2025-26 Empire 8 Men's Ice Hockey Players to Watch

Men's Ice Hockey | 10/30/2025 9:30:00 AM

The 2025-26 Empire 8 Men's Ice Hockey season gets underway on Friday, October 31. For the first time, the Empire 8 will crown an Empire 8 Champion, upon completion of regular season play between the six institutons. The team with the most points at the end of the season, will receive the E8 title. 
   

SUNY Brockport - Head Coach Brian Dickinson
Schuyler Flansburg, Jr., F, Saratoga Springs, NY – Schuyler Flansburg led the Golden Eagles with seven goals in 2024-25.

Spencer Flansburg, Jr., F, Saratoga Springs, NY – Twin brother Spencer Flansburg tallied 11 points on five goals and six assists last season.

Elmira College - Head Coach Aaron Saul
Brody Haynes, Sr., G, York, PA – Haynes finished the 2024-25 season with a 6-6-1 record, 2.70 goals against average and a .914 save percentage while logging a career-high 733:52 minutes in net.

Tyler Schwindt, Sr., F, New Hamburg, Ontario – Schwindt tallied two goals, one assist, 19 shots, and 88 faceoff wins during the 2024-25 season and will be counted on to play a larger role in 2025-26.

SUNY Geneseo - Head Coach Chris Schultz
Sean Melso, Jr., D, Philadelphia, PA – Melso earned AHCA Third Team All-American honors, All-USCHO.com Honorable Mention accolades and was the 2024-25 UCHC Defensive Player of the Year and an All-UCHC first team selection. He put up 25 points on eight goals and 17 assists and was plus-32 in 30 games played.

Filip Wiberg, Jr., F, Trondheim, Norway – Wiberg had 34 points on 17 goals and 17 assists last season on his way to earning UCHC Championship Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament Team honors.

Nazareth University - Head Coach James McDonald
Blake Frost, Sr., F, Stoufville, Ontario – Frost recorded 16 points on six goals and 10 assists last season. He has 19 goals and 38 assists in his first three seasons with the Golden Flyers and is a two-time UCHC Player to Watch.

Logan Tobias, Sr., F, West Seneca, NY – Tobias earned All-UCHC second team honors in 2024-25 after leading Nazareth with 27 points on 12 goals and 25 assists. He was named to the UCHC All-Rookie Team in 2022-23 after exploding for 20 goals that season. Tobias has 71 career points on 46 goals and 25 assists.

St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Reid Lesswing
Sam Ciappa, Fr., F, Baldwinsville NY – Ciappa earned National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) All Division honors and finished sixth in the NCDC in scoring with 63 points in 53 games.

Charlie Robinson, Fr., D, Kenmore NY – Robinson recorded 29 points in 36 games in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He ranked 18th among OJHL defenseman for points for game. 

Utica University - Head Coach Gary Heenan
Aydin Parekh, Jr., D, Nobleton, Ontario – Parekh was a 2024-25 All-UCHC first team selection. He dished out 23 assists last season.

Eric Vitale, Jr., F, Toronto, Ontario – Vitale was the UCHC Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, earned UCHC All-Rookie Team honors that season and was named to the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey All-Tournament Team. Vitale, who scored the overtime winner against Curry in the NCAA Semifinal last season has 46 career points (24 goals and 22 assists) in two seasons.
 

• Sean Melso, Geneseo, Jr., D, Philadelphia, PA - 2024-25 CCM/AHCA Third Team All-American