Championship Central
Check out the photos, stories, videos, and more from the men's ice hockey team's first national championship.
Luke Tchor ’27 was voted the 2025-26 NESCAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The junior is the third player in conference history to receive the honor in back-to-back seasons and the second Hamilton player (Gus Katsuras ’06 in 2005 and 2006). Tchor was also selected a CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association Men’s NCAA Division II-III All-American for the 2025-26 season. The forward, who was voted to the second team in the East Region by men’s head coaches in NCAA Divisions II and III, was a member of the first team in 2025. In addition, Tchor was a finalist for the Sid Watson Award for national player of the year.
Six Continentals were named to the all-NESCAC men’s hockey teams. Tchor and John Wojciechowski ’28 were named to the first team, and Jackson Krock 26, Devon de Vries ’27, Connor Thue ’29, and Aksel Reid ’27 were named to the second team.
“Personally, I don’t have to change anything based on my opponent. My job is pretty easy. I just stop the puck.
Coach Rob Haberbusch collected two national awards. He was selected the 2026 U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) Division II-III Men’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year and the 2026 III HockeyNews.com Men’s Coach of the Year. He was also named NESCAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Haberbusch guided the Continentals to their first NCAA title and an overall record of 23-5-2. The 23 wins are the most in a season by a Hamilton men’s hockey team. He has a career record of 186-135-40 in 14 seasons at Hamilton. The Continentals finished the 2025-26 season at No. 1 in the final USCHO.com Men’s Hockey Top 15 poll released on Monday, March 30. Hamilton, which was ranked sixth in the previous poll on March 9, last topped the national rankings during the 1988-89 season. The Continentals received 17 of the 20 first place votes and finished with 297 points.
NESCAC honors
A total of 130 Hamilton student-athletes earned NESCAC Winter All-Academic honors for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 and meeting other eligibility requirements.
Eight Continentals were selected to the 2026 NESCAC Winter All-Sportsmanship Team, representing each varsity winter sport. The team is composed of one student-athlete from each institution for each sport the conference sponsors. They include:
- Max Bulawka’26, men’s hockey
- Katie Allen ’26, women’s hockey
- Jacob Shulman ’26, men’s squash
- Lily Spencer ’26, women’s squash
- Max Freishtat ’26, men’s basketball
- Maggie Kernodle ’29, women’s basketball
- Ethan Olivo ’26, men’s swimming and diving
- Melissa Scala ’26, women’s swimming and diving
Women’s swimming and diving
Four Hamilton women were named 2026 College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Division III all-America selections. Chloe Lan ’28, Jade Matthias ’26, Carolyn Miner ’27, and Paige Wielgus ’28 made the second team for the 200-yard freestyle relay. The Continentals have finished in the top 16 in this event at three of the last four NCAA championships.
The athletes were recognized for their performances at the 2026 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships at IU Indianapolis’ IU Natatorium in March. The top 16 finishers in all individual events and relays received all-America recognition.
Men’s swimming and diving
Nathaniel Taft ’27 earned All-America honors in two events after finishing fifth in the consolation final (13th overall) for the 50- and 100-yard freestyle at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
Women’s basketball
Guard Kendall Harris ’27 and forward Taylor Lambo ’26 were selected to the 2026 D3hoops.com Women’s All-Region Team. Both were voted to the third team in Region 1. A total of 16 athletes were recognized in that region, which includes schools in New England plus Hamilton. Both were also named to the 2026 women’s basketball all-NESCAC team. Harris made the first team and was one of 10 guards honored. Lambo was placed on the second team and was one of just three forwards to receive all-NESCAC recognition.
“I'm excited to see how we can push each other in the off season to come back and compete at a higher level.
Women's hockey
Women’s hockey forward Lydia Bullock ’26 and defender Cuora Sullivan ’26 were named to the 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women’s Hockey All-Conference Team.
Posted April 20, 2026
