2025–26 Atlantic Hockey America men's season

2025–26 AHA men's season
2025–26 AHA men's season
Season	2025–26
Conference	AHA
Division	Division I
Sport	men's ice hockey
Duration	October 3, 2025–; March 21, 2026
Number of teams	10
TV partner(s)	FloHockey
Regular season
Season champions	Bentley
Top scorer	Félix Trudeau
Atlantic Hockey America Tournament
NCAA tournament
	AHA men's seasons; « 2024–25 2026–27 »

The 2025–26 Atlantic Hockey America men's season will be the 2nd season of play for Atlantic Hockey America and take place during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The season will begin on October 3, 2025, and the conference tournament is set to concluded on March 21, 2026.

Membership changes

During the previous season, American International announced that they would be downgrading their program to Division II after the season.^[1]

Coaches

Before the previous season, Brian Riley announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season.^[2] Army elected to promote assistant coach Zach McKelvie to the position. This ended an unbroken string of the program being led by the Riley family dating back to 1950.

After the end of the previous season, Wayne Wilson announced his retirement from coaching. RIT brought back alumnus Matt Thomas as the team's new head coach.^[3]

Records

Team	Head coach	Season at school	Record at school	Atlantic Hockey record
Air Force	Frank Serratore	29	472–457–102	11–13–2
Army	Zach McKelvie	1	0–0–0	0–0–0
Bentley	Andy Jones	3	39–32–4	16–9–1
Canisius	Trevor Large	8	112–142–25	11–13–2
Holy Cross	Bill Riga	5	74–72–11	19–5–2
Mercyhurst	Rick Gotkin	38	611–550–111	4–19–3
Niagara	Jason Lammers	8	113–145–27	16–9–1
RIT	Matt Thomas	1	0–0–0	0–0–0
Robert Morris	Derek Schooley	20	296–320–75	7–15–4
Sacred Heart	C. J. Marottolo	16	209–304–60	16–7–3

Preseason

Coaches were polled prior to the season and asked to both rank member programs as well as vote for an all-conference team.^[4] Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or teams

Poll

Rank	Team
1	Sacred Heart (7)
2	Holy Cross (2)
3	Bentley (1)
4	Niagara
5	Army
6	Air Force
7	Canisius
8	RIT
9	Robert Morris
10	Mercyhurst

Preseason All-AHA

First Team	Position
Ajeet Gundarah, Sacred Heart	G
Chris Hedden, Air Force	D
Mikey Adamson, Sacred Heart	D
Félix Trudeau, Sacred Heart	F
Jack Stockfish *, Holy Cross	F
Devin Phillips, Holy Cross	F

* Preseason Player of the Year.

Standings

2025–26 Atlantic Hockey America Standings
	Conference record										Overall record
	GP	W	L	T	OW	OL	SW	PTS	GF	GA	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#20 Bentley †	26	16	6	4	1	0	2	53	85	56	38	22	11	5	119	87
Sacred Heart	26	15	8	3	1	0	1	48	80	61	39	23	13	3	116	93
Robert Morris	26	13	11	2	0	2	2	45	69	69	40	16	21	3	103	128
Holy Cross	26	14	10	2	1	1	1	45	81	69	38	18	18	2	113	116
RIT	26	13	11	2	2	1	2	42	69	68	36	17	17	2	93	96
Air Force	26	13	10	3	2	1	0	41	75	73	37	18	15	4	108	112
Canisius	26	12	12	2	1	0	2	39	81	74	35	17	16	2	107	105
Niagara	26	9	16	1	1	3	0	30	67	83	37	13	23	1	93	118
Army	26	7	15	4	2	3	2	28	61	75	35	12	17	6	91	96
Mercyhurst	26	5	18	3	0	0	1	19	47	87	37	6	28	3	65	143
Championship: March 21, 2026 † indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy) * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 16, 2026 Source: AHA

Regular season record

Team	Big Ten	CCHA	ECAC Hockey	Hockey East	Independent	NCHC	Total
Air Force	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Army	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Bentley	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Canisius	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Holy Cross	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Mercyhurst	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Niagara	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
RIT	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Robert Morris	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Sacred Heart	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0
Overall	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0	0–0–0

Statistics

Conference tournament

Note: Teams are reseeded after the First Round and Quarterfinals.

First Round March 3			Quarterfinals March 6–8					Semifinals March 13–15					Championship March 21

			1	Bentley	4***	6	-
7	Canisius	2	10	Mercyhurst	3	0	-
10	Mercyhurst	5						1	Bentley	3*	4	-
								4	Holy Cross	2	0	-
			2	Sacred Heart	3	2	-
8	Niagara	5	8	Niagara	1	1	-
9	Army	4											1	Bentley
													2	Sacred Heart
			3	Robert Morris	2	4	5
			6	Air Force	3**	1	2
								2	Sacred Heart	5	2	5
								3	Robert Morris	1	5	0
			4	Holy Cross	2*	5*	-
			5	RIT	1	4	-

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

NCAA tournament

Rankings

USCHO

Team	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	Final
Air Force	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Army	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Bentley	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	20	–	–
Canisius	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Holy Cross	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Mercyhurst	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Niagara	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
RIT	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Robert Morris	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–
Sacred Heart	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12 or 26.^[5]

USA Hockey

Team	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	Final
Air Force	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Army	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Bentley	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Canisius	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Holy Cross	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Mercyhurst	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Niagara	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
RIT	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Robert Morris	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–
Sacred Heart	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	–	–	–

Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.^[6]

NPI

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	Final
Air Force	–	–	41	–	–	32	42	34	30	38	39	39	44	42	42	35	36	34	40	34	36	36	–	–
Army	–	–	9	–	–	35	48	51	51	47	46	45	45	50	47	49	48	47	43	45	47	45	–	–
Bentley	–	–	50	–	–	17	39	38	40	41	41	36	27	30	26	26	27	28	25	32	27	25	–	–
Canisius	–	–	21	–	–	37	47	47	49	49	49	48	48	43	37	43	47	46	46	47	49	48	–	–
Holy Cross	–	–	52	–	–	43	30	21	23	22	22	29	34	38	44	44	41	38	44	38	34	38	–	–
Mercyhurst	–	–	57	–	–	63	63	63	63	63	63	63	63	62	63	63	63	63	63	63	63	63	–	–
Niagara	–	–	28	–	–	57	49	48	57	54	54	54	54	59	58	55	55	56	55	55	55	55	–	–
RIT	–	–	46	–	–	19	13	20	33	36	37	38	35	41	39	38	37	33	37	43	44	44	–	–
Robert Morris	–	–	44	–	–	53	56	58	59	57	56	60	57	54	53	53	52	53	52	50	48	47	–	–
Sacred Heart	–	–	33	–	–	52	38	37	37	45	44	43	39	34	33	41	42	39	33	31	26	28	–	–

Note: teams ranked in the top-10 automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament. Teams ranked 11-16 can qualify based upon conference tournament results.^[7]

References

^ "American International to reclassify as Division II beginning with 2025-26 college hockey season". USCHO. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
^ "Army's Riley the Latest to Announce Retirement". collegehockeynews.com. August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "RIT brings back alum Thomas as head coach". USCHO. April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
^ "Sacred Heart pegged to win 2025-26 Atlantic Hockey America men's title; Holy Cross' Stockfish chosen preseason player of the year". USCHO. September 9, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
^ "USA Hockey Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
^ "Men's Division I National Collegiate Percentage (NPI) Index". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.

External links

Official website

[1] "American International to reclassify as Division II beginning with 2025-26 college hockey season". USCHO. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.

[2] "Army's Riley the Latest to Announce Retirement". collegehockeynews.com. August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[3] "RIT brings back alum Thomas as head coach". USCHO. April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.

[4] "Sacred Heart pegged to win 2025-26 Atlantic Hockey America men's title; Holy Cross' Stockfish chosen preseason player of the year". USCHO. September 9, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.

[5] "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.

[6] "USA Hockey Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.

[7] "Men's Division I National Collegiate Percentage (NPI) Index". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.

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Atlantic Hockey America
Teams	Air Force Falcons men Army Black Knights men Bentley Falcons men Canisius Golden Griffins men Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women Holy Cross Crusaders men Lindenwood Lions women Mercyhurst Lakers men women Niagara Purple Eagles men Penn State Nittany Lions women RIT Tigers men women Robert Morris Colonials men women Sacred Heart Pioneers men Syracuse Orange women
Venues	Cadet Ice Arena (Air Force) Tate Rink (Army) Bentley Arena (Bentley) LECOM Harborcenter (Canisius) Fred Rust Ice Arena (Delaware) Hart Center (Holy Cross) Centene Community Ice Center (Lindenwood) Mercyhurst Ice Center (Mercyhurst) Dwyer Arena (Niagara) Pegula Ice Arena (Penn State) Gene Polisseni Center (RIT) Clearview Arena (Robert Morris) Martire Family Arena (Sacred Heart) Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion (Syracuse)
Men's seasons	2024–25 2025–26
Women's seasons	2024–25
Awards	men's: All-Atlantic Hockey America teams Player of the Year Forward of the Year Goaltender of the Year Rookie of the Year Coach of the Year Best Defenseman Best Defensive Forward Individual Sportsmanship Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Predecessors	Atlantic Hockey Association College Hockey America
NCAA List of champions