UTICA, NY - The #14 Utica University men's hockey team returns from winter break in a big way this week, taking the ice three times as they look to continue the momentum they gained following a raucous end to the Fall 2025 semester.
 
After defeating the #4-ranked Oswego Lakers in a 5-3 thriller to cap off the first half of the season, the Pioneers headed into the break on a high note, using the Teddy Bear Toss win to gain some energy before a 23-day pause. That break is now over, though, as its full steam ahead while the squad looks to go on another spring semester surge like they did last season.
 
A couple of new additions over the winter break will help provide some power, as the blue and orange turn their attention to three different opponents this week during their 25th Anniversary Season restart. Check out all the information below to get caught up ahead of the second half!
 
This Week's Action: The Pioneers will play an exhibition matchup, along with two non-conference tilts, which will serve as the team's final non-UCHC test before the conference gauntlet gets underway. Here is a look at what the team will be up to this week:
 
Tuesday, December 30th (TONIGHT) at 7:00 PM - at United States Under-18 National Development Team Program (Exhibition)
Tickets Link:https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/tix
Stream Link: https://usahockeytv.com/
Stats Link: https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/game/show/44324735?subseason=949073&referrer=9124052
Game Notes:https://uticapioneers.com/documents/2025/12/30/2025_U18_National_Development_Team_Game_Notes.pdf
 
Saturday, January 3rd at 7:00 PM - vs Neumann University (Davidson Auto Night)
Tickets Link: https://empirestatetix.evenue.net/events/UCP
Stream Link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/
Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary
Program: https://uticapioneers.com/documents/2025/12/29/MIH_1.3.26_Program.pdf
 
Sunday, January 4th at 5:00 PM - vs SUNY Canton
Tickets Link: https://empirestatetix.evenue.net/events/UCP
Stream Link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/
Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary
Program: https://uticapioneers.com/documents/2025/12/29/MIH_1.4.26_Program.pdf
 
Recapping the Fall Semester: Battle-tested. That could be the main word used to describe this iteration of the orange and blue heading into the spring semester. Despite an 0-4 start and a 6-5 record heading into winter break, the Pioneers have gained some, perhaps even the most, experience in playoff-like atmospheres during the first half of the 2025-2026 season. Here is a look at their results so far:
L, 1-3 vs #10 Adrian (Currently USCHO #2, #3 in NPI)
L, 3-5 vs #10 Adrian (Currently USCHO #2, #3 in NPI)
L, 5-6 (OT) vs #1 Hobart (Currently USCHO #1, #1 in NPI)
L, 1-2 at #1 Hobart (Currently USCHO #1, #1 in NPI)
W, 4-1 at SUNY Brockport (#56 in NPI)
W, 5-2 vs SUNY Brockport (#56 in NPI)
W, 3-0 at Manhattanville (#87 in NPI)
W, 3-0 at Manhattanville (#87 in NPI)
W, 5-4 (OT) vs UMass Boston (#35 in NPI)
L, 1-3 vs #8 Hamilton (Currently USCHO #5, #4 in NPI)
W, 5-3 vs #4 Oswego State (Currently USCHO #6, #6 in NPI)
 
Based on the schedule above, it is no secret that the Pioneers have faced a gauntlet in the early going, holding six total matchups against teams within the top six of the NPI. This has given the team the 10th-toughest strength of schedule in Division III thus far. After falling in a few close affairs against the #1 and #3 NPI teams, the Pioneers found their footing, winning six of their last seven games to close the fall semester.
 
The recent stretch of wins has showcased a team that is finding its footing, with a balanced attack that has seen four different players rack up double-digit points. Here is a look at the team's statistical standouts through the first 11 contests:
 
Points

1. D. Morse - 11

          E. Vitale - 11
          N. Ahern - 11
      4. J. Gutt - 10
      5. A. Bax - 8
      6. P. Brighton - 6
      7. A. Della Rovere - 5
          H. Longhi - 5
          S. Cerrato - 5
          A. German - 5
 
Goals

1. D. Morse - 6

          E. Vitale - 6
      3. N. Ahern - 5
          J. Gutt - 5
      5. A. Della Rovere - 3
          G. Lundberg - 3
      7. H. Longhi - 2
          A. Gullichsen - 2
      9. A. Bax - 1
          P. Brighton - 1
          S. Cerrato - 1
          C. Carroll - 1
 
Assists

1. A. Bax - 7
2. N. Ahern - 6
3. D. Morse - 5

           E. Vitale - 5
           J. Gutt - 5
           P. Brighton - 5
            A. German - 5
      8.   S. Cerrato - 4
            D. Goukler - 4
            A. Parekh - 4
 
Power Play Goals

1. E. Vitale - 3
2. N. Ahern - 2

           D. Morse - 2
 
Blocks

1. D. Goukler - 15
2. P. Brighton - 13
3. T. Procious - 12
4. J. Gutt - 10
5. S. Cerrato - 9

            A. Parekh - 9
      7.   A. German - 7
            A. Gullichsen - 7
      9.   N. Ahern - 5
            A. Gomez - 5
            G. Lundberg - 5
         
Goals Allowed Average

1. K. Curtin - 2.30
2. F. Murphy - 5.13

 
Save Percentage

1. K. Curtin - .911
2. F. Murphy - .828

 
Where we Stand: After battling through that gauntlet of games against top tier competition, the Pioneers currently have the 25th ranked NPI according to USCHO. In order for the team to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large, the orange and blue would have to secure one of the four best remaining NPI ranks outside of the 10 conference champions. Here are the four teams that currently hold those four at-large bids:
 
Adrian - #3 NPI - 59.827
Hamilton - #4 NPI - 59.789
Salve Regina - #5 NPI - 58.854
Oswego State - #6 NPI - 58.692
 
(Utica - #25 NPI - 54.181)
 
For the Pioneers, it will be all hands on deck as the team hopes to handle business during the second half of the 2025-2026 campaign. Minimal losses could see the team sneak back into the at-large conversation towards the finale of the regular season.
 
Thankfully, the Pioneers currently control their own destiny in the UCHC, with a conference tournament championship guaranteeing the team a spot in the dance regardless.
 
Upcoming UCHC Slate: Because of a Geneseo loss to Nazareth earlier this season, the Pioneers control their own destiny to the #1 overall seed in the UCHC, although the vast majority of the conference slate lies ahead. Utica is currently undefeated with a 4-0 record, possessing 12 points, while Geneseo leads the league with a 5-1 mark, having 15 points. Here are the current conference standings:
 
1: Geneseo - 15 points (8-3-1, 5-1 UCHC)
2: Utica - 12 points (6-5, 4-0 UCHC)
3: Chatham - 11 points (8-2, 4-2 UCHC)
4: Nazareth - 9 points (7-4-1, 3-3 UCHC)
5: Brockport - 7 points (4-8, 2-3 UCHC)
6: Albertus Magnus - 6 points (6-4, 2-4 UCHC)
7: St. John Fisher - 6 points (7-5, 2-4 UCHC)
8: Elmira - 3 points (3-7, 1-2 UCHC)
9: Manhattanville - 0 points (0-9, 0-4 UCHC)
 
The Pioneers will focus solely on conference play following this weekend's slate, with many opportunities to rack up conference points and NPI standing still on the schedule. Here is a look at the remaining campaign:
 
Vs Neumann (7-3-1, #39 NPI) - 1/3/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs SUNY Canton (5-6, #41 NPI) - 1/4/26 | 5:00 PM

Vs Nazareth (7-4-1, #24 NPI) - 1/10/26 | 7:00 PM
At Nazareth (7-4-1, #24 NPI) - 1/17/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs Albertus Magnus (6-4, #34 NPI) - 1/23/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs Albertus Magnus (6-4, #34 NPI) - 1/24/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs St. John Fisher (7-5, #33 NPI) - 1/30/26 | 7:00 PM
At St. John Fisher (7-5, #33 NPI) - 1/31/26 | 7:00 PM
At Elmira (3-7, #73 NPI) - 2/6/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs Elmira (3-7, #73 NPI) - 2/7/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs SUNY Geneseo (8-3-1, #14 NPI) - 2/13/26 | 7:00 PM
At SUNY Geneseo (8-3-1, #14 NPI) - 2/13/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs Chatham (8-2, #22 NPI) - 2/20/26 | 7:00 PM
Vs Chatham (8-2, #22 NPI) - 2/21/26 | 2:00 PM
 
New Additions: The Pioneers will add a couple of reinforcements heading into the spring semester, adding forwards Nicholas Rogers (Broad Channel, NY) and Stepan Kuznetsov (Yaroslavl, Russia) from Manhattanville and Western New England, respectively.
 
Rogers joins the team in his junior year, looking to add some immediate firepower to the top few lines. He will make his debut on the first line tonight against the U-18 NTDPs, hoping to bring the spark that led him to become the 2025 Manhattanville Male Athlete of the Year. A second team All-UCHC selection just last season, Rogers scored 24 goals and grabbed 10 assists in his 61 games as a Valiant, including scoring 18 goals and getting six assists for a 24 point-season in 2024-2025 as a sophomore. He also added three game-winning goals for the Valiants last year during a season that saw them secure a top-three finish in the UCHC.
 
Kuznetsov joins the team midway through his rookie season of collegiate hockey. The Yaroslavl, Russia native enjoyed a stellar start to his career with the Golden Bears, averaging over a point per game as he scored six goals and grabbed four assists in his nine-game stint. Kuznetsov also possessed a .231 shot percentage in his fall semester, an impressive total for a freshman. Kuznetsov will make his Pioneer debut on the third line tonight against the U-18's.
 
About the US U18 NDTP: Speaking of the U-18s, it's time for a little background on tonight's opponent.
 
In 1996, USA Hockey launched a new initiative called the National Team Development Program, originally based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In March of 2015, the USA Hockey Foundation purchased Compuware Arena (now USA Hockey Arena) in Plymouth, Michigan, which is the new home of the NTDP and the site of tonight's matchup.
 
The program is composed of two squads - the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams. The Under-17 Team competes in the United States Hockey League and also participates in three international events annually. The U.S. National Under-18 Team's schedule includes games against NCAA Division I & III opponents, contests versus USHL teams, as well as competition in three international tournaments.
 
The Pioneers will face the U18 team for the fifth time tonight, having a 2-3 all-time record against the talented youngsters. Below is a history of each matchup, including the pair of contests that the team played against the U-17 squad during the shortened COVID season in 2021:
 
2023: L, 1-7 (ADK Bank Center)
2022: L, 2-6 (USA Hockey Arena)
2021: U-17 - L, 0-3 (ADK Bank Center)
2021: U-17 - W, 6-5 (ADK Bank Center)
2018: W, 5-4 (USA Hockey Arena)
2013: W, 4-1 (ADK Bank Center)
2009: L, 1-10 (ADK Bank Center)
 
This year's U-18 team has yet another array of all-stars at every position, with 19 of the 22 players already committed to Division I teams at the highest level of the sport, including commits that represent three out of last year's four Division I Frozen Four participants:
 
Denver:
#8 Dayne Beuker - F - 5g, 8a
#11 Mikey Berchild - F - 6g, 10a
#14 Logan Lunther - D - 1g, 1a
#27 Logan Stuart - F - 4g, 9a
 
Boston University:
#10 Luke Schairer - D - 0g, 8a
#17 Jamie Glance - F - 13g, 12a
 
Western Michigan (National Champions)
#1 Luke Carrithers - GK - 4.11 GAA, .866 Save %
 
Victor Plante (Minnesota Duluth) and Jamie Glance (Boston University) lead the scoring for the U-18's, with the former having 14 goals and 12 assists, and the latter having 13 goals and 11 assists. AJ Francisco (Notre-Dame) is the leading playmaker for the team with two goals and 15 assists. All three players are in the lineup for the U-18s tonight.
 
Scouting Neumann: The Pioneers will welcome a familiar face to the Adirondack Bank Center on Saturday for the team's first game of 2026. The Neumann University Knights will share the ice with the orange and blue for the 65th time this Saturday, with all those former matchups coming during the 20+ seasons that saw these two teams share a conference - first in the ECAC West, and then the UCHC, before Neumann joined the contingent of Pennsylvania teams that broke away to form the MAC ahead of last season.
 
The Pioneers have a 34-34-6 record against the Knights, including a stellar home tally of 20-7-4. The team will look to extend a nine-win streak against the Pennsylvania side, a streak that dates back to the 2019-2020 season.
 
Neumann will enter Saturday's contest with a 7-3-1 record and a 6-1-1 mark in MAC play. The Knights are 3-1 on the road this season, picking up three road victories against MAC competition. The Knights started off their season with two home games against UCHC foes, falling 1-4 to Nazareth and 2-6 to SUNY Brockport.
 
Scouting SUNY Canton: Despite their close proximity, the Pioneers and Kangaroos will meet in the regular season for just the third time on Sunday afternoon, despite the two teams facing off in a pre-season exhibition last year. In the most recent matchup (2/6/2022), the Pioneers took down the Kangaroos by a 5-1 final. In the first-ever meeting between the two teams (11/2/2019), the Kangaroos managed to halt the Pioneer offense and force a tie in the teams' season-opener. Both games took place at the Adirondack Bank Center.
 
SUNY Canton has had an interesting season so far, securing some shocking victories in non-conference play before slowing down in a stacked SUNYAC. The Kangaroos will enter Sunday's matchup with a 5-6 record, having stellar wins over then #7 ranked Trine (2-1) and UCHC contender Nazareth (2-1). Despite a 4-0 start to the campaign, the Kangaroos have gone 1-6 since, with tough matchups against the likes of Oswego and Hobart. Still, SUNY Canton has shown the ability to show up in unfavorable situations, and are a very upset-minded squad.
 
Following the Finale of Non-Conference Play: The Pioneers will dive into UCHC play following this weekend's games, with only UCHC opposition left in the team's 25th Anniversary Season. The Pioneers will face Nazareth at home next Saturday, before heading to Rochester the following Saturday for the return trip against the Golden Flyers.
 
Head down to the Aud this weekend as the team opens up its 2026 schedule!