The region’s best teams in Division 3 reside in the Conference of New England.
At least, that’s the current reality as seasons pass their midpoints and the weekend series continue to grow in importance. Curry, Endicott and the University of New England have all impressed.
Holiday tournaments are in the rearview mirror and it’s conference play from here on in the CNE, NESCAC, NEHC and MASCAC, with an eye on tournaments starting in late February.
Which teams make our latest New England Top 10? Here we go.
1. CURRY
Record: 12-3 (6-2 CNE) | Preseason ranking: No. 2 | Next game: Friday vs. Nichols (7 p.m.)
The Colonels are getting it done at both ends of the ice. They rank sixth nationally in scoring (4.07 goals) and third in scoring defense behind outstanding sophomore goalie Shane Soderwall (1.55 GAA, .944 save percentage). They also have a friendly schedule well into February.
2. TRINITY
Record: 8-3-1 (4-1-1 NESCAC) | Preseason ranking: No. 1 | Next game: Friday vs. Bowdoin (7:30 p.m.)
The Bantams made one of the league’s tougher road trips look easy, winning at Middlebury (4-2) and at Williams (6-2) over the weekend. Junior forward Spencer Korona (Enfield, Conn.) is enjoying a breakout season, leading the NESCAC in assists (16) and points (18).
3. ENDICOTT
Record: 10-4 (7-1 CNE) | Preseason ranking: No. 3 | Next game: Tuesday at Wesleyan (7 p.m.)
The Gulls did not play over the weekend but that’s not the only reason you’d call them a sleeping giant. They began the new year by tearing through the NESCAC, including a 6-1 win at Amherst where senior goalie Atticus Kelly surpassed 1,000 saves for his career.
4. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Record: 9-5-1 (5-3 CNE) | Preseason ranking: No. 4 | Next game: Friday vs. Suffolk (7 p.m.)
The Nor’easters started 2025 out by winning the Comfort Inn Winter Classic at Plattsburgh, beating the hosts in the final Sunday, 4-2. Tourney MVP Drew Olivieri (Swampscott, Mass.) scored three goals on the weekend, and has teamed with players like sophomore classmate Dominic Murphy (Worcester, Mass.) to lead one of Division 3’s most potent attacks.
5. BABSON
Record: 9-5-1 (7-3 NEHC) | Preseason ranking: No. 5 | Next game: Friday at Albertus Magnus (5 p.m.)
The Beavers climbed into second place in the league by sweeping aside Castleton over the weekend, and have won five straight since the 7-0 loss to Amherst on Dec. 1 that now looks like an aberration. Leading scorer Wyatt George (7-6-13) opened the weekend with a goal and the results were 4-1 and 7-5 victories.
6. COLBY
Record: 9-3-1 (4-3 NESCAC) | Preseason ranking: NR | Next game: Friday at Wesleyan
After finishing eighth in the league a year ago, the Mules have solidly positioned themselves for a top-four finish. They’re sharing the wealth on offense – 10 players have at least seven points – and averaging 3.8 goals a game, with senior Jake MacDonald (Cumberland, Maine) scoring the winner in Friday’s 3-2 win over Amherst.
7. PLYMOUTH STATE
Record: 10-4 (7-0 MASCAC) | Preseason ranking: No. 6 | Next game: Thursday at Worcester State (7:30 p.m.)
Where there's a Will there's a way. Junior forward Will Redick has found his scoring groove again. He’s one of just two players in the nation with double-digits in both goals and assists, and sophomore Will Pray’s goal in OT to beat Fitchburg State, 3-2, on Saturday kept the Panthers perfect in conference play.
8. SALVE REGINA
Record: 8-4-3 (6-4 NEHC) | Preseason ranking: No. 9 | Next game: Friday at Southern Maine (7 p.m.)
The Seahawks had to work at it to get the sweep against New England College over the weekend, but they did and now have lost just one game since November. Walter Baumann’s overtime slapper capped a come-from-behind, 5-4 win over NEC on Saturday.
9. NORWICH
Record: 6-4-3 (5-1-2 NEHC) | Preseason ranking: No. 7 | Next game: Friday vs. Castleton (7 p.m.)
The Cadets were stifling defensively in a weekend sweep of UMass Boston (3-2 and 3-1), and have set themselves up well in the NEHC with the schedule about to stiffen. After a pair with Castleton this weekend, they close the regular season with series against Hobart, Babson, Salve Regina, Elmira and Skidmore – all of which are at .500 or better in league play.
10. CONN. COLLEGE
Record: 6-4-1 (4-2 NESCAC) | Preseason ranking: NR | Next game: Tuesday at Manhattanville (7 p.m.)
The Camels were idle over the weekend but still own third place in the NESCAC. If the opening night win over Trinity caught fans’ attention, what's followed has been consistent, if not spectacular. No player on the roster has scored more than three goals.
@MikeZhe603
mzhe@hockeyjournal.com
