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Playoff hockey has returned in full force, and with it, a familiar standard of excellence. Both the Cadets men’s and women’s hockey teams have advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, each now just one win away from the Frozen Four. It marks a special moment not only for two impressively successful teams, but also for a new chapter under first-year head coaches who have quickly embraced the weight — and pride — of Norwich hockey.

"We are so fortunate to have Justin Simpson and Dominick Dawes coaching our teams," says Athletic Director Ed Hockenbury. "They have done an incredible job in their first year, and have worked very hard to coach their teams and embrace the relationship between our hockey programs and the community."

The men punched their ticket in emphatic fashion, rolling past sixth-ranked Salve Regina University by a score of 6-1. The victory extended a dominant stretch of wins — the men are unbeaten in their last 13 games, going 10-0-3 since Jan. 20, and carries a 19-5-4 record into Saturday’s road matchup against Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.

"I remember the Hamiton game last year at Kreitzberg, and it didn’t go our way," says Hockenbury. "Hamilton will be facing a different team this time — one that is playing its best hockey, and with a lot of confidence."

For Head Coach of the men’s team, the moment is special as an alumnus and . “The expectation and support here at Norwich for hockey is a big part of it, but what is even more special has been seeing how much this team's success means to the community and the alumni.”

A Norwich alumnus, Dawes understands the tradition firsthand. He won a national championship as a player with the Cadets and later as a head coach at Neumann University. Now, in his first season on the Norwich bench, he has guided a team that reflects the program’s identity — steadiness, resiliency, and grit.

“Their resiliency stands out, this group has never wavered, not once,” says Dawes. “They have embraced change and continue to work and compete every day.”

That consistency has defined a season built on growth. “It has been a process and that’s what we have talked about since day one,” says Dawes. “We have focused mostly on ourselves and establishing an identity. What is most important is that we have continued to grow and have been playing our best hockey at the right time of year.”

Now, with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line, the approach remains unchanged. “The guys know and understand what is at stake,” says Dawes. “What we are looking forward to is the next opportunity; all eight teams left playing are great teams. Our goal is simple: focus on what we can control and compete.”

While the men earned their way in with a statement win, the women’s team has spent much of the winter making statements of its own.

At 25-2-0, the Cadets have not lost since Nov. 21 and enter the quarterfinals as one of the most dominant teams in the country. Their resume reflects it when compared to teams nationally; it includes the third-highest goals per game average, fourth-best power play percentage, second-lowest goals against average, and seventh-highest penalty kill percentage.

That complete profile helped secure a first-round bye and, just as significantly, something Norwich has not experienced in years — an NCAA Tournament game at home in Northfield.

On Saturday at 3 p.m., the Cadets will host Hamline University at Kreitzberg Arena, marking the first time since March 2019 that Norwich has brought NCAA playoff hockey back to campus.

For Head Coach , who is also in his first year at Norwich, the opportunity is as much about the team’s identity as its results. “I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect coming into this season as a new head coach with a completely new staff, but I’ve been incredibly impressed with our group,” says Simpson. “From day one, the team welcomed me, our staff, and the incoming class with open arms.”

That cohesion quickly became the team’s foundation.

“What stands out most is the genuine care they have for one another, their unity, and true team first mentality,” says Simpson. “Every player is willing to do whatever it takes for the success of the group and that’s what makes this team so special.”

Like the men, the women have embraced a process-driven approach, one that proved especially important navigating a season without an automatic NCAA bid in their conference. “This year has truly been a whirlwind, flying by faster than we could have imagined,” says Simpson. “From the start, our mindset has been to stay present, taking things one day and one game at a time.”

“Entering the season, we understood that our new league, the Little East Conference, did not have an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This meant we needed to put together a strong, consistent body of work to earn an at-large bid,” he says. “Rather than focusing on the end goal, we made a conscious decision to keep our attention on the process, striving to be our best in every practice, film session, and game.”

The result is a team defined as much by its culture as its statistics. Now, that unity will take center stage in front of a home crowd eager to witness a milestone moment.

“The last time a Norwich men’s or women’s hockey team hosted an NCAA Tournament game was March 2019, so it’s incredibly exciting to bring NCAA Tournament hockey back to our passionate fans at Norwich, in Northfield, and throughout the Central Vermont community,” says Simpson.

"I think the energy and enthusiasm for Norwich hockey has been on full display this season," says Hockenbury. "Our fans are amazing, and the support from our alumni and the Blue Line Club is next level. The players feel the passion for Norwich hockey all around them, and it all makes it a special experience for them."

"It’s driving me crazy that I can’t be in two places on Saturday," he says, considering the men will be in New York. "I’ll be at the women’s game as the host athletic director and I can’t wait to see a huge crowd come out to support this amazing team, to see what amazing athletes they are, and what great hockey they play. In both cases, I look forward to seeing our teams compete at the highest level of DIII hockey, while proudly representing our University, and hopefully I’ll have to decide which Frozen 4 to attend next week."

"It’s an incredibly exciting time for our hockey programs, our University, our alumni and our fans," says Hockenbury. "Kreitzberg Arena is an amazing facility, with a history of hosting some of the best DIII hockey in the country, and it’s great to have NCAA hockey back at Norwich."

Between them, the programs have combined for six national championships — four for the men, two for the women — and a reputation as one of Division III hockey’s premier institutions. This weekend offers a chance to add another chapter.

Two teams, two first-year coaches, one shared standard — and with the Frozen Four within reach, Norwich hockey once again finds itself exactly where it expects to be.