CNE Release
Beverly, Mass. (1/5/2026) – The Nichols men's ice hockey team started the new year strongly, sweeping the Conference of New England weekly awards for January 5th. Sophomore defenseman Luca Ricci takes home the Player of the Week award, while freshman goaltender Ryan Henry received the Goalie & Rookie of the Week award. Ricci and Henry were vital in the Bison's efforts over the past weekend in the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational, where the team returned as champions after defeating SUNY Potsdam 3-1 in the first round before beating Connecticut College 5-1 in the championship game on Sunday.
Montreal, Quebec native Ricci finished the tournament with 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points, 6 blocked shots, and +3 in the two games to help the Bison go 2-0-0 on the weekend. In Saturday's game at the Warrior Ice Arena against SUNY Potsdam, Ricci recorded an assist, 2 blocked shots, and went +2 on the night in the 3-1 win for the Bison. In Sunday's championship game against Connecticut College, Ricci scored one unassisted goal and 2 assists for 3 points in the 5-1 win. He also recorded 4 blocked shots and went +1 on the day.
Henry backstopped the Bison in the 2026 Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational, where the team returned as champions behind his 1.00 GAA and .974 save performance through two games, totaling 75 saves.
In Saturday's game, Henry made 30 saves on 31 shots for a 1.00 GAA and a .968 save percentage in the 3-1 win. In the championship game, Henry recorded 45 saves and a 1.00 GAA for a .978 save percentage to win the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational. For his efforts, Henry was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
This was the first time the men's ice hockey program won the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational since 2023, when they beat Rivier University 4-2 to advance and won against SUNY Brockport 5-2 in the championship game.
The men's ice hockey team returns to action on Friday, January 9th at 6:30 PM, when they travel to Wentworth Institute of Technology for a Conference of New England matchup.
