The 2025-26 Inaugural Lobster Pot Tournament features host team Southern Maine, University of New England, Bowdoin College, & Colby College. (Graphic via colbyathletics.com)

The Lobster Pot: January 2-3, 2026

Hosted by University of Southern Maine – USM Ice Arena

Saturday:
#6 Univ. New England (8-2-0) vs Colby (5-2-1) – 3:30pm ET
#14 Bowdoin (6-2-1) @ Southern Maine (5-4-1) – 7pm ET

Sunday:
Consolation – 2pm ET
Championship – 5:30pm ET

Coming out of the winter break and into the new year, four teams return to action this weekend in the inaugural Lobster Pot tournament, featuring the four Division III men’s programs from the state of Maine. The field includes host Southern Maine (Gorham, ME), holding a 5-4-1 record, taking on #14 Bowdoin (Brunswick, ME) at 6-2-1. That matchup is set for Friday, January 2 at 7 pm ET. Prior to that, the top-ranked team in the tournament, #6 University of New England (Biddeford, ME) at 8-2-0, faces Colby College (Waterville, ME), which enters at 5-2-1. Puck drop for the opening game is scheduled for 3:30 pm ET. The winners advance to the championship game at 5:30 pm ET on Saturday, January 3, while the consolation game will be played earlier that day at 2 pm ET. All games will be held at the USM Ice Arena in Gorham, Maine.

In the host matchup, the Huskies take on the Polar Bears in a meeting that has favored Bowdoin in recent years. Since 2018, the Polar Bears hold a 7-2-1 record in the last 10 meetings. Southern Maine was able to earn a victory in their most recent matchup, a 6-5 overtime thriller around this time last season. The Huskies’ most notable result this year came against #13 Babson College (7-1-2), where they tied 3-3 after four periods before earning the conference win in a shootout. Bowdoin enters the tournament ranked #14 and is still searching for its first win against a ranked opponent this season. A potential opportunity would arise if both Bowdoin and UNE advance. Despite that, Bowdoin’s goal differential has been a strength, currently sitting at plus-15.

In the first matchup of the tournament, #6 University of New England looks to bounce back after splitting its series against #8 Curry College. That was not the first meeting between the two programs this season, as UNE previously defeated Curry 3-2 earlier in the year. The Nor’easters have not allowed more than three goals in any game this season, a key factor in their success. Colby enters hoping to flip recent history against UNE, which holds a 7-2-1 record against the Mules in their last 10 matchups since 2018. Colby has dropped just two games this season, one of which came against rival Bowdoin by a 3-2 score. If both teams advance, the Colby-Bowdoin rivalry could be renewed in the championship game, unfortunately on neutral ice, but a great matchup nevertheless. Like UNE, Colby has also not allowed more than three goals in a single game this season.

Talent is spread throughout all four rosters in the field. For UNE, the dynamic duo of Dominic Murphy and Drew Oliveri leads the way, as both skaters carry identical stat lines of five goals, 12 assists, and 17 points, tying them for 11th nationally in scoring. Colby is led offensively by Colby Browne (great name for a Mule), who has recorded eight goals in eight games, scoring in all but one contest. Southern Maine features one of the top goal scorers in the nation in Ben Aucoin, who has tallied 10 goals in 10 games, tying him for first nationally. Earlier this season, Aucoin set the program record scoring six goals against NE-10 opponent Saint Anselm. That record stood for 33 long years… Goaltending stands out for Bowdoin, as starter Jacob Osborne has been excellent in his seven starts, posting a 1.70 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. He has also made 203 saves in 400 minutes of action.

With four in-state programs returning from the break, the inaugural Lobster Pot provides a strong way to open the new year. Each matchup carries familiar opponents, recent history, and the potential for a rivalry showdown on neutral ice. Whether it is UNE looking to reassert itself after a split, Colby aiming to reverse recent results, Bowdoin leaning on elite goaltending, or Southern Maine defending home ice, the weekend sets up with plenty of intrigue. Championship puck drop is scheduled for 5:30 pm ET on Saturday at the USM Ice Arena, closing out the first edition of what could become a staple event not just in the state of Maine, but on the Division III calendar.

As of Wednesday, tickets have officially sold out for Colby vs Univ. New England, while limited tickets remain for Bowdoin vs Southern Maine.