A New Era Brings a New Look to the Eastern Hockey League
HAVERHILL, MA – As the EHL prepares for the 2026-27 season, the league enters the year with a major change to its competitive structure. After previously being divided into four divisions, the EHL’s 16 teams will now compete across two conferences: the Northeast Conference and the Mid-Atlantic Conference. The new format will bring a different look to the regular season and a new path toward the Frozen Finals in Providence.
Seven teams from each conference will qualify for the postseason, with the top two seeds earning a first-round bye. The new format puts even more importance on the regular season standings, as teams will be battling for playoff position with their respective conferences throughout the year.
A New Conference Race
The Northeast Conference features several familiar contenders, including the defending regular-season champions New Hampshire Avalanche, the Express Hockey Club, the Seahawks Hockey Club and new to the conference this season, HC Rhode Island. The Avalanche enter the season looking to build on another successful year after capturing the North Division title last year. New Hampshire also reached the Frozen Finals in seven of the last eight seasons under Head Coach Chris Cerrella, setting a high standard for the organization heading into the 2026-27 season.
The Seahawks enter the new conference structure as the defending EHL champions. After winning their first championship last season, Head Coach Bill Zaniboni’s team will now look to follow that breakthrough with another deep postseason run. The Seahawks also continue to be one of the league’s strongest programs in terms of player development, sending 20 players to NCAA programs over the previous two seasons.
HC Rhode Island will also enter the season with plenty of momentum. The team recorded a franchise-best 37 wins during the 2025-26 season, continuing the program’s rise since joining the EHL in 2022-23. With a new conference structure and several returning players, Rhode Island will look to remain near the top of the standings. The Elite Golden Knights will also join the EHL this season, bringing a new organization into the Northeast Conference.
On the Mid-Atlantic side, Philadelphia Hockey Club enters the season following its best season yet. PHC finished 2025-26 with 40 wins and 84 points, finishing second in the league during the regular season. The team has quickly established itself as a contender since joining the EHL, and the new conference setup provides another opportunity for Philadelphia to continue that climb. The New Jersey Bears will also enter the season looking to build on a championship appearance last year, giving the Mid-Atlantic another proven contender.
The conference will also welcome the Connecticut Nor’Easter, who move into the Mid-Atlantic after spending last season in the Central Division. Connecticut is expected to bring back a large group of players from last year’s roster, giving the team plenty of familiarity as it enters a new conference. The Philadelphia Little Flyers will also feature a returner-heavy roster as they look to make a push in the new Mid-Atlantic Conference.
The Hershey Cubs will also join the EHL this season and compete in the Mid-Atlantic Conference, adding another new team to the league.
Players to Watch
With official rosters expected to be released soon, several players already stand out as names to watch entering the new season.
Express Hockey will also have a key returning player to watch in Nate Brissette, who is expected to be one of the league’s best in his age-out season.
Rookie of the Year Aidan Forcier returns to HC Rhode Island after a breakout 2025-26 campaign. Forcier recorded 36 goals and 41 assists for 77 points last season, finishing among the league’s top offensive producers. He will be one of the key players to watch as Rhode Island looks to repeat its success.
New Hampshire’s Petey Silverman is another returning player who could play a major role for the Avalanche. Oliver Bunjer gives the New Jersey Bears an important returning piece, while Ryan Fleischauer returns to Philadelphia Hockey Club after being part of one of the league’s strongest offenses last season.
Connecticut Nor’Easter forward Josh Hauser also returns as the Nor’Easter look to build on a young roster that gained valuable experience last season. Head Coach Nielsson Arcibal enters his second season with the team after Connecticut reached the Central Division final in 2025-26.
Looking Ahead
The opening weeks of the season will provide the first look at how the new conference structure changes the EHL landscape. Matchups between returning contenders will carry added importance as teams begin positioning themselves for the new playoff format.
The league will also introduce EHLTV this season, giving fans a dedicated platform to watch EHL and EHLP games throughout the year. The new streaming platform is scheduled to launch alongside the 2026-27 season and will feature regular-season games as well as major league events.
With a new conference structure, defending champions looking to repeat, and several established contenders returning key pieces, the 2026-27 EHL season is set to begin a new chapter for the league. The race to Providence starts now.