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2025-26 Roster |
2025-26 Schedule |
2025-26 Coaches |
2024-25 Statistics
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - We are 10 days away from the 2025-26 Williams College men's ice hockey team's season-opener.
The ride begins with a 7 p.m. matchup at Colby on Friday, Nov. 14, and then a 3 p.m. showdown against Bowdoin on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. The Ephs host their home-opener and senior-night festivities against Connecticut College on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. in Lansing Chapman Rink. The next day, the unit welcomes Tufts for a 3 p.m. game.
Excitement is through the roof for the new season.
"We are very excited for the upcoming season," said 36th-year head coach
Bill Kangas. "The seniors, led by our three captains,
David Vieten '26,
Trevor O'Brien '26 and
Liam Jones '26, have been amazing role models, especially for our nine first-years. The team's energy, focus and determination on the ice has been outstanding and we are looking forward to our first games on the road in Maine."
During the last 16 seasons, Kangas has guided the team to a 221-153-37 overall record and a 158-106-27 mark in the NESCAC, while making 11 appearances in the NESCAC semifinals and four trips to the conference championship game. Williams finished .500 or above overall and in the NESCAC for 13 straight seasons from 2008-22.
The unit finished 19-6-2 overall and 14-2-2 in the NESCAC, while advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16. The 2022-23 Ephs went to the NESCAC title game as the eighth seed. During that tremendous run, Williams upset top-seeded Wesleyan, 4-3, in the quarterfinals after trailing by three goals with 12 minutes remaining in the third period. During a 5-4 triumph at Plattsburgh State on Jan. 18, Kangas earned his 450th victory at Williams.
The Ephs play 24 total games during the 2025-26 season, including 18 NESCAC contests and 11 games in Lansing Chapman Rink. Williams competes against Little Three-rival Amherst on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. in Lansing Chapman Rink, and then travels to Amherst for a 3 p.m. showdown in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Feb. 21. The unit makes the journey to Wesleyan on Friday, Jan. 9, for a 7 p.m. start, and then hosts the Cardinals on Friday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m.
"All of us are itching for the season to start, especially now that we are back on the ice with the coaches at Lansing Chapman Rink," said Vieten. "It has been great battling against each other in practices so far, but there is nothing more exciting than taking that work and showcasing it against other teams in the NESCAC. We have had a great few weeks of lifts and field workout sessions with coach
Vic Brown and we are in a great spot fitness wise. This time of year is always super important for teaching our systems and making sure guys understand their jobs on the ice."
Beyond the three captains, the Ephs have 18 more returning student-athletes, featuring
Bobby Corkery '28,
Conner Fitzpatrick '26,
Jake McManus '28,
Grant Fuchsen '28,
Brady Welsch '27,
Rowan Heithoff '28,
Mason Chen '28,
Jared Lambright '26,
Connor Berg '26,
Ziv Deener-Chodirker '26,
Leo Schneeberg '28,
William Yee '28,
Nate Heithoff '27,
Mel Mortarelli '26,
Logan Valkama '27,
Michael Corrado '27,
Kael DePape '28 and
Harrison Fogel '27.
Vincent Caligiuri returns for his second season as an assistant coach.
"Our motto and slogan this year is 'family' and that speaks to the trust and support we have committed to one another this season, something that will be imperative to us having success as a group," said Vieten. "There has been a fire burning in us since we missed the playoffs last season and that motivation has been a driving force for us throughout the fall."
During the 2024-25 season, Fuchsen (2 goals, 10 assists, 12 points) was named to the NESCAC All-Conference Second Team, while McManus (7-11-18) was selected as the conference's Player of the Week on Feb. 3. The first years are
Chas Sabre,
Jack Kennedy,
Philippe Lalonde,
Wilson Farrow,
Jackson Krill,
Teddy MacAusland,
Ryan Kearney,
Gates Omicioli and
Simon Gaul.
"Our first years have been awesome so far and have integrated well with the returners," said Vieten. "They are a big group, so I am excited to see their positive impact on the team going forward. We have every piece to be successful this season and it is a matter of honing in on the details and playing a full 60 every game. Our goal is winning a NESCAC Championship. With that said, we know step one is to make the playoffs and that is what we are focused on. If we can earn points every weekend and chip away one game at a time, we should find ourselves in a favorable spot."
