SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The 2025-26 Skidmore College men's ice hockey season begins on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. at home against Wentworth Institute of Technology. Not only is it the home opener, but it will also serve as the program's Senior Day and the annual Skidmore tradition, Pack the Rink.
 
This season, the Thoroughbreds embark on a new era as an associate member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), joining New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) rival Hobart to bring the league up to 10 teams. The SUNYAC now emerges as one of the most competitive conferences in Division III.
 
ABOUT THE SUNYAC
Teams (final 2024-25 NPI Ranking):
Buffalo State (28), Canton (76), Cortland (14), Fredonia (73), Hobart (2), Morrisville (87), Oswego (16), Plattsburgh (35), Potsdam (70), Skidmore (37)
 
Championships:
Cortland: 1 (2024)
Fredonia: 3 (1994-95, 2007)
Oswego: 11 (1980-82, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2003, 2010, 2013-14, 2025)
Plattsburgh: 24 (1977-79, 1982-83, 1985, 1987-88, 1990, 1992-93, 1997-02, 2004, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2015, 2017, 2023)
Potsdam: 1 (1996)
 
2024-25 SUNYAC Championship Results:
#3 Buffalo State 6, #6 Canton 4
#4 Plattsburgh 5, #5 Potsdam 3
 
#4 Plattsburgh 4, #1 Cortland 3
#2 Oswego 5, #3 Buffalo State 2
 
#2 Oswego 5, #4 Plattsburgh 2
 
2025-26 Preseason Poll:
1. Hobart, 80
2. Oswego, 71
3. Plattsburgh, 69
4. Cortland, 55
5. Skidmore, 53
6. Buffalo State, 41
7. Canton, 32
8. Fredonia, 25
9. Potsdam, 16
10. Morrisville, 8
 
SUNYAC Sports Network
All Skidmore home and away conference games will be streamed on the SUNYAC Sports Network free of charge. The app is also available on iOS and Apple TV.   
 
THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
Skidmore has only one other non-league game at Albertus Magnus on Nov. 7 before SUNYAC play begins at No. 1 Hobart and No. 12 Oswego Nov. 14-15. The Thoroughbreds will host Cortland for their first home SUNYAC game on Friday, Nov. 21 and Morrisville a day later.
 
The Skidmore Thanksgiving Invitational is set for Nov. 29-30 with Alvernia, Tufts, and University of New England in town as the participants. Home highlights for after the New Year feature Plattsburgh (Jan. 10), Potsdam/Canton (Jan. 16-17), Oswego/Hobart (Jan. 23-24), and lastly Fredonia/Buffalo State (Feb. 6-7).
 
SUNYAC TOURNAMENT
The eight-team tournament will begin with quarterfinal matchups on Wednesday, Feb. 25 followed by the semifinals Saturday, Feb. 28 and the championship a week later on Saturday, March 7. All games will be hosted by the higher seed.
 
RETURNING
The Thoroughbreds welcome 17 names back to the roster for 2025-26. Of them, Coleman Jenkins (7-14—21) and Cooper Rice (9-9—18) bring in the most scoring prowess from a year ago. Joshua Seeley won 12 games in goal as a junior last season with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. All three of Skidmore's returning netminders saw action between the pipes in 2024-25.
 
INCOMING TALENT
There are 13 new skaters to the program, all first-years, consisting of four defensemen, eight forwards, and a goalie.
 
LEADERSHIP
Senior Oscar Worob has been selected captain, joining alternate captains Sam Saccone, Jacob Zwirecki, and Ryan Waltman.
 
FROM HEAD COACH ROB HUTCHISON '07
"Joining a new league brings fresh energy and opportunity, and we're embracing it with a young, ambitious team that's hungry to prove itself. Our focus is on steady improvement — pushing ourselves daily, trusting the process, and setting the foundation for long-term success."