The men’s and women’s ice hockey teams were both ranked number one in their respective Preseason Coaches’ Polls.
Source: Jack Cavicchi, Senior Photo Editor and Assistant Sports Editor
Last season, the women’s team won the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) conference, defeating Long Island University 4-2 in the championship game.
“We got stronger as the season went along, ultimately playing our best hockey in March,” said women’s ice hockey head coach Thomas O’Malley.
O’Malley is entering his 23rd season at the helm and led the program to their first appearance in the NCAA tournament last season. Despite coming off a stellar season, O’Malley has made sure his team knows that they need to work to get back to the spot they were just in last season.
“It’s a new year, and it’s a new journey. Let’s make it our journey. Let’s make it our year,” said O’Malley.
The team has talent from across the country, including senior and co-captain Olivia LaRoche. The Minnesota native feels that a major part of the team’s success last year was the family culture that everyone shared.
“Playing for the person beside us in the locker room and for our graduating seniors too,” said LaRoche. “We all just kind of bought in.”
LaRoche, who led the team with 11 assists, believes the culture allows for everyone to embrace and support each other’s performances on the ice.
“It doesn’t matter who scores at the end of the day, we’re all happy for each other,” said LaRoche.
Junior forward Isabella Chaput, who led the Pioneer’s with 14 goals last season, said the team’s new year mentality is to get another ring and banner to the rink. However, the team isn’t letting themselves think too far ahead.
“We got to come out, play hard, play our game, and just take it day by day,” said Chaput. “Just get better every day, and it’ll all work out in the end for us.”
The women’s ice hockey team begins their season on Friday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The men’s ice hockey team did not find as much postseason success, as they fell to Bentley University in a three-game series during the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Semifinals.
“As good as the year was, we fell short, but our guys are fueled by that loss,” said head coach C.J. Marottolo. “They learned a lot about handling the momentum swings of a game.”
Despite this, the Pioneers were voted first in the 2025-26 preseason conference polls for the second consecutive season. “Stay the course. Focus on your next shift, not what happened on the last shift,” said Marottolo.
The team is trying to stay focused on themselves, taking things day by day, and not letting the outside noise impact their play or their mindsets. Marottolo believes that in order take the next step, the team has to connect with one another.
“Everybody on this roster has the same goal, and that is to bring an Atlantic Conference Championship here to Sacred Heart.”
The men’s ice hockey team kicks off their season with an away series at Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday Oct. 10 and Saturday Oct. 11.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article
