HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College men's ice hockey team officially announced their schedule for the 2026-2027 season on Thursday, marking the Pilgrims' second year in the Little East Conference (LEC). 

NEC will host two preseason scrimmages to tune-up for the regular season; the first comes on Saturday, October 17th against Division-II opponent, Saint Michael's, while the second pits the 'Grims against intra-state rival, Rivier, on Saturday, October 24th.  

The Pilgrims kick off the regular season on the road, heading to Fitchburg State on Friday, October 30th at 6:00 PM. The following Friday, November 6th, the team jumps directly into conference play, hosting VTSU-Castleton in their home opener at 7:00 PM, followed by Norwich who comes to town on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 PM. 

The team then plays six consecutive road games, including four LEC contests leading into the Thanksgiving break. The month wraps up with a pair of non-conference games against NESCAC opponents, Colby and Bowdoin. The calendar year wraps up with three home non-conference games in the month of December against Nichols, Fitchburg State, and Nazareth. 

Nearby Saint Anselm comes to Henniker on Saturday, January 2nd for one final non-conference game before the remainder of LEC play resumes the following weekend. The final six weeks of the season will consist of 12 conference games, starting home on Friday, January 8th against Southern Maine, and Saturday, January 9th, against Babson. 

The 'Grims travel to Norwich and VTSU-Castleton on January 22nd and 23rd, before hosting Keene State, WestConn, UMass-Dartmouth, and UMass-Boston over the following two weekends.  

The team plays a home-and-home against their LEC travel partner, Plymouth State, on Friday, February 12th, and Saturday, February 13th, with the Panthers coming to town on Saturday at 4:00 PM. The regular season wraps up at Babson on Friday, February 19th, and Southern Maine on Saturday, February 20th. 

The first round of the LEC tournament will start on Wednesday, February 24th, while the semifinals will take place on Saturday, February 27th, followed by the LEC championship on Saturday, March 6th.   

The Pilgrims full schedule can be found here. 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.