The 2025‑26 women's ice hockey squad at Norwich University capped a remarkable season that blended on‑ice dominance with academic distinction. The Cadets captured both the inaugural Little East Conference regular‑season title and the tournament championship, finishing the year with a 26‑3 record under Head Coach Justin Simpson, who was selected as both LEC Coach of the Year and New England Division III Coach of the Year.
A Season of Firsts
Norwich advanced to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four for the first time since 2018, defeating Hamline University 1‑0 in the quarterfinals before falling to Nazareth University 5‑4 in overtime during the national semifinal. The run marked a historic milestone for the program and underscored the team's competitive resilience.
Academic excellence accompanied the athletic success. The team posted a collective 3.69 GPA and placed 22 student‑athletes on the LEC Academic Honor Roll for the Spring 2026 semester. Across the conference, 2,611 student‑athletes earned Honor Roll honors, and 438 achieved a perfect 4.00 semester GPA.
Individual accolades highlighted the season. Livia Brooks earned LEC Player of the Year and was named an AHCA All‑American, while Maggie Hunter received LEC Rookie of the Year and also earned AHCA All‑American honors. Madison Brunet joined them as an AHCA All‑American. Alex Leslie was recognized as the NCAA Elite Scholar‑Athlete at the championship site, reflecting the program's blend of performance and scholarship.
The roster of standout student‑athletes included Justin Simpson, Payton Sutherland, Libby Lane, Sophia Nelson, Grace McCluskey, Olivia Boyer, Breanna Ricker, Marja Linzbichler, Geena Cookinham, Madalyn Liles, Rylie McIntyre, Ellin Rees, Anna Lisac, Tristina Doyle, Natalie Heutmaker, Dani Ammons, Jordan Brady, Livia Brooks, Madison Brunet, and Dana Rigan. Their contributions helped shape a season that will be remembered for both championship victories and exemplary academic performance.