CLINTON, N.Y. – Just over six months after winning the program's first national championship, members of the 2025-26 Hamilton College Men's Hockey team gathered once again to commemorate their historic accomplishment.
The celebration was held as part of Homecoming Weekend and featured two special ceremonies: The unveiling of the team's national championship banner inside Russell Sage Rink, and a championship ring ceremony at Steuben Field during halftime of the football game against Wesleyan University.
Hamilton captured the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Championship on March 29 with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Hobart College inside a sold-out Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Curtiss Sturgeon '29 scored the winning goal with 3:16 remaining in the first sudden-victory overtime period with assists from
Zach Walsh '29 and
Luke Tchor '27. Goaltender
Aksel Reid '27 was named the NCAA Championship Most Valuable Player after tallying a career-high 39 saves.
The title capped a 23-5-2 campaign for Hamilton and marked the College's first team national championship since 2008. The Continentals advanced through the NCAA tournament with wins over Neumann, Norwich and Aurora before defeating top-ranked Hobart in the final.
Saturday's celebration began inside Sage Rink, where members of the 2025-26 team gathered with family, friends, coaches, staff and supporters for the unveiling of the program's national championship banner. The ceremony recognized the players and coaches who helped bring Hamilton its first NCAA title in men's hockey. Thomas E. Murphy Director of Athletics
Kristine Fowler, Head Coach
Rob Haberbusch, and captains
Alex Danis '26 and
Ben Zimmerman '26 each spoke during the ceremony, then captain
Jackson Krock '26 pulled down the drape to reveal the banner for the first time.
The festivities continued at Steuben Field. Members of the championship squad were recognized on the field before receiving their championship rings, a lasting keepsake from a season they and the Hamilton community will always remember.
The upcoming Hamilton Magazine cover story, "
Built For This," written by John Pitarresi '70, captures the culture of the Hamilton men's hockey program, the team's journey to a national championship, and the lasting impact of its historic victory.
With the championship banner permanently hanging in the Sage Rink rafters, the Continentals now turn the page to the 2026-27 season opener on Nov. 14 against Worcester State. Hamilton will play its first home game on Dec. 5 against Wesleyan at 7 p.m.
