Rochester, NY - On Tuesday, the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) released its men's hockey preseason poll. The Cougars are predicted to finish third, with 48 points, this season, following a strong campaign last year. They are picked to finish behind perennially ranked opponents in SUNY Geneseo and Utica University.
The Cougars finished the 2024-2025 regular season in fourth position after a sixth-place pre-season prediction. They also made a deep playoff run, advancing to the UCHC Semifinals.
The building excitement and expectations for the program can be attributed to a mix of veteran returners, such as 2025 UCHC Player of the Year Nick Cyprian, who is entering his senior season, and impact newcomers.
"It's an exciting time for our program. Bringing back the league MVP (Nick Cyprian) and adding the Number 1 Recruiting Class in the country gives us a great foundation. The guys have come in hungry, and we can't wait to see what this team can accomplish together," commented head hockey coach Michael Gershon.
In addition to Cyprain's lofty point totals, 14 goals and 34 points, in 27 games, the Cougars are returning junior Michael Roby and junior Nick Babbie, who finished 3rd and 5th, respectively, in total points last year. In total, the Cougars are returning 12 upperclassmen, who will be relied upon to push the program forward.
"Our returners have done a great job showing the younger players what it means to play at this level and represent Chatham the right way," Gershon said. "They've built a culture of hard work and accountability, and we are excited for the start of the season."
The Men's Hockey Team is expected to rely on its hard work and determination to build off last year's strong finish. Their depth will be tested early, but there is impact talent throughout the lineup.
"Every day in practice, guys are pushing each other. When you have that many players capable of stepping in and making an impact, it raises the standard for everyone," said Gershon.
The men's hockey team will kick off its season on the road, traveling to Buffalo, NY, on October 31st. They are slated to play against Hiram at 3 pm in the opening game of the Buffalo State tournament.
