Men's Ice Hockey

2026-27 UCHC Men’s Players to Watch; Regular Season Starts October 30

The United Collegiate Hockey Conference announced its Players to Watch for the 2026-27 season. A total of 27 men’s players from the league’s nine institutions were selected. The list serves as an annual preseason honor roll of players expected to make an impact on their teams, and on the conference picture as the season gets underway this weekend.
 
Albertus Magnus College
  • Justin Sullivan, So., F, Laval, Quebec – Sullivan tallied 16 points on 10 goals and six assists. Three of his 10 goals were game-winning tallies.
  • Maksim Tsegelnik, Jr., F, Moscow, Russia – Tsegelnik tallied 22 points on eight Goals and 14 Assists last season and had two multi-goal games. He has 13 Goals and 15 Assists over 42 career games.
  • William Lavigne, Sr., D, Sainte-Anne-des-Lac, Quebec – Lavigne returns for his senior season after tallying 12 points on a goal and an assist last year.
Team Notes: Albertus Magnus College enjoyed a solid debut season as a UCHC debut in 2025-26, finishing fifth in the league standings and 16-10 overall. Tim Richter takes over as head coach for the Falcons in 2026-27 after spending the last four seasons as head coach at Division II Post University. The Falcons return 21 players from last season, including goaltender Chace Hale, who was 12-8-0 with a .907 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average. Justin Sullivan returns after tallying 10 goals and 16 points last season, while Maksim Tsegelnik had 22 points.
 
SUNY Brockport
  • Schuyler Flansburg, Sr., F, Saratoga Springs, NY – Schuyler Flansburg tallied eight goals in 2025-26 and will serve as team captain for Brockport this season.
  • Nick Reif, So., F, Depew, NY – Reif was named the 2025-26 UCHC Rookie of the Year after recording nine goals, 12 assists and 21 points in 24 games last season.
  • Manny Sanchez, Gr., F, Potsdam, NY – Sanchez tied for the team leading in scoring with 21 points on seven goals and 14 assists in 22 games last season.
Team Notes: SUNY Brockport has 20 players back from last season’s team that advanced to the opening round of the UCHC Tournament, taking semifinalist Chatham to triple overtime. The Golden Eagles won 10 contests in 2025-26 and will look to make the UCHC Tournament for the third straight season. Brockport returns the reigning UCHC Rookie of the Year Nick Reif and its top seven scorers from last season. Goaltender David Filak had a .922 save percentage in league play last season.
 
Chatham University
  • Cameron Kuntar, Sr., G, Williamsville, NY – Kuntar was named the 2025-26 UCHC Goaltender of the Year, finishing 13-5-1 with a 2.16 goals against average and .941 save percentage. He has 20 career wins and a .930 save percentage in three seasons at Chatham.
  • Michael Roby, Sr., F, Philadelphia, PA – Roby earned All-UCHC second team honors in 2025-26 after leading the league with 23 goals, while adding 16 assists for 39 points. He has 37 career goals and 62 points heading into 2026-27.
  • Jake LaRusso, Jr., F, Colts Neck, NJ – LaRusso enjoyed a tremendous first season with Chatham in 2025-26, tallying 32 points on 11 goals and 21 assists. He was a UCHC Player of the Week. 
Team Notes: Chatham, picked to finish fourth in the 2026-27 UCHC Preseason Coaches poll, won 20 games last season and advanced to the UCHC Semifinals. While Chatham will look to replace former All-American and UCHC Player of the Year Nick Cyprian, a strong group of veterans return, including Michael Roby, who led the league with 23 goals last season and 2025-06 UCHC Goaltender of the Year Cameron Kuntar. Kuntar won 13 games and led the league with a .941 save percentage. Seniors Jake LaRusso, Kyle Contessa, Kadsen Johnson and Camden Smith will also look to lead Chatham in 2026-27.
 
Elmira College
  • Birch Gorman Sr., D, Flemington, NJ – Gorman had 24 blocked shots for Elmira last season, while adding five points from the blueline.
  • Owen Halloran, Jr., F, Markham, Ontario – Halloran is a team captain for the Soaring Eagles in 2026-27. He tallied 15 points in 25 games for Elmira last season, including six goals and 11 points in league play.
  • Lucas Stevenson, Jr., F, Ajax, Ontario – Stevenson will serve as a team captain for Elmira this season. He led the Soaring Eagles in scoring last season with 21 points (8-13-21) and had 14 points in UCHC play.
Team Notes: The Soaring Eagles return 17 players from last season and will look to earn a postseason berth.
Elmira, who was previously a member of the UCHC from 2017-2021, won the 2021 UCHC Championship and most recently advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. Overall, Elmira has made 19 trips to the NCAA Tournament, earning national runner-up honors in 1980 and 1988.
 
SUNY Geneseo
  • Sean Melso, Sr., D, Philadelphia, PA – A two time, UCHC Player to Watch, Melso earned 2025-26 All-UCHC first team honors for the second straight season, recording 27 points on eight goals and 19 assists and was plus-19. A 2024-25 AHCA All-American, Melso has 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists and is plus-58 in 73 career games with Geneseo.
  • Jacob Torgner, Sr., G, Mjolby, Sweden – Torgner took over the starting role in 2025-26 and excelled, finishing 14-6-1 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. He garnered All-UCHC second team accolades.
  • Filip Wiberg, Sr., F, Trondheim, Norway – A two time, UCHC Player to Watch, Wiberg earned All-UCHC first team honors after recording 29 points on 11 goals and 18 assists in 2025-26. The 2024-25 UCHC Championship Most Valuable Player, Wiberg has 28 goals and 63 points 57 career games with the Knights.
Team Notes: SUNY Geneseo begins the 2026-27 season ranked second in the UCHC Coaches poll and is ranked No. 11 in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason Poll. The Knights return a strong group of verterans from last season’s team that won 18 games and advanced to the UCHC Championship game. Senior defenseman Sean Melso was an AHCA Third Team All-American in 2024-25, and two-time All-UCHC first team selection, who leads a deep group of veterans, including forwards Filip Wiberg, a 2026 All-UCHC first team pick, Luke Panchisin, Carter Diceman, Sterling Wolters and goaltender Jacob Torgner, who won 14 games between the pipes and earned All-UCHC second team honors. Head Coach Chris Schultz was the 2025 UCHC Coach of the Year and enters the season with a 341-148-32 in 20 seasons at his alma mater. The Knights are looking to earn their ninth NCAA Tournament berth since 2014.
 
Manhattanville University
  • Tristan D’Elia, Sr., F, West Chester, PA – D’Elia played in 24 games last season and led the Valiants offensively with 13 points on five goals and eight assists. He will be heavily involved in the attacking zone this season.
  • Ryan McKenna – Sr., F, Spokane, WA – McKenna is a two-year captain, who played in all 25 games last season. He finished with 10 points a season ago and plays a strong two-way game, adding 15 blocked shots.
  • Brandon Paluszak – So., F, Powell, OH – Paluszak played in 23 games during his rookie season and will be counted on to help lead Manhattanville’s offensive attack in 2026-27.
Team Notes: The Valiants return 14 players from last season. Veterans Tristan D’Elia, Emil Grinsvall, Ryan McKenna, Brandon Paluszak and Cameron Vassos in addition to talented newcomers River Lewis, Trey Dionne, Gellert Kiss-Molnar, Briggs Beam, and Dominic Bertolinio will look to push Manhattanville to its second league title since the UCHC was formed in 2017.
 
Nazareth University
  • Paul Dalessio, So., G, Burlington, MA – Dalessio enjoyed an excellent rookie season in 2025-26, finshing 12-4-0 overall with a 2.45 goals against average and .925 save percentage, earning All-UCHC third team and UCHC All-Rookie Team accolades. He was a three-time UCHC Rookie of the Week.
  • Will Halecki, Sr., F, Middleton, MA – Halecki recorded 16 points on eight goals and eight assists in 26 games for the Golden Flyers last season. He has played in 64 games over three seasons.
  • Charles Ross, Jr., D, Des Peres, MO – Ross earned All-UCHC second team honors in 2025-26 after recording seven goals and 18 points from the blueline. He was also a plus-11.
Team Notes: Nazareth enters the 2026-27 season ranked third in the UCHC Preseason Coaches’ poll. The Golden Flyers return 22 players from last season’s team that finished 16-8-3 overall and advanced to the UCHC Semifinals. Nazareth has a strong group of returners, including all-UCHC selections Charles Ross and Paul Dalessio, in addition to seniors Will Halecki and Nate Mann and juniors Antoine Lucier and Lucas Stanojevic, who will counted on to lead Nazareth on and off the ice.
 
St. John Fisher University
  • Sam Ciappa, So., F, Baldwinsville NY – Ciappa, a two-time UCHC Player to Watch, excelled in his rookie season, earning UCHC All-Rookie Team honors, while leading St. John Fisher in scoring with nine goals, 12 assists and 21 points in 23 games and a plus-14 rating.
  • Mitch Ferras, So., F, Brantford, Ontario – Ferras stepped right into the Cardinals lineup and tallied 15 points on six goals and nine assists while playing at a plus-14 in 25 games. He led the team with three game-winning goals.
  • Charlie Robinson, So., D, Kenmore NY – Robinson, a two-time UCHC Player to Watch, patrolled the Cardinals blueline in 2025-26, recording a plus-11 rating, while chipping in with eight points
 
Team Notes: St. John Fisher enjoyed a successful NCAA Division III debut in 2025-26, winning 12 games, including the Castleton Tournament Championship for head coach Reid Lesswing. The Cardinals return 23 players, including 2025-26 UCHC All-Rookie Team selection Sam Ciappa, Mitch Ferras, Dylan Grover, Brendan Merriman, Michael Peluso, and Charlie Robinson. The Cardinals will look to earn a UCHC postseason berth in 2026-27.
 
Utica University
  • Drake Morse, Sr., F, Grand Rapids, MI – Morse, a two-time UCHC Player to Watch earned All-UCHC first team honors in 2025-26 and DIIIHockeyNews.com East Region Second Team All-American accolades. He enters the season with 89 career points on 36 goals and 53 assists. He had 17 goals, 36 points and was plus-19 last season.
  • Preston Brighton, Sr., D, Castle Rock, CO – Brighton was a DIIIHockeyNews.com East Region Second Team All-American in 2025-26 and enters the season second in Utica program history with 87 blocked shots. He had 18 points and was plus-15 in 2025-26.
  • Eric Vitale, Jr., F, Toronto, Ontario – Vitale, a two-time UCHC Player to Watch, was the UCHC Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, earned UCHC All-Rookie Team honors that season and was named to the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey All-Tournament Team. Vitale has 72 career points (38 goals and 34 assists) in 85 games. He tallied 14 goals and 26 points last season.
Team Notes: Defending UCHC Champion Utica is picked to finish first in the 2026-27 UCHC Preseason Coaches poll, enters the season ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason poll. The Pioneers, who advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Quarterfinals last season and NCAA Championship game in 2024-25, have won 10 consecutive league Regular Season Championships between the ECAC West and UCHC. The Pioneers will look to win their seventh UCHC Championship this season. Utica has 17 players returning from last season, including UCHC Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Della Rovere and 2026 Empire 8 Conference Man of the Year Aydin Parekh. Head Coach Gary Heenan has been at the helm since the program’s inception in 2001 and begins the 2026-27 season with 416 career victories. Utica’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game will take place on Dec. 5 against nationally-ranked Norwich University.

The 2026-27 regular season kicks off the weekend of Oct. 30-31. UCHC conference play starts on Nov. 13-14. The top six teams advance to the 2027 UCHC Championship Tournament, which takes place with first round play on Feb. 24, semifinals on Feb. 27 and the league championship March 6. The UCHC Champion earns an automatic berth into the 2027 NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, in which the national semifinals and championship game will be played at on March 26-28.