Hockey East Recap: November 2026 - and Some of December Too

Hey everyone! I know it’s a few days later than originally planned, but have no fear, we’re still rocking and rolling in the NCAA. December means we’re already halfway through the 2025-26 season—crazy, right?

With the end of the November slate, we’re back recapping everything that’s going on in Hockey East so far. And let me tell you, things have gotten pretty wild. Wanna know more? 

Lucky you! What you need to know is below. 

Featured Series: No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference square off, with more than six conference points on the line 

If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed that Northeastern has climbed their way back to the top of the Hockey East table. Through 12 games so far, the Huskies of Boston are now 11 points up on their cross-town foe Boston College in the standings, and have an impressive 11-1-0 record in conference play. Their lone loss, and one of just four overall this season, came in overtime against UNH on Dec. 2, so they still managed to secure a point as well. 

To close out the first half, the Huskies took on the aforementioned Eagles, playing a home-and-home series on Dec. 5 and 6. And you may be thinking, Emma, that’s not November and this is a November recap. What gives? 

Well, there was only one weekend of games throughout December, and the next game played isn’t until the 30th of the month, so we’re combining the last two months of the year into one. Let’s just roll with it, please. 

Anyway, what it boils down to is these two teams played a close, tough set against one another and delivered in entertainment value. 

Friday night at Conte Forum was highlighted by a hat trick performance from Husky forward Allie Lalonde. After a rock solid freshman season, the now-junior has struggled to find a consistent scoring touch, and had just two points in nine games before the first game of the weekend. 

Then came her three goals in one game, and while there is a sizable break until the Huskies next hit the ice, if Lalonde can use this as jump-off point for the second half it could be a bountiful January for her. 

Freshman Maxim Tremblay, who I’ll talk about more later, scored the lone goal in Friday’s contest for the Eagles. It was not the best performance for BC altogether, as they were outshot 40-18, held a very narrow margin in faceoff wins (23-22), and overall just couldn’t find any consistency in their game. 

Which was a bit of a flip the following day, as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead less than five minutes into the game, and were leading 2-1 heading into the second period. They also converted on one of their two power play chances in the contest, after Sammy Taber swung home the puck—yes swung, as if with a baseball bat—to find the back of the net in the final period of the opening frame. 

Grace Campbell was stellar for the Eagles, as she kept a pressuring Northeastern team at bay for much of the first half of the contest, even as the Huskies continued to bear down on her net. A heavy shot from freshman defender Ella Lloyd snuck by first, and then fellow freshman Stryker Zablocki had one of the nicest assists I’ve ever seen to put the puck in front for a Jaden Bogden tap in to tie the game back up. 

Following Bogden’s goal in the first five minutes of the second period, things calmed down marginally for both teams. 

I’m just kidding. The two sides then proceeded to jaw back and forth, and on two separate instances took matching roughing minors to put the game at four-on-four action. With no shortage of pleasantries exchanged on the way to the boxes either. 

In the third things were tight, and it honestly felt like a game destined for a tie, or at the very least overtime, to decide things out. But then, with just over two minutes remaining, Northeastern’s captain Lily Shannon fired the puck home to lift her team ahead with her 14th goal of the season. 

It was story book, honestly, considering the deeper meaning behind the goal for the Huskies: That last game of the semester was also the last game the team ever played in their home rink, Matthews Arena. After over 40 years of moments in the oldest multi-purpose arena in the U.S., the building shut down in the last few days as the university prepares to tear it down and rebuild a brand new state-of-the-art facility in her place. 

And there wasn’t a better closing memory for the old barn, as the captain lifted her team to glory in one final moment under the lights on St. Botolph. 

I’ll have more to say about Matthews at a later date, so instead let’s look at the larger scope of the weekend: A struggling BC power play was able to convert for just the seventh time all season, a welcome sign, especially considering how solid the Huskies are on the penalty kill. Campbell was again strong in net for the Eagles, though I’d maybe like to see her team limit shots against to open 2026 if possible, considering her 633 saves so far are 100 clear of the next highest mark in the conference. 

And finally, though they weren’t playing potentially at full strength or at their best, Northeastern once again looks dangerous to play against. It’ll be interesting to see how they match up against UConn in January, as well as how their second half goes without a ‘home’ rink to play in. But for now they’ve built a decent lead in the standings heading into the second half of the season, which helps regardless. 

Featured Team: Holy Cross Crusaders 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Holy Cross this month, especially considering what’s happened to them since the last time we chatted. To close out October, HC was 9th overall in Hockey East, had yet to win a conference game, and was overall struggling a bit.

Now, the team is 6-5-1 in conference play, has their most wins ever in their HEA era, and has even been receiving votes in the national polls. Their penalty kill is the best in the nation, and they’ve received top-notch goaltending from Abby Hornung for the majority of the year. 

And it’s not as though their schedule was easy by any shape of the word. Yes the opening weekend losses to UConn were tough, and Merrimack hasn’t been the best team overall this year, but a sweep of Vermont in Burlington, plus a five point weekend against UNH is nothing to rub noses at. For a program that has struggled heavily over the years, to see them putting it together to start 2025-26 has been great, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the season takes them. 

Monthly Awards: 

As a reminder, the awards in this piece are different from the ones handed out by the conference. If you want to see those players, check out the link here. For now though, let’s look at some names I wanted to talk about. 

Player of the Month: Lane Lewis, F, Holy Cross 

One of the main reasons for the Crusaders success mentioned above is the senior forward Lewis. Across 12 games, Lewis registered nine points in the month of November/beginning of December, and had game winning goals in two contests, including in a 2-1 victory over Merrimack to secure the weekend sweep. Additionally, all five of Lewis’ blocks this season came throughout the course of the month, and her play overall helped lead the team to a 7-4-1 record through the last six weeks. The forward also played the 100th game of her career, a 3-1 win over Maine on the 15th. 

Goaltender of the Month: Lisa Jönsson, Northeastern

In the conference’s monthly release, it was three other Huskies who (deservingly) got their time in the sun. But netminder Jönsson was just as integral to the continued success of Northeastern throughout the last few weeks as anyone else. The sophomore posted two shutouts in November, allowed just 15 goals to a tune of a .932 save percentage, and won nine of her 10 starts. Her numbers may not be perfect, but Jönsson was pretty darn good throughout the last six weeks, which is reflected in the team’s overall success.

Defender of the Month: Aurora Kahlert, D, New Hampshire

In 11 games between Nov. 1st and Dec. 6th, Aurora Kahlert had seven assists for UNH, bringing her season total to eight which is tied for third most on the Wildcats overall. 

In the nine games before Nov. 1st, the freshman had two goals and one assist total. Now she’s up to 10 total points, while also being an integral part of the blue line’s success for UNH to close out the fall semester. Along with her point production, Kahlert had 11 blocks this month, and 28 shots on goal. Her 67 total shots are the highest of any defender in the conference, and that number is only going to get higher the further she settles into her game moving forward. Having her on the back end for the Wildcats is exciting, and the second half of their season should also be exciting, especially with her in their lineup. After being named Defender of the Month by the conference last month, Kahlert had an even better month in November, and that deserves to be recognized too.

Rookie of the Month: Maxim Tremblay, F, Boston College 

When you can run an eight game point-streak out in your first semester in the NCAA, you’ve gotta do it. Which is exactly what Tremblay did throughout November, as the forward put up five goals and nine points between Nov. 7th and Dec. 5th to end her 2025 calendar year. Now up to 11 points on the season, Tremblay is seventh in HEA rookie scoring overall, and her 149 total faceoff wins is the highest mark for any first year thus far. Ava Thomas may have been getting a lot of attention to start the year in Chestnut Hill, but Tremblay is also rocking along for the Eagles and deserves to be recognized for that, too. 

Memorable Moments: 

Abby Hornung made a season-high 41 saves for Holy Cross, helping the team to a 3-1 win over the Black Bears. 

BU freshman Lexie Bertelsen recorded her first career multi-point game thanks to two assists against Boston College on Nov. 14.

Maine netminder Kiia Lahtinen has started 18 of 19 games for the Black Bears thus far this season, including a 16-game streak in which she started every game. 

Rookie Stryker Zablocki scored the first hat trick for a Northeastern first year since Kendall Coyne in 2011-12 to help lift the Huskies to a win over Merrimack. Then, a week later, UConn forward Julia Pellerin recorded a hat trick against Vermont to help sweep the Catamounts, totaling seven shots on goal in a 4-0 win. 

Clara Yuhn had a solid weekend for BU against Providence in the middle of the month, scoring the game winning goal Friday before assisting on the late game-tying goal on Saturday as well. The points extended her point streak at the time to five games.

In the annual Nutmeg Classic, goaltender Tia Chan made 40 saves in each game for UConn, as the team took down then-No. 9 Quinnipiac along with Yale to secure the trophy at home. 

Vermont’s Julia Mesplède scored two goals against then-No. 5 Cornell to help lead the Catamounts to their first win against a top-five opponent since 2021-22. The senior added a third goal the following day, and was named co-player of the week for her performance. Teammate Lauren O’Hara had a single-game career high three points in said win. 

Junior netminder Noemi Martinez made 30 saves against No. 11 Brown to close out November, leading UNH to their first win on the road against a ranked opponent since January of 2023. 

Northeastern ended Penn State’s win streak with a home win on Nov. 28, thanks to 34 saves from Lisa Jönsson and a game-winning goal from Lily Shannon. The Nittany Lions before the game were the only undefeated team remaining in the nation, and that ended at Matthews Arena thanks to the Huskies. Alessia Baechler scored her first career goal in the win as well. 

Then turning right around the Wildcats walked into Matthews and became the only team to beat Northeastern at home all season thanks to a come-from-behind 4-3 OT win on Dec. 2. Kelly Harty scored the game winner with two minutes remaining in extra time to take down the Huskies—their first loss in conference play in 2025-26. 

Looking forward: A nice few weeks off

The next game for any of our teams is on Dec. 30, so we’ll take a look at some of the highlighted games for January later in the month. For now, the break comes at an opportune time for a lot of the programs in the conference, and allows for some extended rest as we gear up for the second half of the year. 

Standings Update (Through Dec. 7): 

1. Northeastern — 34 points (11-1-0 record) 

1. 15-4-0 overall record 
2. Last Month: 2nd 

2. Boston College — 23 points (7-4-1 record) 

1. 9-9-1 overall record 
2. Last Month: 1st 

3. Holy Cross — 21 points (6-5-1 record) 

1. 14-6-1 overall record 
2. Last Month: 9th

T4. UConn — 18 points (6-1-1 record) 

1. 13-3-2 overall record 
2. Last Month: 4th

T4. UNH — 18 points (5-5-2 record) 

1. 9-8-3 overall record 
2. Last Month: 3rd

6. Boston University — 16 points (4-6-2 record) 

1. 4-11-2 overall record 
2. Last Month: 7th

7. Providence — 13 points (4-4-2 record) 

1. 7-10-2 overall record 
2. Last Month: T5th

8. Maine — 11 points (3-5-2 record) 

1. 6-11-2 overall record 
2. Last Month: 8th 

9. Vermont — 7 points (2-7-1 record) 

1. 6-12-2 overall record 
2. Last Month: T5th

10. Merrimack — 1 point (0-10-0 record) 

1. 3-14-1 overall record 
2. Last Month: 10th