2025-26 Plattsburgh State Women's Ice Hockey Schedule

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Coming off a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship and its 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last season, the Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team has announced its 2025-26 schedule as the Cardinals prepare to defend their conference title and make another run at national contention.

Plattsburgh State finished the 2024-25 season with a 20-7-1 overall record (14-3-1 SUNYAC), highlighted by a 2-0 victory over Oswego State to secure the program's first-ever SUNYAC championship and 13th conference title overall (seven in the ECAC West and five in the NEWHL). Head coach Kevin Houle, entering his 23rd season at the helm, remains the winningest active coach by winning percentage across all divisions of NCAA women's ice hockey, holding a remarkable .865 career mark (517-69-28). Houle has led Plattsburgh State to a Division III-record seven national championships and will look to add an eighth to his résumé this season.

The Cardinals will tune up for the regular season with a pair of exhibition games, starting on the road at VTSU Castleton on Oct. 18, followed by a home matchup against the Ottawa Lady 67's on Oct. 25 at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Plattsburgh State officially opens its season on Oct. 31, hosting Norwich on home ice. The Cardinals then travel to Endicott on Nov. 8 before returning home to open SUNYAC play, hosting new conference member William Smith on Nov. 14 and Buffalo State on Nov. 15. The team then hits the road for back-to-back conference matchups, visiting Morrisville on Nov. 21 and Cortland on Nov. 22.

The Cardinals will once again compete in the Panther/Cardinal Classic in 2025, a two-day tournament beginning on Nov. 29 that features host Middlebury, two-time defending national champion UW-River Falls and Endicott, after making a run to the championship game in last year's event. The team then concludes the 2025 portion of their schedule hosting Williams on Dec. 6.

Plattsburgh State rings in the New Year at the Norwich East-West Hockey Classic, beginning with an NCAA Tournament rematch against Elmira on Jan. 4. The two-day tournament will feature consolation and championship games the following day. The squad wraps up its road trip on Jan. 13 with a matchup against Trinity (Conn.) before returning home for a five-game homestand. Plattsburgh State opens the stretch with back-to-back games against Suffolk on Jan. 16 and 17, followed by three SUNYAC contests: hosting Canton on Jan. 23, a championship rematch against Oswego on Jan. 24, and closing out their home slate for the month against Potsdam on Jan. 30. The Cardinals then travel to Potsdam for a second matchup the following day, Jan. 31.

The Cardinals open February at home with a non-conference matchup against Middlebury on Feb. 3 before beginning their final road stretch of the regular season. The trip starts with SUNYAC games at Buffalo State on Feb. 6 and William Smith on Feb. 7. Plattsburgh State then visits Oswego on Feb. 13 and Canton on Feb. 14 to close out the road swing. The Cardinals return to the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena for their final regular-season conference games, hosting Cortland on Feb. 20 and Morrisville on Feb. 21.

The top four teams in the final regular-season conference standings will qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament, with the semifinals set for Feb. 28 and the championship set for March 7.

Season ticket sales will begin on Monday, Aug. 18.