BOSTON - Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) opens the 2025-26 campaign with a four-game non-conference slate, including two exhibitions, on Friday, Oct. 3.
This is the second men's season under the new AHA identity following the merger between College Hockey America (CHA) and the Atlantic Hockey Association.
The conference begins the season with 14 teams across 17 member institutions, comprising both the men's and women's leagues. 10 of the 14 programs make up the men's league.
'25-26 Puck Drop
Four AHA programs hit the ice on the opening night of men's college hockey in 2025-26. Two games will count in the overall records, while the other two will be considered exhibitions.
In regular season matchups, Mercyhurst opens its season with a two-game series at the Big Ten's #12 Michigan at 7 p.m. ET. Clarkson out of ECAC Hockey heads to LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y., to take on Canisius, with puck drop also set for 7 p.m.
As for exhibition contests, AHA's service academies take the ice as Air Force heads to the NCHC's (RV) Omaha for a 6:07 p.m. MT game. Army hosts LIU in West Point, N.Y., beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
Saturday, Oct. 4, features a slate of eight games, with six AHA teams seeing their first game action of the season.
Niagara opens its regular season as it hosts ECAC Hockey's St. Lawrence on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. ET.
(RV) Sacred Heart, which topped the preseason poll, hits the ice in its first game action with a scrimmage against Hockey East's Merrimack at 6 p.m. ET.
The reigning tournament champions, (RV) Bentley, host Simon Fraser University (BCIHL) in an exhibition at 7 p.m. ET.
(RV) Holy Cross visits Hockey East's (RV) Northeastern for one game at 7:30 p.m. ET to begin its season.
Robert Morris crosses the Ohio border as it travels to take on (RV) Bowling Green from the CCHA in an exhibition.
The University of Western Ontario (U Sports) heads to RIT in an exhibition matchup at 5:05 p.m. ET.
New Faces Behind the Bench
Atlantic Hockey America has two new head coaches for the 2025-26 season. Matt Thomas is the eighth head coach in RIT program history, taking over after Wayne Wilson announced his retirement on April 9. Thomas has over 26 years of experience at both the NCAA Division I and professional ranks, and spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins. He takes the reins at his alma mater, where he appeared in 102 games from 1994-98, and served as a captain for the Tigers for the 1997-98 season. He totaled 72 points on 25 goals and 47 assists in his playing career with the Tigers.
Following the retirement of Brian Riley, Zach McKelvie enters his first season as head coach at West Point, having spent 11 years as an assistant coach on Riley's staff. McKelvie also takes over at his alma mater, where he played from 2005-09. A legend in the Army Hockey program, McKelvie was a part of the inaugural class inducted into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022. He remains the only Black Knight to earn All-Atlantic Hockey honors on multiple occasions.
Gotkin Entering Final Season at Mercyhurst
On March 10, Mercyhurst men's ice hockey head coach Rick Gotkin announced that he will retire following the 2025-26 season. Gotkin is the longest-tenured coach in college hockey, having racked up 611 career wins. In 37 seasons behind the bench in Erie, Pa., Gotkin has posted a winning record 26 times. He has coached a total of 1,273 games, accumulating 611 wins, 551 losses, and 111 ties, which yields a winning percentage of .524. He has won the AHA Coach of the Year award twice (2013-14 and 2017-18) and was the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2000-01. The 2025-26 season will be his 38th and final season.
Sacred Heart tops Preseason AHA Coaches' Poll
For a second consecutive season, Sacred Heart finished first in the coaches' poll as it received seven votes to land on top. Head coach C.J. Marottolo enters his 17th season at the helm of the Pioneers' program, a season after he collected his 200th win. Sacred Heart finished 2024-25 second in the conference's standings.
Stockfish Named Preseason AHA Player of the Year
Holy Cross junior Jack Stockfish was named AHA Preseason Player of the Year for the first time in his collegiate career. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound forward finished the 2024-25 season with 27 points (15G-12A) in 36 games. The North Bay, Ontario native's 15 goals were the second-most among Crusaders' skaters and in the top six among all AHA players. Stockfish was also named to the 2023-24 Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team after he recorded 25 points (9G-16A) in his freshman year. Since 2023-24, only one Crusader has netted more goals than Stockfish's 24 (Liam McLinksey, 43).
By the Numbers
.936 - Sacred Heart sophomore goaltender Ajeet Gundarah's .936 save percentage leads the nation (min. 25 GP).
11 - Canisius's class of 11 seniors is the second-largest in Division I.
22 - Air Force senior Chris Hedden has netted 22 goals, the most in the country among active skaters by a defenseman. Hedden's 52 assists and 74 points lead all active blueliners in the nation.
XXV - AHA official Kirsten Welsh will serve as a linesperson in the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
30 - Niagara senior forward Glebs Prohorenkovs starts his 2025-26 campaign with 30 goals, the most among active AHA skaters.
38 - Rick Gotkin enters his 38th and final season at the helm of Mercyhurst men's hockey. He has a career record of 611-551-111 since taking the reins in 1988.
74 - Holy Cross head coach Bill Riga begins 2025-26 with 74 wins at the Division I level. Riga needs one win to reach the 75-win milestone, and 26 to reach triple digits.
94 - Holy Cross returns scorers accountable for 94 goals last season, the fourth-most in Division I.
97 - Niagara head coach Jason Lammers was named an assistant coach for the United States Collegiate Select hockey team in the 2025 Spengler Cup, the 97th edition of the tournament.
296 - Robert Morris's Derek Schooley enters the season just four wins shy of 300 all-time.
About AHA
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) embarks on its second season in 2025-26 following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 10 Division I men's teams and seven women's teams. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.
Connect with AHA on X (@Atlantic_Hockey), Instagram (@atlantichockeyamerica) and Facebook (Atlantic Hockey America).
Watch AHA home games on FloHockey this season.