impact. Hulbig’s patience to let the play develop and skill at delivering the puck should help her transition quickly.
Prediction
Fifth