The Utica Pioneers are a Men’s Division III ice hockey team representing Utica University, located in Utica, New York from the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. The team is based out of the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, which is located in downtown Utica, three miles from the school’s campus. The men’s program was established for the 2001-02 season.
Alternate Logo
Quick Hits
- School: Utica University
- Location: Utica, New York
- School Founded: 1946
- Enrollment: ~3,600
- Colors: Blue, Orange, White
- Home Arena: Adirondack Bank Center
- Arena Capacity: 4,000
- Rink Dimensions: 190′ x 85′
- Conference: United Collegiate Hockey Conference
- Head Coach: Gary Heenan
- Conference Titles: 12 (2005, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
- Conference Tournament Titles: 6 (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Conferences
- ECAC West (2001-2017)
- United Collegiate Hockey Conference (2017-present)
Arenas
- Adirondack Bank Center (2001-present)
- primary arena
- Utica University Nexus Center (2022-present)
- alternate arena
Head Coaches
- Gary Heenan (2001-present) 416-193-55 (.668)
Year by Year Results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Conference Tournament | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECAC West | Overall Record |
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| 2001-02 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 30 | 45 | 5 | 5th | Did not qualify | 25 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 80 | 93 |
| 2002-03 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 37 | 35 | 9 | 5th | Did not qualify | 25 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 84 | 96 |
| 2003-04 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 37 | 35 | 9 | 4th | L, SF 4-2 (Hobart) | 26 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 120 | 85 |
| 2004-05 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 54 | 34 | 20 | 1st | W, SF 4-3 2OT (Elmira) L, F 3-1 (Manhattanville) | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 99 | 74 |
| 2005-06 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 38 | 32 | 16 | 4th | W, SF 5-3 (Manhattanville), L, F 3-2 (Elmira) | 27 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 73 | 66 |
| 2006-07 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 52 | 39 | 17 | 3rd | L, SF 2-1 (Neumann) | 25 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 87 | 61 |
| 2007-08 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 61 | 39 | 17 | 3rd | L, SF 6-2 (Manhattanville) | 26 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 97 | 67 |
| 2008-09 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 54 | 56 | 11 | 5th | L, QF 4-3 (Neumann) | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 101 | 82 |
| 2009-10 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 47 | 72 | 10 | 5th | L, QF 3-1 (Neumann) | 26 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 90 | 105 |
| 2010-11 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 32 | 36 | 13 | 3rd | L, SF 5-2 (Neumann) | 26 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 96 | 59 |
| 2011-12 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 37 | 41 | 10 | 4th | L, QF 4-3 OT (Neumann) | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 109 | 74 |
| 2012-13 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 69 | 37 | 23 | 2nd | L, SF 2-1 OT (Manhattanville) | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 122 | 64 |
| 2013-14 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 51 | 37 | 21 | 1st | W, SF 1-0 (Manhattanville), L, F 5-2 (Elmira) | 27 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 91 | 65 |
| 2014-15 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 35 | 49 | 11 | 5th | L, QF 5-2 (Elmira) | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 74 | 73 |
| 2015-16 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 42 | 44 | 15 | 3rd | W, QF 5-3 (Elmira), W, SF 4-3 OT (Manhattanville) L, F 5-0 (Hobart) | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 77 | 71 |
| 2016-17 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 28 | 27 | 1st | W, SF 4-3 (Neumann) L, F 2-1 OT (Hobart) | 27 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 101 | 75 |
United Collegiate Hockey Conference | Overall Record |
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| 2017-18 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 79 | 34 | 24 | 1st | W, SF 5-2 (Neumann) W, F 8-3 (Elmira) | 27 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 133 | 55 |
| 2018-19 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 85 | 29 | 44 | 1st | W, SF 2-1, 3-2 OT (Nazareth) L, F 5-2, 3-4, 1-2 minigame (Manhattanville) | 29 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 119 | 55 |
| 2019-20 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 100 | 33 | 46 | 1st | W, SF 5-2, 3-2 (Nazareth) W, F 4-0, 6-2 (Wilkes) | 29 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 147 | 57 |
| 2020-21 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 16 | 0.875 | 1st | W, QF 9-0 (Manhattanville) L, SF 2-1 3OT (Elmira) | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 59 | 18 |
| 2021-22 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 21 | 53 | 1st | W, 11-1 (Lebanon Valley) W, 4-0 (Manhattanville) W, F 7-4 (Wilkes) | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 164 | 40 |
| 2022-23 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 123 | 30 | 58 | 1st | W, QF 5-2 (Arcadia) W, 11-0 (Manhattanville) W, 5-3 (Nazareth) | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 165 | 57 |
| 2023-24 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 114 | 28 | 58 | 1st | W, QF 3-0 (Nazareth) W, 4-0 (Alvernia) W, F 3-2 (Stevenson) | 28 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 132 | 41 |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 84 | 44 | 51 | 1st | W, SF 9-0 (Chatham) L, F 7-3 (Geneseo) | 31 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 132 | 74 |
| 2025-26 | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 85 | 32 | 42 | 1st | W, SF 4-1 (Nazareth) W, F 4-1 (Geneseo) | 29 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 127 | 67 |
NCAA Tournament Appearances
| Season | First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Bye | W, 4-2 (Bowdoin Polar Bears) | L, 5-1 (Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds) | -- |
| 2020 | Bye | (Babson/Wesleyan)* | *Tournament cancelled prior to first round by NCAA due to COVID-19 pandemic |
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| 2022 | Bye | L, 2-0 (UNE Nor'Easters) | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Bye | L, 5-4 OT (UNE Nor'Easters) | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Bye | W, 4-1 (Plymouth State Panthers) | L, 3-1 (Hobart Statesmen) | -- |
| 2025 | W, 5-1 (Fitchburg State Falcons) | W, 5-3 (St. Norbert Green Knights) | W, 2-1 OT (Curry Colonels) | L, 2-1 OT (Hobart Statesmen) |
| 2026 | W, 3-0 (Williams Ephs) | L, 5-1 (Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils) | -- | -- |
7 appearances | 1-time National Runner Up | 2-Time National Semifinalist |
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