ADRIAN, Mich. – The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) has unveiled their preseason coaches poll for the 2026-27 men's hockey season with Trine University selected to finish fourth in the tenth season of the program's existence.
The association's coaches voted for the poll with the high point total receiving the top spot. Coaches could not vote for their own team. The Thunder totaled 71 points in the poll to secure the fourth spot. St. Norbert College took the top spot, but just barely, with 92 points and four of the first-place votes. Adrian College was just behind with 90 points, also with four first-place votes. Aurora University secured the final two first-place votes to finish with 86 points in third.
Last season the Thunder finished the NCHA slate with a 12-4-2 record for 39 points and a third-place showing. For the second year in a row the team was within striking distance of the Peter's Cup, given to the NCHA's regular season champions, late in the season. This time the Bulldogs pulled away in the final weeks. The Green Knights took the Harris Cup and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Overall, Trine finished with an 18-8-2 record, tying for fourth most wins in a season for the program. It was the fifth straight season the Thunder reached the 18th win mark, the semifinals of the conference tournament and finished fourth or better in the NCHA standings. The team also spent a majority of the season ranked in one or both of the national polls.
A pair of NCHA award winners will return to lead the Thunder for the 2026-27 campaign. Brody Simko earned Co-Freshman of the Year honors and a place on the All-Freshman Team after a superb debut. He led the team with 34 points, 12 goals and 22 assists. Alexander Babich was named to All-NCHA after finishing second on the team with 32 points, sharing the lead with 12 goals and finishing second with 20 assists.
The tenth season of hockey at Trine University sees the schedule boast a full compliment of 25 games, along with a pair of exhibitions. They will host 11 games while traveling for 14 and the two exhibition contests. At least one game will be on neutral ice.
The Thunder open the year with an exhibition contest against Maryville (Mo.) University, who are making the transition from ACHA D1 to the top division of the NCAA. The team returns home for a long stretch of home contests spanning the month of November. They will host Bethel (Minn.) University for their home opening doubleheader before jumping into NCHA play with Lawrence University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering over the next two weeks.
The rest of the 2026 portion of the schedule is on the road, with the Thunder heading to Stevenson University, Aurora and Marian (Wis.) University over a three week stretch.
Trine opens 2027 at the Oswego State Hockey Classic. They open the weekend by facing Utica University on Saturday, January 2 before facing either the hosts from Oswego State or Hamilton University. The team continues the long stretch of road contests against Adrian on Thursday, January 7 and the United States National Team Development Program for an exhibition on Saturday, January 9.
The rest of the slate takes place in NCHA competition including home series against Concordia University Wisconsin and Lake Forest College, and road series against St. Norbert and the University of Dubuque. As always, the regular season ends with a home-and-home against the Bulldogs. Trine's home game comes on Friday, February 12 before heading to Adrian on Saturday, February 13.
