Newtown, Pa. (Men's Ice Hockey) - The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) coaches have released their preseason poll ahead of the 2026-27 men's ice hockey season, and defending champion Neumann is the unanimous favorite to repeat.
Neumann claimed all eight possible first-place votes and totaled 64 points to top the preseason poll. The Knights enter the season looking to defend the first MAC championship in program history, won last March on an overtime goal against Stevenson.
Stevenson was picked second with 55 points, followed by Alvernia in third with 50 points. Wilkes rounds out the top four at 42 points, with Arcadia fifth at 33.
The full preseason order: Neumann (64 points, 8 first-place votes), Stevenson (55), Alvernia (50), Wilkes (42), Arcadia (33), Lebanon Valley (30), King's (24), Misericordia (18) and Albright (8).
Neumann earned the No. 1 seed in the 2026 MAC Championship as the regular-season champion, going 14-5-2 in conference play for 46 points. Stevenson took the No. 2 seed at 14-6-1, Wilkes the No. 3 seed at 12-7-2, and Alvernia the No. 4 seed at 13-8-0 with 38 points.
2026-27 Season Preview
Neumann enters the season as the clear favorite after the most successful year in program history. The Knights were the preseason pick a year ago and delivered, winning the regular-season title and then the tournament, and they return a young core that earned plenty of recognition. Goaltender Christian Green, the 2025-26 MAC Rookie of the Year and a First Team selection as a first-year, heads into his sophomore season after stopping 21 shots in the championship win. Sophomore-turned-junior forward Lucas Culhane returns after earning First Team honors, along with Second Team picks Max Donohoe, a forward who scored in the title game, and defenseman Sonny DiNubile, both heading into their junior seasons.
Stevenson sits second after reaching the championship game for the second time in two years of the tournament, and the Mustangs were the inaugural 2025 MAC champions. They will have to reload. The three First Team players on the 2025-26 roster, Offensive Player of the Year John Musella, Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Jack Karlsson, and forward Blake Benson, were all seniors. Head coach Matt Bruneteau, the 2025-26 MAC Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm, returns to lead the rebuild.
Alvernia moved up to third in the poll behind two first-year All-MAC selections who will be sophomores this year, forward Anthony Piccininno and goaltender Connor Graham, both Second Team picks. The Golden Wolves reached the 2026 semifinals as the No. 4 seed. Wilkes is picked fourth, and returns First Team defenseman Nate Terski, a junior-turned-senior. The Colonels will need to replace a senior group that included Second Team forward Christian Blomquist and Honorable Mention forwards Matt Carlson, Jack Lee and Cam Lowe.
Arcadia is picked fifth and brings back Second Team first-year defenseman Grant Burback, now a sophomore. Further down the poll, Lebanon Valley, King's and Misericordia will be looking to climb. Lebanon Valley loses Second Team defenseman Mason Proskin and Honorable Mention goalie Chris Branch, while King's returns Honorable Mention forward Thomas Soucy, a sophomore-turned-junior.
Albright is the newest face in the poll. The Lions are a brand-new men's ice hockey program, and their arrival expands the MAC field to nine teams for 2026-27.
2025-26 Championship Notes
Neumann hosted the 2026 MAC Championship as the No. 1 seed and beat Alvernia 5-0 in the semifinals, while No. 2 Stevenson topped Wilkes 6-2 to reach the final. In the title game on March 7, Neumann jumped out to a 3-0 lead on goals from Matt Dimaline, Max Donohoe on the power play, and Jake Barkley. Stevenson answered with three goals in the second period, including two in a 16-second span, and went ahead 4-3 in the third before Dustin Patterson tied it with 3:46 left in regulation. Zack Smith scored the winner 10:44 into overtime for a 5-4 Neumann victory and was named tournament MVP. Christian Green made 21 saves, including two in overtime. Neumann finished 17-8-2 and Stevenson 16-10-1.
The title was Neumann's first MAC championship and its first conference championship since the 2012-13 ECAC West title. It also earned the Knights their first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2010-11 season.
2026-27 Schedule
- Season opener: October 30, 2026
- Conference play begins: November 6, 2026
- Postseason format: The top five teams in the MAC standings will qualify for the conference tournament
- Play-In Game (No. 4 vs. No. 5): February 23, 2027
- Semifinals: February 27, 2027
- Championship: March 6, 2027