NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Season ticket information will be available soon for the 2026-27 Norwich University men's ice hockey season, as the Cadets have announced a schedule highlighted by a Division I exhibition against Dartmouth College during Homecoming Weekend, a full Little East Conference (LEC) title defense, and another winter of marquee matchups inside Kreitzberg Arena.

Norwich will open the year with one of the most anticipated exhibition games in program history, hosting NCAA Division I Dartmouth on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:00 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend.  The Big Green reached the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament last season, and their trip to Northfield will give the Cadets a rare opportunity to welcome a Division I opponent to Kreitzberg Arena.

The Cadets will also host Albertus Magnus College in an exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:00 p.m. during Parents & Family Weekend before officially opening the regular season against the University of New England on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:00 p.m.

Additional information on season ticket renewals, season ticket availability, pricing, and purchasing procedures will be announced later this summer.  Fans are encouraged to monitor norwichathletics.com and Norwich Athletics social media channels for updates as ticket information becomes available.

The 2026-27 campaign will mark Norwich's second season under Head Coach Dominick Dawes '04 after a memorable first year that saw the Cadets reestablish themselves on the conference and national stage.  Norwich finished the 2025-26 season at 19-6-4, captured both the inaugural LEC regular season and tournament championships, returned to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

The Cadets closed last season on a 9-1-3 stretch, defeated Babson College, 4-1, inside Kreitzberg Arena to claim the first LEC Tournament title, and rolled past Salve Regina University, 6-1, in the NCAA First Round.  Norwich's season came to a close in a 2-1 overtime setback at eventual national champion Hamilton College in the national quarterfinal round.

Norwich will begin regular-season play with a strong non-conference test, welcoming the University of New England to Kreitzberg Arena on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:00 p.m.  The Nor'easters finished last season nationally ranked and will provide the Cadets with an immediate challenge as the regular season gets underway.

The Cadets will then begin LEC action with a road weekend, traveling to Plymouth State University on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m., before visiting New England College on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4:00 p.m.

Norwich returns home the following weekend for its first LEC home series of the season, hosting Babson on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:00 p.m., and the University of Southern Maine on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4:00 p.m.  The Cadets will remain at Kreitzberg Arena the following weekend for matchups against UMass Dartmouth on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:00 p.m., and UMass Boston on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 4:00 p.m.

Thanksgiving weekend will send Norwich to the LayerEight Shootout, hosted by Plattsburgh State University.  The Cadets will face Middlebury College on Friday, Nov. 27, at 3:30 p.m., before meeting either host Plattsburgh State or Saint Michael's College on Saturday, Nov. 28, with the time to be determined.

Norwich will close the opening semester with one of its premier road matchups of the season, traveling to Utica University on Saturday, Dec. 5, for a 7:00 p.m. contest.  The Pioneers also reached the NCAA Tournament last season and have remained among the top national contenders in Division III.

After the holiday break, the Cadets will return to Kreitzberg Arena for the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament.  Norwich will host Alvernia University on Sunday, Jan. 1, at 7:00 p.m., before meeting either Trinity College or Skidmore College on Monday, Jan. 2, at 4:00 p.m.  The annual tournament will again bring a strong group of regional and national opponents to Northfield as the Cadets begin the second half of the season.

Norwich will continue non-conference play on Tuesday, Jan. 5, with a 7:00 p.m. road matchup at Middlebury, before hosting Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 7:00 p.m.

The Cadets will then continue the second half of LEC play when they travel to Keene State College on Friday, Jan. 15, at 7:00 p.m., and Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 4:00 p.m.

Norwich will host New England College on Friday, Jan. 22, at 7:00 p.m., and Plymouth State on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7:00 p.m., before closing January with road contests at UMass Boston on Friday, Jan. 29, at 7:00 p.m., and UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 4:00 p.m.

The final month of the regular season begins with a road weekend at Southern Maine and Babson.  Norwich will visit the Huskies on Friday, Feb. 5, at 7:00 p.m., before traveling to Babson on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 4:00 p.m.

The Cadets will close their regular-season home schedule with matchups against Western Connecticut on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:00 p.m., and Keene State on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 4:00 p.m.  Norwich will finish the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 19, traveling to VTSU Castleton for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.

Norwich enters the new season looking to build on a championship campaign that included several major individual honors.  Goaltender Sami Molu (Toronto, Ont.) was named LEC Goalie of the Year and LEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after backstopping the Cadets through their title run, while captain Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, Ont.) earned First Team All-LEC honors before becoming the 53rd All-American in program history.

Bertrand, who received AHCA Second Team All-American recognition, returns after anchoring the blue line during one of Norwich's strongest defensive seasons in recent years.  He helped the Cadets lead the LEC in scoring defense while also playing a key role in Norwich's conference championship and NCAA Tournament victories.

The Cadets also return several key pieces from last year's postseason run, including Molu in goal and a core that helped Norwich regain conference championship form, extend its season into the national quarterfinal round, and restore Kreitzberg Arena as one of Division III hockey's most energized postseason environments.

Season ticket information, including renewal timelines and purchasing details, will be announced soon.