2025-2026 Little East

[MilkUniversity]

Another weekend of LEC hockey down with a month of conference action left.

Babson gets two wins at home to hold on to 1st (with the tie breaker against Norwich). Friday, Babson controlled the ice for a 7-2 win over West Conn, before following it up with a 3-1 win over Keene. The Beaver’s now have 4 wins in a row and head to a one game weekend against USM.

Norwich comes out of a NH roadtrip to keep level for the top spot. At NEC, Norwich comes away with a 6-4 win as offense comes out on top over a punchy NEC. squad. Saturday, Norwich plays Plymouth for the 2nd time and runs into a determined Panther team. Plymouth controls the ice early, but Norwich levels the score 3-3 in the 2nd before both teams are deadlocked until Norwich gets a SO W. Big win for Norwich but the Cadets still drop a crucial point.

USM stays in the fight with another solid showing. Against Keene, the Owls led through the 1st until USM exploded for a 4 goal period to lead at the end of the 2nd. Keene came back to force an OT, where USM eventually seals the win after a strong offensive game. Saturday, USM takes a 3-0 win against West Conn to stay a couple points behind the 1-seed.

Castleton’s momentum gets held up at Plymouth, but the Spartans recover against NEC. Castleton and Plymouth go back and forth scoring, with Castleton going 3 for 6 on the PP to push for an OT. In OT, Plymouth pulls off the 5-4 win to give the visitors a loss to start the weekend. At NEC, Castleton scores 3 in the 1st snd shuts out NEC after getting outshot 43-20, recovering to hold on to 4th.

In a battle of the UMass schools, UMB and UMD went head to head in a home-and-away weekend. The former MASCAC Corsairs capitalized on PP chances to score against a UMB squad that had more shots both night. UMD comes out with two big wins to near the middle of the standings, with UMB on the losing end.

 

[KrbFlint]

Another weekend of LEC hockey down with a month of conference action left.

Babson gets two wins at home to hold on to 1st (with the tie breaker against Norwich). Friday, Babson controlled the ice for a 7-2 win over West Conn, before following it up with a 3-1 win over Keene. The Beaver’s now have 4 wins in a row and head to a one game weekend against USM.

Norwich comes out of a NH roadtrip to keep level for the top spot. At NEC, Norwich comes away with a 6-4 win as offense comes out on top over a punchy NEC. squad. Saturday, Norwich plays Plymouth for the 2nd time and runs into a determined Panther team. Plymouth controls the ice early, but Norwich levels the score 3-3 in the 2nd before both teams are deadlocked until Norwich gets a SO W. Big win for Norwich but the Cadets still drop a crucial point.

USM stays in the fight with another solid showing. Against Keene, the Owls led through the 1st until USM exploded for a 4 goal period to lead at the end of the 2nd. Keene came back to force an OT, where USM eventually seals the win after a strong offensive game. Saturday, USM takes a 3-0 win against West Conn to stay a couple points behind the 1-seed.

Castleton’s momentum gets held up at Plymouth, but the Spartans recover against NEC. Castleton and Plymouth go back and forth scoring, with Castleton going 3 for 6 on the PP to push for an OT. In OT, Plymouth pulls off the 5-4 win to give the visitors a loss to start the weekend. At NEC, Castleton scores 3 in the 1st snd shuts out NEC after getting outshot 43-20, recovering to hold on to 4th.

In a battle of the UMass schools, UMB and UMD went head to head in a home-and-away weekend. The former MASCAC Corsairs capitalized on PP chances to score against a UMB squad that had more shots both night. UMD comes out with two big wins to near the middle of the standings, with UMB on the losing end.

I thought Plymouth looked much better/more cohesive Saturday night against Norwich. It certainly appeared that they were playing good, unselfish hockey. Without Sami Molu suddenly remembering how good he is late, they walk away with a win. They'll be a tough draw in the LEC tourney, especially if they maneuver their way into a home game.

 

[MilkUniversity]

I thought Plymouth looked much better/more cohesive Saturday night against Norwich. It certainly appeared that they were playing good, unselfish hockey. Without Sami Molu suddenly remembering how good he is late, they walk away with a win. They'll be a tough draw in the LEC tourney, especially if they maneuver their way into a home game.

It was definitely an improvement over last week (and Friday). Didn’t make it to the Castleton game, but the only reason it went to OT was Plymouth played sloppy and Castleton seemed to get under their skin. Plymouth got called for too many men early and a major off a face mask call. Should’ve been a much simpler win, so hoping that was the wake up call we needed.

Am happy to at least get a point off Norwich. Plymouth played up from the back well and interrupted Norwich’s rythm early on to keep them on their heels. Was a much closer game than I was expecting, and if we can keep playing like that then hopefully we pull something off in the playoffs. Will say, we can’t take a penalty shot if our lives depended on it. Reddick had a chance in OT and bottled it, and we didn’t have any great looks in the shootout. Don’t see chances like that to often, but think I can guess what practice will focus on this week.

 

[KrbFlint]

It was definitely an improvement over last week (and Friday). Didn’t make it to the Castleton game, but the only reason it went to OT was Plymouth played sloppy and Castleton seemed to get under their skin. Plymouth got called for too many men early and a major off a face mask call. Should’ve been a much simpler win, so hoping that was the wake up call we needed.

Am happy to at least get a point off Norwich. Plymouth played up from the back well and interrupted Norwich’s rythm early on to keep them on their heels. Was a much closer game than I was expecting, and if we can keep playing like that then hopefully we pull something off in the playoffs. Will say, we can’t take a penalty shot if our lives depended on it. Reddick had a chance in OT and bottled it, and we didn’t have any great looks in the shootout. Don’t see chances like that to often, but think I can guess what practice will focus on this week.

I feel your pain. It seems like Norwich can never finish on a breakaway.

 

[Irish Eamon]

Looks like the LEC is going to come down to Norwich and Babson. The Norwich goalie between the pipes against Plymouth was outstanding. UMB got swept by UMD? Great job by the Corsairs, but really UMB? USM continues to win but something is just not there to be a favorite, still in the conversation though. Castleton is a dark horse. Played well in Plymouth and beat NEC for a three point weekend. Plymouth doesn’t; have goaltending, discipline, heart, etc.., but they do have talent. Could they piece together three wins to win the LEC? Playoff picture starting to come together.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Still 7-8 conference games left for most teams so plenty could still shift around, but I would agree that it does appear that Babson and Norwich have positioned themselves as the co-favorites and in good spots to lock up the top two seeds.

Unfortunately, unless someone gets really hot and then loses in the Little East final, the LEC definitely appears to be trending to be a one-bid league. Babson probably has the best shot an at-large bid (13th in latest NPI), but even that is a pretty big long shot, especially with a weak SOS right now.

Plymouth seems to be the wild card that could lose in the quarterfinals 4-0 or go off and win the whole thing depending on which team shows up and how disciplined they are. Certainly a team I'm not going to be begging to play, especially if they can clean up the penalties.

One thing is for sure, the LEC tournament should be a real dandy as anyone in the top eight can play and beat anyone. Even New England College, 8th place currently has beaten Babson and Plymouth State.

Castleton has put together a nice last month with a 6-2 record.

Excited to see how it all plays out.