WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross head women's ice hockey coach Katie Lachapelle has been selected as one of seven finalists for the 2026 CCM / AHCA University Division Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award, as announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Lachapelle was named the 2026 Hockey East Coach of the Year after leading Holy Cross to the Hockey East semifinals for the first time in program history, with the Crusaders posting an overall record of 19-13-3 and a 10-11-3 mark in Hockey East play. This year's squad broke the school records for the most Hockey East victories (10) and most Hockey East points (37) in a single season, while its 19 overall wins are tied for the fifth-most in program history. 

Lachapelle's team spent four weeks ranked in the USCHO national poll from Jan. 19-Feb. 9, reaching a high of No. 13 in the Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 rankings. This marked the first time any Crusader women's program had ever been nationally ranked at the Division I level. In addition, Holy Cross finished the year eighth in the country in scoring defense, with a team goals against average of 1.84.

The winner of the 2026 CCM / AHCA University Division Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award will be announced on March 19.

2026 CCM / AHCA Women's Ice Hockey University Division Coach of the Year Finalists 
Mark Bolding, Yale 
Dave Flint, Northeastern
Mark Johnson, Wisconsin 
Jeff Kampersal, Penn State 
Katie Lachapelle, Holy Cross 
Nadine Muzerall, Ohio State 
David Stockdale, Franklin Pierce

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