The Hamilton College Continentals host the Neumann University Knights in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Championship at Russell Sage Rink in Clinton, N.Y., on Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m.
 
Hamilton will be playing an NCAA men's hockey championship game on its home ice for the first time. These two teams have never played each other.
 
Here's a glance at Saturday night's matchup as the Continentals aim to advance to the quarterfinals for the second year in a row and the third time in team history.
 
Records
Hamilton: 19-5-2 overall (14-3-1 in New England Small College Athletic Conference, first place)
Neumann: 17-8-2 overall (14-5-2 in Middle Atlantic Conference, first place)
 
Rankings
Hamilton: No. 6 in March 9 USCHO.com Division III Top 15 poll and No. 3 in March 8 NCAA Power Index
Neumann: No. 28 in March 8 NCAA Power Index
 
How They Got Here
Hamilton: NCAA at-large bid
Neumann: Automatic NCAA bid for winning the Middle Atlantic Conference championship
 
NCAA History
Hamilton: Third appearance (2017, 2025), 2-2 record in NCAA Championship
Neumann: Third appearance (2009, 2011), 4-1 record in NCAA Championship
 
Head Coaches
Hamilton: Rob Haberbusch, 14th season, 182-135-40 record
Neumann: Mike Hedden, third season, 40-31-6 record
 
Team Stats
Hamilton: 3.7 goals/game; 1.8 goals allowed/game; 35.7 shots/game; 23.2% PP pct. (26-112); 87.0% PK pct. (9-69); 7.1 PIM/game; 53.1% faceoff win pct.
Neumann: 3.4 goals/game; 2.6 goals allowed/game; 33.3 shots/game; 18.0% PP pct. (22-122); 86.4% PK pct. (17-125); 20.4 PIM/game; 50.2% faceoff win pct.
 
Individual Stat Leaders
Hamilton: Luke Tchor '27 (F, 5-10, 180, 15G-14A-29P); Devon de Vries '27 (F, 5-11, 175, 6G-23A-29P); Justin Biraben '27 (F, 6-0, 180, 8G-14A-22P); John Wojciechowski '28 (D, 5-11, 180, 5G-16A-21P); Noah Leibl '27 (F, 6-2, 189, 9G-11A-20P); Jackson Krock '26 (F, 5-11, 188, 7G-13A-20P)
Neumann: Lucas Culhane (So., F, 6-0, 180, 7G-27A-34P); Max Donohoe (So., F, 6-1, 186, 18G-11A-29P); Jake Barkley (Fy., F, 5-11, 170, 4G-21A-25P); Zack Smith (Sr., F, 5-10, 195, 14G-10A-24P); Matt Dimaline (So., F, 6-0, 185, 7G-16A-23P)
 
The Goaltenders
Hamilton: Aksel Reid '27 (6-1, 185, 24 starts, 16-5-2 record, 1.88 GAA, .920 save pct., 5 shutouts)
Neumann: Christian Green (Fy., 5-10, 165, 16 starts, 13-1-2 record, 1.78 GAA, .942 save pct., 4 shutouts)
 
Notes
Hamilton won in the first round and reached the quarterfinals in both of its previous NCAA championship appearances in 2017 and 2025. … The Continentals advanced to the 2026 NESCAC championship semifinals. … Luke Tchor '27 was selected the NESCAC Player of the Year and Rob Haberbusch was voted NESCAC Coach of the Year – both for the second year in a row. … Forwards Tchor, Jackson Krock '26, and Devon de Vries '27, defensemen John Wojciechowski '28 and Connor Thue '29, and goaltender Aksel Reid '27 made the all-NESCAC team. … Tchor made the 2024-25 American Hockey Coaches Association All-America Team. … Hamilton's last three games have gone to overtime. … The Continentals have been ranked as high as second in the USCHO.com poll and the NCAA Power Index. … Hamilton is sixth in NCAA Division III in scoring defense.
 
Neumann captured the 2009 NCAA Division III title by winning four games. … The Knights are 0-1 against ranked teams this season. … Neumann defeated Stevenson University 5-4 in overtime on March 7 for its first Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) title. … Zack Smith, who scored the OT game winner, was named the tournament's most valuable player. … Goaltender Christian Green was named the MAC Rookie of the Year. … Green, forwards Lucas Culhane and Max Donohoe, and defenseman Sonny DiNubile were all-conference team selections. … Culhane is second in NCAA Division III in assists per game and Green is tied for third in save percentage.