ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team is geared up for a successful 2025-26 season. The Dutchmen are slated to play in 25 games this winter, including 10 home contests at Hersheypark Arena.

Lebanon Valley earned five of its six victories during the 2024-25 campaign against Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opponents, a mark it will look to build upon this winter. Entering 2025-26, the Flying Dutchmen are ranked sixth out of eight teams with 17 points in the MAC Men's Ice Hockey Coaches' Preseason Poll. 

"The first thing that we're working on is creating a team culture that cultivates positivity, hard work, a competitive nature, and just being a good teammate," Head Coach Don Parsons said. "So far, I think the kids have all bought into that. The team, based on our meetings with the captains, has really gelled quickly, and it seems like they've become one unit. As of right now, everything's headed in the right direction."

Lebanon Valley's roster features 16 returners and 12 newcomers, including 11 first-years and a transfer student-athlete. Junior goaltender Jadon Lee and fifth-year right defenseman Jordan Stear, a pair of former All-MAC Honorable Mention selections, lead the list of returnees. Lee ranked fifth in the MAC with 29.00 saves per game and sixth in the conference with 435 saves, while recording a .904 save percentage last season. Stear recorded one goal and nine assists for 10 points, while blocking 18 shots on the defensive end last winter. Stear's total in assists ranked second on LVC. 

Another pivotal performer is senior left winger and center Cade Helmer, who led the program last season with 18 points, 13 assists, and two game-winning goals. He also ranked fourth on the team with five goals while winning 48 faceoffs and blocking four shots defensively. Lebanon Valley will look to senior right winger Reece McDonald as well, who is coming off a junior campaign in which he recorded three points with a goal and two assists while winning 95 faceoffs and blocking 21 shots on the defensive end. Sophomore left winger Max Kontir is another key returning contributor who recorded four points with two goals and two assists while winning 33 faceoffs and blocking 10 shots. 

Senior goaltender Chris Branch will return for the Flying Dutchmen this winter, following a year in which he ranked third in the MAC with 30.85 saves per game while recording 401 saves and a .905 save percentage. Additionally, LVC will look to sophomore left winger and center Cody Walker, a transfer from Albertus Magnus College, to make an impact this year. Last season with the Falcons, he tallied four points on one goal and three assists in 10 games. 

Lebanon Valley will open the season on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m., at SUNY Cortland in Cortland, N.Y. LVC will then face off against SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m., in Morrisville, N.Y. 

The Dutchmen open their MAC schedule on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., when the squad will travel to take on Neumann University for the first of two matchups that weekend in Aston, Pa. Lebanon Valley's home opener is set for Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., when the team will host Wilkes University for the first of two games at Hersheypark Arena. 

LVC's final home contest of the regular season is slated for Saturday, Feb. 14, at 4 p.m., against Stevenson University, the defending MAC Champions, for Senior Day at Hersheypark Arena. Before the game, the team will recognize McDonald, Branch, and Helmer, along with senior right winger and center Dylan Miller, senior center and left winger Lukas Washco, senior right winger Troy Andrews, and senior left winger Tanner Tolliver. Stear and fellow fifth-year student right defenseman Mason Proskin will be honored as well. The Flying Dutchmen will then close out the regular season at Alvernia University on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in Reading, Pa. LVC's full schedule can be found here. 

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