DUDLEY, Mass. (10/30/2025) - The Nichols College men's ice hockey team returns to the Levy Rink as they welcome a mix of fresh talent and returning student-athletes, gearing up for a demanding non-conference slate and Conference of New England (CNE) play this 2025-26 season. The Bison will look to make the playoffs again following last year's 9-13-4 (5-9-4 CNE) campaign, when they qualified for postseason play but were knocked out in the first round.
This season marks the fourth for Bison head coach
Alex Gacek. Last year, Gacek coached two of his student-athletes to All-Conference honors and guided the Bison to the fourth-best power play (15.6%) and penalty kill (84.8%) in the CNE.
Gacek's coaching staff for the 2025 season includes:
- Liam Barnicle – Barnicle returns for his second year on the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. He and Gacek previously worked together at Saint Anselm College before reuniting on The Hill. A talented young coach, Barnicle continues to take on more responsibility each year. This season, he will oversee the team's defense, penalty kill, recruiting, and video operations.
- Dylan Knox – Knox joins the program with several years of coaching experience and comes highly recommended by respected peers in the hockey community. His impact has already been felt within the program through his contagious energy and passion for player development. This season, Knox will oversee the team's goaltending, pre-game scouting, assist with the forwards, and contribute to recruiting.
"We lost a lot of players who logged key minutes last season, so it'll be exciting to see who steps up and takes on those leadership roles," coach Gacek stated when asked about the upcoming season. "This group has really been gelling off the ice, and I can't wait to see that chemistry translate onto the ice."
The Bison will be captained by senior defenseman
Brendan Schmidt, who will look to build off his strong performances from last season. Assisting Schmidt are forwards
Aaron Hamel,
Zach Vandale, and
Rocco Bianculli, who combined for 27 points last season.
CJ Zezima and
Luca Ricci, who each tallied 11 points, will also be key contributors for the Bison.
Nichols returns three goaltenders, junior
Nick Anderson, sophomore
Michael Del Trecco, and sophomore
Liam Choquette, and welcomes freshman
Ryan Henry, with all four expected to compete for time between the pipes.
The Bison will kick off their season on Friday, October 31, when they compete in the first round of the WooCup against Anna Maria College in Worcester. Their first Conference of New England matchup will be at home against Roger Williams University on November 8.
For updates throughout the season for the Bison, follow @ncbison on X and Instagram.
