2026-2027 men's ice hockey season preview

The Holy Cross men’s ice hockey team returns to the ice this weekend to begin its 2026-27 campaign. The team returns 18 letterwinners from last season - eight of which were a part of the Atlantic Hockey Championship run two years ago - and adds 12 newcomers to the mix.

SCHEDULE

The Crusaders will play a full 34-game regular season schedule, including ten non-conference games and 24 Atlantic Hockey games.

The team will open the 2026-27 regular season at home when they welcome Hockey East's Maine for a two-game set on Oct. 2 at the Hart Center Rink and Oct. 3 at the DCU Center for the Cross City Classic. A week later, the Crusaders will face the NCHC's Arizona State for the third time in program history when they travel to Tempe, Ariz. for a weekend set on Oct. 9 and 10.

The conference schedule begins with a two-game set at home against Army (Oct. 16-17). The Crusaders will then embark on back-to-back home-and-home sets with Sacred Heart (Oct. 23-24) and Bentley (Oct. 30-31). 

Holy Cross opens November with two games against local Hockey East opponents in Merrimack (away, Nov. 6) and Northeastern (home, Nov. 7), then moves back into conference play with a trip to Niagara (Nov. 13-14). The Crusaders will close November with a matchup at the ECAC's Quinnipiac (Nov. 21) and a home set against Air Force (Nov. 27-28).

The Crusaders will face three non-conference teams on the road in December in the ECAC's Cornell (Dec. 8), ECAC's Dartmouth (Dec. 15), and an exhibition against Hockey East's UMass Lowell (Dec. 28). The final non-conference for Holy Cross comes on Jan. 3 at home against Maryville.

Holy Cross will jump headfirst into conference play in January, hosting Niagara (Jan. 15-16) and Robert Morris (Jan. 29-30) for two each, and traveling to Canisius (Jan. 8-9) and RIT (Jan. 22-23).

To wrap up the conference regular season, the Crusaders will face Bentley for a home-and-home (Feb. 6-7), travel to Air Force (Feb. 12-13), and play a home-and-home against Sacred Heart (Feb. 26-27).

The Atlantic Hockey Tournament will begin on March 2 with the 7-10 seeds facing off in play-in matchups and culminate with the championship game on March 20.

LEADERSHIP

Senior defenseman Brody Gagno will serve as captain, while senior forward Ty Gagno, defenseman Will Elias, and junior forward Matt Kursonis will serve as alternate captains.

Brody Gagno, a native of Langley, British Columbia, played 37 games as a junior, recording a career-high ten points on two goals and eight assists. His 45 blocked shots ranked second on the team among returning players. Overall, Gagno brings 115 games of experience into next year's campaign.

Ty Gagno, also a native of Langley, British Columbia, has been a staple in the forward group, tallying 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists in 103 games played. His 40 blocked shots last season led all Crusaders forwards, and he recorded 182 faceoff wins.

Elias, a native of Weston, Mass., appeared in all 38 games last season, recording a career-high 18 points on two goals and 16 assists. The team's Most Improved award winner last season, Elias has suited up for 70 games over the past two seasons after playing in just one his freshman season.

Kursonis, a native of West Boylston, Mass., enters his junior season with 46 points on 16 goals and 30 assists in 57 career games played. Winning 198 faceoffs last season, Kursonis enters his third season at Holy Cross with a career .518 win percentage.

GOALTENDING

Senior Connor MacKenzie and sophomore Danick Leroux return for the second season with the Crusaders, and are joined by freshman Connor Towle.

Leroux started 22 games last season, finishing with a 12-9-1 record, 2.58 goals-against average, and .908 save percentage. Making his debut at then-no. 6 Maine, Leroux earned his first collegiate win against Niagara (11/8), and recorded two shutouts. Leroux was invited to the Tampa Bay Lighting Development Camp this June, and attended the New York Islanders camp heading into his freshman season.

MacKenzie, who also made his debut at then-no. 6 Maine, finished the season with a 5-4-1 record, 3.12 goals-against average, and .891 save percentage.

Towle, a native of Fairfield, Conn., played juniors for the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL), recording a 12-8-6 record, 2.65 goals-against average, and .914 save percentage.

FORWARDS

The Crusaders return ten forwards from last season, six of which ranked in the top-10 for points on the team last season.

Juniors Matt Kursonis and Noah Eyre return as the top scorers from last season.

Kursonis finished last season with 21 points on six goals and 15 assists, and led all returning centers on the team with 198 faceoff wins. Eyre, in his debut season with the Crusaders, recorded 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists.

DEFENSE

The Crusaders return seven defensemen from last season, including scoring leaders Will Elias, Owain Johnston, and Brody Gagno.

Elias is coming off a career year, posting highs in most categories including games played (38), points (18), and assists (16). Elias’ 39 blocked shots matched his career high and ranks fourth among returning players.

Johnston and Gagno recorded ten points each last season, while Johnston’s 53 blocked shots led the team and Gagno’s 45 ranks second among returners.

NEWCOMERS

The incoming class for the 2026-27 season includes nine freshmen and three transfers.

The nine additions on the forward line include three transfers, junior Jack Larrigan and sophomores A.J. Lacroix and Ben Riche, and freshmen Cooper Conway, Drew Dellasalla, Ryan Flaherty, Preston Lounsbury, Christian Maro, and Bode Sampair.

The two new defensemen this season are freshmen Daniel D’Alessandro and Jack Martin, while the lone goaltender is freshman Connor Towle.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossMHockey | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrossmhockey | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey | Holy Cross Athletics
YouTube - GoHolyCross