Photo by: Daniel Passapera
Men’s Ice Hockey Debuts 2026-27 Schedule
5/20/2026 1:05:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
SHU’s slate is highlighted by home games against Penn State, Ohio State and Bowling Green
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fresh off a record-breaking 2025-26 season, the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team debuted its full 2026-27 schedule that features home games against Penn State, Ohio State and Bowling Green.
The Pioneers have 36 regular-season games on the slate, with 18 of those coming at the Martire Family Arena. SHU fans will have 20 chances to see the Pios at home, as the team will host exhibition games against both Merrimack (Oct. 2) and Carleton (CAN) (Oct. 4). Sacred Heart will also play a 24-game Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) schedule, which will be contested between nine teams this season.
"Our schedule this year will be demanding and challenging," said head coach C.J. Marottolo. "The non-league part of our schedule has some great marquee games at home to start the year and will end with the annual CT Ice Tournament in January. When you combine that with our always tough league schedule, we certainly have a lot to look forward to. The schedule that lies ahead will build toughness and help prepare our team for big moments."
Sacred Heart begins the regular-season schedule on Friday, Oct. 9, against Bowling Green in the first game of the Ice Breaker Tournament at the Martire Family Arena. The following day, SHU will battle Big Ten powerhouse Penn State, which finished last season ranked 11th in the country.
The Pioneers will have little time to rest before welcoming the Big Ten's Ohio State for two games in Fairfield (Oct. 16-17). The teams met last season, splitting a series in Columbus. OSU will be making its first-ever road appearance against Sacred Heart.
SHU's early-season gauntlet continues with its AHA-opening weekend, a home-and-home series against league stalwart Holy Cross. The Pioneers head to Worcester, Mass., on Friday, Oct. 23, before hosting the Crusaders on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Pios then head to Ithaca, N.Y., for a two-game set against Cornell on Oct. 30-31. SHU last played the Big Red in 2025, winning one game and tying the other at home.
After Cornell, SHU has three straight league weekends. Home series against Canisius (Nov. 6-7) and Robert Morris (Nov. 20-21) bookend a road trip to Army (Nov. 13-14).
SHU returns to nonconference play after facing RMU with four straight nonleague games. The stretch starts with a road game at Brown (Dec. 1). Then SHU and LIU will play a home-and-home series. The Pios travel to LIU on Dec. 4, then host the Sharks the next day. Sacred Heart ends the year with a home game against Yale on Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Once the calendar turns to 2027, SHU will play eight consecutive AHA games, beginning with a road series at Canisius on Jan. 2-3. The following weekend, the Pios host Air Force (Jan. 8-9) before hitting the road for four straight. The road trip begins with the much-anticipated AHA Championship Game rematch between the Pioneers and Falcons of Bentley on Jan. 15-16. Sacred Heart then hits the road for two games at RMU on Jan. 22-23.
The Pioneers bring an end to their nonconference slate on Jan. 29-30 at the annual Connecticut Ice Tournament.
The homestretch of the regular season features home games against RIT (Feb. 5-6), Army (Feb. 12-13) and Holy Cross (Feb. 26). SHU will be on the road to play Niagara (Feb. 19-20) before finishing the year at Holy Cross (Feb. 27).
Sacred Heart will be competing for a spot in the 2027 AHA Tournament, which is slated to start on Tuesday, Mar. 2, with the First Round. The tournament's best-of-three quarterfinals and semifinals will be contested over the next two weekends, culminating in a league champ being crowned on Saturday, March 20.
The Pioneers have 36 regular-season games on the slate, with 18 of those coming at the Martire Family Arena. SHU fans will have 20 chances to see the Pios at home, as the team will host exhibition games against both Merrimack (Oct. 2) and Carleton (CAN) (Oct. 4). Sacred Heart will also play a 24-game Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) schedule, which will be contested between nine teams this season.
"Our schedule this year will be demanding and challenging," said head coach C.J. Marottolo. "The non-league part of our schedule has some great marquee games at home to start the year and will end with the annual CT Ice Tournament in January. When you combine that with our always tough league schedule, we certainly have a lot to look forward to. The schedule that lies ahead will build toughness and help prepare our team for big moments."
Sacred Heart begins the regular-season schedule on Friday, Oct. 9, against Bowling Green in the first game of the Ice Breaker Tournament at the Martire Family Arena. The following day, SHU will battle Big Ten powerhouse Penn State, which finished last season ranked 11th in the country.
The Pioneers will have little time to rest before welcoming the Big Ten's Ohio State for two games in Fairfield (Oct. 16-17). The teams met last season, splitting a series in Columbus. OSU will be making its first-ever road appearance against Sacred Heart.
SHU's early-season gauntlet continues with its AHA-opening weekend, a home-and-home series against league stalwart Holy Cross. The Pioneers head to Worcester, Mass., on Friday, Oct. 23, before hosting the Crusaders on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Pios then head to Ithaca, N.Y., for a two-game set against Cornell on Oct. 30-31. SHU last played the Big Red in 2025, winning one game and tying the other at home.
After Cornell, SHU has three straight league weekends. Home series against Canisius (Nov. 6-7) and Robert Morris (Nov. 20-21) bookend a road trip to Army (Nov. 13-14).
SHU returns to nonconference play after facing RMU with four straight nonleague games. The stretch starts with a road game at Brown (Dec. 1). Then SHU and LIU will play a home-and-home series. The Pios travel to LIU on Dec. 4, then host the Sharks the next day. Sacred Heart ends the year with a home game against Yale on Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Once the calendar turns to 2027, SHU will play eight consecutive AHA games, beginning with a road series at Canisius on Jan. 2-3. The following weekend, the Pios host Air Force (Jan. 8-9) before hitting the road for four straight. The road trip begins with the much-anticipated AHA Championship Game rematch between the Pioneers and Falcons of Bentley on Jan. 15-16. Sacred Heart then hits the road for two games at RMU on Jan. 22-23.
The Pioneers bring an end to their nonconference slate on Jan. 29-30 at the annual Connecticut Ice Tournament.
The homestretch of the regular season features home games against RIT (Feb. 5-6), Army (Feb. 12-13) and Holy Cross (Feb. 26). SHU will be on the road to play Niagara (Feb. 19-20) before finishing the year at Holy Cross (Feb. 27).
Sacred Heart will be competing for a spot in the 2027 AHA Tournament, which is slated to start on Tuesday, Mar. 2, with the First Round. The tournament's best-of-three quarterfinals and semifinals will be contested over the next two weekends, culminating in a league champ being crowned on Saturday, March 20.
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