UTICA, NY - The Pioneers' bid to return to the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Frozen Four will begin just over a week from now, as the team returns to the ice at the newly named NBT Bank Arena to face off against Skidmore in an October 23rd exhibition beginning at 7:00 PM. Off the back of two Frozen Fours over the past three seasons, the Pioneers have once again been listed as a top contender, achieving a pre-season ranking of #6 in the USCHO poll and #5 in the DIIIHockeyNews.com poll.
 
The Pioneers posted a 20-8-1 record during their 25th anniversary season in 2025-2026, capturing their sixth UCHC Tournament Championship and their 13th Regular Season Conference Championship (10th straight). The team also made a last-second surge heading down the stretch, jumping up into the top four of the official NPI during the final day of the season, which allowed them to host NCAA First Round and Quarterfinal action. The team would take down high-powered NESCAC Champion Williams College before falling to UW-Stout on the doorstep of the program's third consecutive Frozen Four.
 
This season, the team will once again face a gauntlet of powerful opponents, starting with four straight games against consensus top-10 competition.
 
Here's a look at the Pioneers' scheduled games against preseason top-15 or vote-receiving programs:
 
(USCHO/DIIIHockeyNews.com) - Home Games are Bolded
Vs (RV/NR) Skidmore | Friday, October 23rd | 7:00 PM | NBT Bank Arena - Exhibition
At (#8/8) Adrian College | Friday, October 30th | 7:00 PM | Adrian, MI
At (#8/8) Adrian College | Saturday, October 31st | 3:00 PM | Adrian, MI
Vs (#2/2) Hobart College | Thursday, November 5th | 7:00 PM | NBT Bank Arena
At (#2/2) Hobart College | Saturday, November 7th | 4:00 PM | Geneva, NY
Vs (RV/RV) Gustavus Adolphus | Saturday, November 28th | 5:00 PM | NBT Bank Arena
Vs EITHER (#9/9) UNE or (RV/RV) Cortland | Sunday, November 29th | 5:00 PM | NBT Bank Arena
Vs (#10/11) Norwich | Saturday, December 5th | 7:00 PM | NBT Bank Arena - NY Sash TBT
Vs (#14/RV) Trine | Saturday, January 2nd | 4:00 PM | Oswego, NY
Vs EITHER (#1/1) Hamilton or (#12/12) Oswego | Sunday, January 3rd | TBA | Oswego, NY
At (#10/11) SUNY Geneseo | Friday, February 12th | 7:00 PM | Geneseo, NY
Vs (#10/11) SUNY Geneseo | Saturday, February 13th | 7:00 PM | NBT Bank Arena
 
Check out this release for more information on how you can grab a ticket to any home matchups for the upcoming season: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2026/10/8/mens-ice-hockey-mens-hockey-announces-season-ticket-pickup-time-single-game-tickets-on-sale-10-22.aspx