The Middlebury Panthers are a Women’s Division III ice hockey team representing Middlebury College, located in Middlebury, Vermont from the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The team is based out of the Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena, which is located on the school’s campus. The women’s program was established for the 1981-82 season.
Quick Hits
- School: Middlebury College
- Location: Middlebury, Vermont
- School Founded: 1800
- Enrollment: 2,773
- Colors: Blue & White
- Home Arena: Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena
- Arena Capacity: 2,600
- Rink Dimensions: 200′ x 95′
- Conference: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
- Head Coach: Bill Mandigo
- Conference Titles: 17 (2001*, 2002, 2004 co-champ, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2026)
- Conference Tournament Titles: 17 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024)
- National Titles: 6 (2000 AWCHA*, 2001 AWCHA*, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2022)
Conferences
- Independent (1981-1991)
- ECAC Alliance (1991-2001)
- New England Small College Athletic Conference (2001-present)
Arenas
- Duke Nelson Arena (1984-1999)
- Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena (1999-present)
Head Coaches
- Walter Nelson (1981-1983) 14-14-1 (.500)
- Robert Ritter (1983-1987) 34-23-2 (.593)
- Mike Gerber (1987-1988) 11-3-0 (.786)
- Bill Mandigo (1988-present) 698-185-60 (.772)
Year by Year Results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Conference Tournament | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Overall Record |
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| 1981-82 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 55 | - | - | - | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 55 |
| 1982-83 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 52 | 52 | - | - | - | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 52 | 52 |
| 1983-84 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 62 | 41 | - | - | - | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 62 | 41 |
| 1984-85 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 61 | 65 | - | - | - | 15 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 61 | 65 |
| 1985-86 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 96 | 43 | - | - | - | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 96 | 43 |
| 1986-87 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 64 | 39 | - | - | - | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 64 | 39 |
| 1987-88 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 30 | - | - | - | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 30 |
| 1988-89 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 35 | - | - | - | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 35 |
| 1989-90 | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 62 | 39 | - | - | - | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 62 | 39 |
| 1990-91 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 59 | 50 | - | - | - | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 59 | 50 |
ECAC Alliance | Overall Record |
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| 1991-92 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 38 | 7 | - | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 67 | 49 | |
| 1992-93 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 54 | 4 | - | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 71 | 74 | |
| 1993-94 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 62 | 52 | 14 | - | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 109 | 67 | |
| 1994-95 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 18 | 67 | 4 | - | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 80 | 81 | |
| 1995-96 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 11 | 34 | 1st of 6 West | W, SF 7-1 (Wesleyan) W, F 5-0 (RIT) | 25 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 142 | 50 |
| 1996-97 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 12 | 34 | 1st of 6 West | W, SF 10-1 (Maine) W, F 10-0 (Bowdoin) | 25 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 153 | 45 |
| 1997-98 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 14 | 32 | 1st of 4 West | W, SF 5-3 (Bowdoin) W, F 10-1 (Wesleyan) | 24 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 135 | 34 |
| 1998-99 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 11 | 36 | 1st of 4 North | W, SF 4-0 (RIT) W, F 5-2 (Sacred Heart) | 23 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 131 | 21 |
| 1999-00 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 6 | 34 | 1st of 18 | W, QF 5-0 (RIT) W, SF 6-0 (RPI) W, F 5-1 (Colgate) | 26 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 155 | 19 |
| 2000-01 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 101 | 14 | 39 | 1st of 19 | W, QF 8-1 (Sacred Heart) W, SF 3-1 (Colgate) W, F 3-0 (Wiliams) | 25 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 129 | 19 |
New England Small College Athletic Conference | Overall Record |
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| 2001-02 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 10 | 32 | 1st of 9 | L, SF 2-1 (Williams) | 23 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 101 | 22 |
| 2002-03 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 83 | 20 | 28 | 2nd of 9 | W, QF 7-0 (Amherst) W, SF 3-2 Williams W, F 4-0 (Bowdoin) | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 127 | 32 |
| 2003-04 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 14 | 30 | T-1st of 9 | W, QF 6-0 (Conn. College) W, SF 5-1 (Williams) L, F 4-1 (Bowdoin) | 28 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 130 | 36 |
| 2004-05 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 87 | 17 | 29 | 2nd of 9 | W, QF 6-0 (Trinity) W, SF 4-1 (Williams) W, F 5-1 (Bowdoin) | 29 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 143 | 44 |
| 2005-06 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 18 | 30 | 1st of 9 | W, SF 3-1 (Colby) W, F 8-2 (Bowdoin) | 29 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 127 | 39 |
| 2006-07 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 20 | 30 | 1st of 9 | W, SF 7-2 (Hamilton) L, F 2-1 3OT (Amherst) | 29 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 116 | 41 |
| 2007-08 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 14 | 29 | 1st of 9 | L, SF 2-1 OT (Colby) | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 106 | 31 |
| 2008-09 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 27 | 26 | 2nd of 9 | W, QF 3-1 (Williams) W, SF 4-2 (Colby) W, F 4-3 OT (Amherst) | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 110 | 55 |
| 2009-10 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 23 | 23 | 3rd of 9 | W, QF 8-1 (Hamilton) L, 2-1 4OT (Trinity) | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 100 | 39 |
| 2010-11 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 11 | 29 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 3-1 (Williams) W, SF 4-2 (Colby) W, F 4-3 OT (Amherst) | 29 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 100 | 33 |
| 2011-12 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 19 | 28 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 5-1 (Colby) W, SF 4-1 (Trinity) W, F 1-0 OT (Amherst) | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 102 | 41 |
| 2012-13 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 56 | 24 | 26 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 6-0 (Colby W, SF 4-1 (Conn. College) L, F 2-1 (Bowdoin) | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 95 | 50 |
| 2013-14 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 50 | 20 | 28 | 1st of 9 | L, QF 2-1 OT (Conn. College) | 25 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 81 | 43 |
| 2014-15 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 58 | 21 | 28 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 3-2 4OT (Hamilton) Q, SF 4-2 (Bowdoin) L, F 2-1 OT (Trinity) | 28 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 94 | 48 |
| 2015-16 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 46 | 15 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 4-3 (Colby) W, SF 3-1 (Trinity) W, F 5-4 OT (Amherst) | 30 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 83 | 47 |
| 2016-17 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 42 | 21 | 23 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 4-1 (Wesleyan) W, SF 4-1 (Bowdoin) W, F 4-1 (Amherst) | 28 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 80 | 42 |
| 2017-18 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 49 | 17 | 28 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 5-0 (Wesleyan) W, SF 2-1 (Bowdoin) W, F 2-0 (Amherst) | 28 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 85 | 33 |
| 2018-19 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 19 | 20 | T-2nd of 9 | W, QF 3-2 OT (Conn College) W, SF 3-1 (Hamilton) L, F 3-2 (Williams) | 27 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 65 | 37 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 9 | 29 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 4-1 (Trinity) W, SF 2-1 (Hamilton) L, F 2-1 (Amherst) | 27 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 69 | 22 |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled October 8th due to COVID-19 pandemic |
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| 2021-22 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 10 | 0.976 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 4-1 (Conn. College) W, SF 3-2 (Hamilton) W, F 2-0 (Amherst) | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 20 |
| 2022-23 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 44 | 31 | 31 | 4th of 9 | W, QF 4-0 (Conn. College) L, SF 2-0 (Amherst) | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 76 | 50 |
| 2023-24 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 21 | 24.5 | 2nd of 9 | W, QF 4-1 (Williams) W, SF 3-0 (Colby) W, F 4-0 (Hamilton) | 29 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 69 | 36 |
| 2024-25 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 42 | 20 | 31.5 | 2nd of 9 | W, QF 2-1 OT (Williams) W, SF 3-0 (Colby) L, F 1-0 (Amherst) | 29 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 78 | 31 |
| 2025-26 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 25 | 36.5 | 1st of 9 | W, QF 1-0 (Trinity) L, SF 2-1 3OT (Colby) | 26 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 82 | 36 |
National Tournament Appearances
| Season | First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Championship | Third Place (until 2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 (AWCHA)* | N/A | N/A | N/A | W, 8-1, 5-1 (Augsburg Auggies) | N/A |
| 2001 (AWCHA)* | N/A | N/A | W, 3-1 (Saint Mary's Cardinals) | W, 6-0 (Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties) | -- |
| 2002 | N/A | L, 2-1 (Bowdoin Polar Bears) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2003 | N/A | L, 3-0 (Bowdoin Polar Bears) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2004 | N/A | W, 2-1 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) | W, 2-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | W, 2-1 (Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers) | -- |
| 2005 | N/A | W, 3-2 OT (Manhattanville Valiants) | W, 7-3 (Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties) | W, 4-3 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) | -- |
| 2006 | N/A | W, 4-3 (Manhattanville Valiants) | W, 2-1 (Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties) | W, 3-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- |
| 2007 | N/A | W, 3-1 (Manhattanville Valiants) | W, 5-1 (Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers) | L, 2-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- |
| 2008 | N/A | L, 4-3 OT (Manhattanville Valiants) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2009 | N/A | Bye | L, 3-2 (Amherst Lady Jeffs) | -- | W, 3-2 OT (Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons) |
| 2011 | N/A | W, 1-0 (Manhattanville Valiants) | L, 5-2 (RIT Tigers) | -- | W, 5-0 (Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties) |
| 2012 | N/A | L, 4-2 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2013 | N/A | W, 3-2 OT (Norwich Cadets) | W, 4-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | L, 1-0 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) | -- |
| 2015 | N/A | L, 3-2 (Norwich Cadets) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2016 | N/A | W, 4-0 (UMass Boston Beacons) | L, 5-3 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | L, 4-1 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) |
| 2017 | N/A | W, 5-4 2OT (Norwich Cadets) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2018 | Bye | L, 3-1 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2020 | Bye | (Endicott Gulls)* | *Tournament cancelled after first round by NCAA due to COVID-19 pandemic |
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| 2022 | Bye | W, 4-0 (Endicott Gulls) | W, 3-1 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) | W, 3-2 OT (Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties) | -- |
| 2023 | W, 4-0 (Suffolk Rams) | L, 4-2 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | -- | -- | N/A |
| 2024 | W, 8-0 (Western New England Golden Bears) | W, 2-0 (Plattsburgh Cardinals) | L, 1-0 (Elmira Soaring Eagles) | -- | N/A |
| 2025 | Bye | W, 1-0 (Nazareth Golden Flyers) | L, 3-1 (Amherst Mammoths) | -- | N/A |
22 appearances* | 6-time National Champions* | 2-time Runner-Up | 5-time National Semifinalist | 13 Frozen Fours* |
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*=2000 and 2001 tournaments were AWCHA sponsored, rather than NCAA
