Aurora vs Adrian. (Photo by Mike Dickie)
Season predictions and previews are part science and part occult practice in the sense that fans and pundits alike would need a crystal ball or tarot cards to “see” the end of the 2025-26 season. Yes, looking back at last season and previous seasons is helpful in analyzing lots of hockey analytical data and college hockey history. However, the real essence of predicting an upcoming season is looking at how much fight there’s going to be in the dog or in this case the Adrian College Bulldogs when the puck drops next month.
The 2025-26 season is already upon us – is Adrian College ready?
With an 18-10-1 overall 2024-25 season, the Adrian College men’s hockey program is in a peculiar place as this upcoming season rapidly descends upon the college hockey realm. The Bulldogs had a good overall season but not necessarily a stellar season to brag about and no doubt there will be clamoring for more success as the new campaign descends upon Division III hockey rinks scattered across the United States.
The Adrian College Bulldogs start the season right out of the gate with a top-tier common non-conference opponent, an annual two-game series versus Utica University at the end of October, which should be a great season tune-up since Utica was the DIII national championship runner-up last season. From this series, NCHA play immediately starts as the Bulldogs face back-to-back road trips against conference rivals Marian and Aurora. Finally, a seven-game home stretch at Arrington Ice Arena will bring in both conference matchups with Lawrence and MSOE along with a non-conference matchup with Hiram College in their inaugural season as they initiate play at the DIII level.
Can head coach Adam Phillips guide the Bulldogs men’s program deep into the postseason this year?
That is probably the million-dollar question right now surrounding Adrian College hockey as the first face off of the season rapidly approaches on the calendar. Head coach Adam Phillips is heading into his second season at Adrian and his fifth overall season in the coaching ranks. With an 18-10-1 mark last season, Phillips has already proven that he can take the Bulldogs on a winning route to the postseason as Adrian made a trip to the NCHA Harris Cup finals and ranked 11th nationally in DIII hockey.
Phillips served as an Adrian assistant coach on the 2022 National Championship and 2023 National Championship runner-up teams and also brings extensive playing experience as a former blueliner at UMass and five seasons professionally in the ECHL. With both playing and coaching experience under his belt, Coach Phillips looks poised to help guide Adrian College back to the NCAA DIII postseason with an eye on a deep run to the Frozen Four this upcoming season.
The Adrian College Bulldogs have top-tier hockey talent on their roster this season.
While having a good coach lead the way always helps with a hockey program, there is no substitute for top-notch players on the ice and the Adrian Bulldogs have their share of top shelf talent coming back this season. Sophomore Ian Amsbaugh led the Bulldogs with 13 goals and 27 assists for an even 40 points last season and the 6’1″, 190 pounder from Bottineau, ND looks to add even more points this season. Amsbaugh looks to team up with fellow forward junior Bradley Somers who added 14 goals and 23 assists to the Adrian offensive attack last season. Somers is a 6’1″, 195 pound ace from Oakville, ON and the Canadian looks to make a lot of noise in the offensive zone this season as well.
Hockey teams are nothing without top-notch netminders guarding the pipes and the Adrian Bulldogs found their niche last season with veteran Dershahn Stewart. The Amherstburg, ON native stands at an even 6’0″ and 200 pounds and had a 16-9-1 record last season with a solid 2.64 goals-against-average and a stellar .910 save percentage as well. However, Stewart’s time wearing an Adrian Bulldogs sweater is over as he heads to the professional ranks.
The departure of Dershahn Stewart means that a goaltender competition no doubt is heating up at Arrington Arena with sophomore Nolan Suggs looking as the top starting choice going into this season. With a 2-1-0 record last season, the 6’1″,175 pounder from White Lake, MI looks to be the leading netminder heading into training camp. However, strange things happen in camp and a new goaltender could emerge for the Bulldogs. Stay tuned to this developing situation as the season approaches in the coming weeks.
Will the 2025-26 season provide some magic for Adrian College?
Again, consulting a crystal ball is probably more scientific at this point since the puck hasn’t even dropped on the new season. However, based on the history and standing of this storied DIII program, there is every reason to expect that the Adrian Bulldogs men’s hockey program will be successful this season and make a postseason run again. How far this program will go largely will be determined by how much fight the 2025-26 Bulldogs have in their bellies to get the job done this season.
