ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With the 2025–26 season set to begin, excitement is running high for the College of Saint Benedict hockey team.
A year ago, St. Ben's narrowly missed qualifying for the MIAC Playoffs, finishing 12-10-3 overall and 9-8-1 in conference play—good for sixth place. Under fourth-year head coach
Lindsay Macy, CSB built a strong home record (8-4-3) and laid a foundation for success that combines veteran experience with impressive young talent.
Through the preseason, the Bennies have focused on building a culture of unity and hard work—something Macy says is already setting this group apart.
"I think this is probably the most cohesive unit we've had since I've been here. The work ethic is incredible," said Macy. "They come every day ready to work, excited to learn, and they're probably the most coachable team I've ever had."
Sophomore
Camryn Hargreaves (Minnetrista, Minn.) echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the team's commitment to supporting one another on and off the ice.
"We really put an emphasis on what it means to have a sisterhood," said Hargreaves, who tallied seven goals and five assists in her first-year season. "We're always there for each other. The key to success this year will be finishing games strong and continuing to grow the program."
Senior goaltender
Ellynor Haack (Saint Paul, Minn.)—one of four goalies on the roster—has appeared in 29 career games with an .854 save percentage. She noted how the team's chemistry is already showing up both on and off the ice.
"It feels great—everyone's clicking really well. Things are working on the ice, and off the ice we're close too. We're always hanging out together, and it already feels like a really solid group," Haack said.
The Bennies open their 2025–26 campaign at home (Ritsche Arena, MAC, St. Cloud, Minn.) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, hosting defending NCAA Division III national champion University of Wisconsin–River Falls, ranked No. 1 in the UCHO Preseason national poll. CSB begins MIAC play on Friday, Nov. 14, when they host St. Scholastica at 6 p.m. [
Full schedule here].
This season, Saint Benedict returns 12 letterwinners and welcomes 14 newcomers. Last year's squad scored 79 goals (3.2 per game) while averaging 32.8 shots per game. Despite losing nine seniors to graduation, the Bennies bring back key contributors, including:
Macy credits the team's leadership and preparation for setting the tone early.
"We have incredible leadership from the sophomores through the seniors," Macy said. "The freshmen came in ready—fit, focused, and already familiar with our systems. We're ready to get going."
Since Macy took over the program, CSB has recorded 11 or more wins in each of her three seasons, finishing third in the MIAC in 2022–23 and sixth each of the past two years—just shy of playoff qualification. The Bennies have now posted four straight seasons of double-digit wins, a streak matched only once before (1997–98 through 2001–02).
Founded in 1997 as a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Hockey Alliance, the Bennies program has achieved 10 top-six MIAC finishes and 202 all-time wins, which includes a a 37-34-5 overall mark and 27-24-3 in the MIAC during Macy's tenure.
