2026 Hockey East men's tournament

2026 Hockey East men's ice hockey tournament
DatesMarch 11–21, 2026
Teams11
Finals siteTD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts
ChampionsMerrimack (1st title)
Winning coachScott Borek (1st title)
MVPMax Lundgren (Merrimack)
Hockey East men's Ice Hockey Tournaments
2027 →

The 2025 Hockey East men's ice hockey tournament is the ongoing 41st tournament in the history of the conference. It was played between March 11 and March 21, 2026. The Merrimack Warriors won their first ever Hockey East championship after beating UMass Lowell, Providence College and UMass. The championship game was played between Merrimack and Connecticut, with Merrimack winning 2-1 and becoming the first 8 seed to ever win the Hockey East tournament.[1]

Merrimack goalie Max Ludgren was named tournament MVP after having a shutout in the semifinals vs. UMass and making 49 saves on 50 shots in the championship game.[2]

Format

The tournament includes all eleven teams in the conference, with teams ranked according to their finish in the conference standings. Seeds 1–5 earn a bye into the quarterfinal round, while seeds 6–11 play to determine the remaining quarterfinalists. Winners in the opening round are reseeded and advanced to play top three seeds in reverse order. Winners of the quarterfinal matches are again reseeded for the semifinal, and the winners of those two games face off in the championship.

All series are single-elimination with opening round and quarterfinal matches occurring at home team sites. The two semifinal games and championship match are held at the TD Garden. The tournament champion receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.[3]

Standings

2025–26 Hockey East Standings
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#7 Providence † 24 18 5 1 2 1 0 54 86 46 35 23 10 2 118 77
#15 Massachusetts 24 14 9 1 2 1 1 43 63 53 36 22 13 1 101 83
#13 Connecticut 24 12 9 3 1 1 2 41 73 59 37 20 12 5 115 88
#19 Boston College 24 13 11 0 1 1 2 39 69 59 36 20 15 1 116 92
Maine 24 12 11 1 3 2 0 36 76 79 35 18 14 3 116 96
Boston University 24 12 12 0 3 2 0 35 69 74 36 17 17 2 105 110
Northeastern 24 11 13 0 1 3 0 35 67 62 36 17 18 1 98 91
#16 Merrimack * 24 10 12 2 0 1 1 34 68 75 38 21 15 2 121 107
Massachusetts Lowell 24 9 15 0 1 2 0 28 66 80 35 13 22 0 91 114
New Hampshire 24 8 15 1 0 0 1 26 41 73 35 14 20 1 68 105
Vermont 24 8 15 1 0 0 0 25 55 83 35 13 21 1 73 115
Championship: March 21, 2026
† indicates regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO Division I Men's Poll; updated March 22, 2026

Bracket

Note: Teams are reseeded after the Opening Round and Quarterfinals

Opening Round
March 11 		Quarterfinals
March 13–14 		Semifinals
March 20 		Championship
March 21
5 Maine 0
11 Vermont 1 4 Boston College 5
6 Boston University 4 3 Connecticut 4*
4 Boston College 3
6 Boston University 3
3 Connecticut 5
3 Connecticut 1
8 Merrimack 2
7 Northeastern 1
10 New Hampshire 3 2 Massachusetts 4
7 Northeastern 7 2 Massachusetts 0
8 Merrimack 2
8 Merrimack 3*
9 Massachusetts Lowell 3 1 Providence 2
8 Merrimack 5

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Results

Note: All game times are local.

Opening Round: March 11, 2026

(11) Vermont vs. (6) Boston University[4]

Boston, MA - Agganis Arena - 6:30 PM - Attendance: 1,931

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st BU Cole Eiserman - PPG Hutson, McCarthy 17:16 1–0 BU
2nd UVM Jens Richards Aegerter, Michels 22:51 1–1
3rd BU Cole Eiserman - GWG Lawrence 46:51 2–1 BU
BU Cole Hutson - PPG McCarthy, Eiserman 52:36 3–1 BU
BU Jack Harvey - ENG Bednarik 57:15 4–1 BU
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
UVM Aiden Wright 24 3 55:47
BU Mikhail Yegorov 25 1 60:00

(10) New Hampshire vs. (7) Northeastern[5]

Chestnut Hill, MA - Conte Forum - 7:00 PM - Attendance: 452

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st NU Jacob Mathieu Compton, Hajibi 2:10 1–0 NU
2nd UNH Alex Carr - SHG Skrastins, Lavins 22:00 1–1
NU Tyler Fukakusa Hryckowian, Martino 27:41 2–1 NU
NU Amine Hajibi Perkins, Connor 30:06 3–1 NU
UNH Cam McDonald Skrastins, Fitzgerald 32:09 3–2 NU
NU Joe Connor - PPG GWG Mathieu, Pechar 37:04 4–2 NU
NU Dylan Compton Mathieu, Hajibi 39:29 5–2 NU
3rd UNH Nick Ring - PPG McDonald, LeClerc 44:36 5–3 NU
NU Matthew Perkins - SHG ENG Unassisted 56:51 6–3 NU
NU Noah Jones - ENG Unassisted 57:39 7–3 NU
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
UNH Kyle Chauvette 17 5 58:55
NU Lawton Zacher 24 3 60:00

(9) Massachusetts Lowell vs. (8) Merrimack[6]

North Andover, MA - Lawler Rink - 7:00 PM - Attendance: 1,992

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MC Trevor Hoskin Pierre, Gill 1:12 1–0 MC
UML Jack Collins Delaney, Misskey 17:33 1–1
MC Nolan Flamand Oravetz 18:51 2–1 MC
2nd MC Nick Pierre - PPG Powell 26:51 3–1 MC
MC Trevor Hoskin - GWG Pierre, Gill 35:30 4–1 MC
3rd UML Dillan Bentley Misskey 53:43 4–2 MC
UML Dominic Payne Delaney, Adaszynski 56:43 4–3 MC
MC Parker Lalonde - ENG Fitzpatrick, Cranston 58:57 5–3 MC
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
UML Samuel Richard 25 4 58:31
MC Max Lundgren 23 3 59:47

Quarterfinals: March 13–14, 2026

(5) Maine vs (4) Boston College[7]

Chestnut Hill, MA - Conte Forum - 7:00 PM - Attendance: 5,695

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st BC Teddy Stiga – GWG Radivojevic, Fortescue 4:49 1–0 BC
BC James Hagens Gustafsson 5:28 2–0 BC
2nd None
3rd BC Oskar Jellvik Conmy 41:34 3–0 BC
BC Dean Letourneau – ENG Hagens 55:25 4–0 BC
BC James Hagens – ENG Letourneau, Kostadinski 4:49 5–0 BC
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
MAINE Mathis Rousseau 21 3 59:28
BC Louka Cloutier 18 0 60:00

(6) Boston University vs (3) Connecticut[8]

Storrs, CT - Toscano Family Ice Forum - 1:00 PM - Attendance: 2,513

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st CONN Jake Percival Fraser, Heaslip 6:44 1–0 CONN
2nd BU Tynan Lawrence Unassisted 21:11 1–1
CONN Jake Richard – PPG Muldowney, Janviriya 23:33 2–1 CONN
BU Jack Murtagh Lawrence, Ritchie 32:35 2–2
3rd CONN Ethan Whitcomb Murtagh 42:39 3–2 CONN
CONN Anthony Allain Samake – GWG Percival, Gustafsson Nyberg 43:47 4–2 CONN
BU Ben Merrill Unassisted 49:54 4–3 CONN
CONN Joey Muldowney – ENG Tattle 59:05 5–3 CONN
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
BU Mikhail Yegorov 33 4 58:31
CONN Tyler Muszelik 29 3 60:00

(7) Northeastern University vs (2) Massachusetts[9]

Amherst, MA - Mullins Center - 4:00 PM - Attendance: 4,537

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MASS Larry Keenan Musa, Nestrašil 3:37 1–0 MASS
NU Griffin Erdman Connor, May 18:39 1–1
2nd MASS Jack Musa – GWG Nestrašil, Galanek 39:36 2–1 MASS
3rd MASS Václav Nestrašil Musa, Galanek 44:08 3–1 MASS
MASS Cam O'Neill – ENG Klečka, Kerr 59:32 4–1 MASS
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
NU Lawton Zacher 23 3 57:51
MASS Michael Hrabel 30 1 59:55

(8) Merrimack vs. (1) Providence[10]

Providence, RI - Schneider Arena - 7:00 PM - Attendance: 2,798

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st PC Graham Gamache Mustard 13:49 1–0 PC
MC Nathan King – PPG Lalonde, Beyer 18:45 1–1
2nd None
3rd MC Nolan Flamand – PPG Fitzpatrick, King 40:49 2–1 MC
PC John Mustard Mantei, McQueen 56:44 2–2
OT MC Trevor Hoskin – GWG Gill, Beyer 63:50 3–2 MC
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
MC Max Lundgren 34 2 63:49
PC Jack Parsons 27 3 63:46

Semifinals: March 20, 2026

(3) Connecticut vs (4) Boston College[11]

Boston, MA - TD Garden - 7:00 PM - Attendance: 15,573

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st None
2nd BC Dean Letourneau – PPG Gasseau, Hagens 20:39 1–0 BC
CONN Trey Scott Muldowney, Tattle 21:32 1–1
BC Dean Letourneau – PPG Hagens, Gustafsson 25:09 2–1 BC
CONN Ethan Whitcomb Murtagh, Gardula 28:28 2–2
3rd CONN Mike Murtagh Whitcomb, Gustafsson Nyberg 52:28 3–2 CONN
BC Ryan Conmy Stiga, Fortescue 54:13 3–3
OT CONN Tristan Fraser – GWG Heaslip, Percival 61:18 4–3 CONN
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
CONN Tyler Muszelik 22 3 61:17
BC Louka Cloutier 28 4 61:15

(2) Massachusetts vs (8) Merrimack[12]

Boston, MA - TD Garden - 4:00 PM - Attendance:

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st None
2nd None
3rd MC Ryan O'Connell – GWG Daneault 43:00 1–0 MC
MC Caden Cranston – ENG Lalonde, Oravetz 58:21 2–0 MC
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
MASS Michael Hrabal 27 1 58:01
MC Max Lundgren 24 0 60:00

Championship: March 21, 2026

(3) Connecticut vs (8) Merrimack[13]

Boston, MA - TD Garden - 7:00 PM - Attendance: 15,759

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st None
2nd MC Ryan O'Connell Hoskin, Kungle 22:29 1–0 MC
CONN Ethan Whitcomb Allain Samake 37:22 1–1
3rd MC Caelan Fitzpatrick – GWG Lalonde 40:26 2–1 MC
Goaltenders
Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice
CONN Tyler Muszelik 23 2 58:25
MC Max Lundgren 49 1 60:00

Tournament Awards

All-Tournament Team[14]

  • G – Max Lundgren* (Merrimack)
  • D – Nathan King (Merrimack)
  • D – Tom Messineo (Connecticut)
  • F – Dean Letourneau (Boston College)
  • F – Ryan O'Connell (Merrimack)
  • F – Trevor Hoskin (Merrimack)

* Tournament MVP

References

  1. ^ "Merrimack Earns First Hockey East Championship With 2-1 Win Over UConn - Hockey East Association". hockeyeastonline.com. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  2. ^ "Max Lundgren backstops No. 8 Merrimack to first Hockey East title in thrilling final over UConn - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  3. ^ "Hockey East Championship". Hockey East. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "BU vs Vermont". USCHO. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  5. ^ "NU vs UNH". USCHO. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  6. ^ "Merrimack vs Lowell". USCHO. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  7. ^ "Maine vs Boston College". USCHO. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  8. ^ "Boston University vs Connecticut". USCHO. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  9. ^ "Northeastern vs Massachusetts". USCHO. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  10. ^ "Merrimack vs Providence". USCHO. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  11. ^ "Boston College vs Connecticut". USCHO. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  12. ^ "Merrimack vs Massachusetts". USCHO. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  13. ^ "Merrimack vs Connecticut". USCHO. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  14. ^ "Merrimack Earns First Hockey East Champtionship With 2-1 Win Over UConn". Hockey East Online. March 21, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
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