Senior forward Neal Cudahy takes the ice during its season opener against West Chester Sept. 5. PHOTO: JOSEPH MANCINI ’28/THE HAWK
Currently sitting 10-2-0, the St. Joe’s men’s club ice hockey team is continuing a strong start to the 2025-26 season. The Hawks are sitting ranked No. 1 among the competition, according to an Oct. 9 Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Instagram post of the M2 Elite Power rankings.
The 10-game winning streak and high ranking is just the start of the season for the Hawks. Former player and head coach Dean Keeney ’16 said the team is using the ACC ranking as something to “build off of” to achieve its goal of making the American Collegiate Hockey Association national rankings.
Peter Boarman, senior defenseman and assistant president of the team, said it’s the first time in three years the team has ranked No. 1. Boarman said “continuing this momentum” will help prepare the team for one of its biggest games this season: the ACC Fall Showcase.
The key to the successful first half of the season is the team quickly settling into a “buy-in” mentality. Keeney emphasized playing the right way, even if the outcomes don’t occur right away during a game. Straying away from individually making plays and staying patient throughout games have helped secure wins.
“Sticking to that game plan of using your teammates and sticking to our forecheck, making sure we’re backchecking hard and helping out into the D-zone, and good things will come,” Keeney said. “You just got to stay a little patient.”
Throughout the years, camaraderie has been strong, and senior goalie and team president Cooper Tyson said continuing the strong bond has been helpful.
“Being close off the ice really does translate to success on the ice,” Tyson said. “[It] makes it easier for guys to find each other, makes the chemistry much better with the forward line.”
With the majority of the team being upper-level students, Boarman said the younger students have been able to commit to the intensity of the team and continue its tight knit bond.
“They’ve added to that, and they’ve all come in with open minds, playing their role that they’re given, and they want to win, too,” Boarman said. “That’s something that everyone wants to do is they want to win, and everyone’s bought in. It’s been really, really good for us.”
From team meetings to training twice a week at the Haverford Skatium, the team is intentional with its time together. Keeney agreed the strong camaraderie is helping the team progress.
“If somebody’s having a bad practice, it’s not necessarily me that has to push them to keep going,” Keeney said. “The teammates on the team will hold them accountable.”
The next big step for the Hawks is gearing up for the ACC Fall Showcase Nov. 14-16 in Springfield, Virginia. Having a good performance in the league games will help the team stay ahead of the competition. With over 20 teams competing, Boarman said a win will help boost confidence for the second half of the season.
Tyson said the team plans to continue “staying hot” as the season progresses.
“Every year, the team that ends up winning the championship goes on a hot streak, and right now, we’re on that hot streak, so we got to keep it going.”