NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich Men's Hockey team opened its 2025-26 season Saturday night when it hosted fourth-ranked Curry, an NCAA National Semifinalist last season. 

After an early back-and-forth, the Colonels drew the first penalty of the contest three minutes in and cashed in immediately off the faceoff win on a wrist shot by Manny Cabral. The Cadets tested out Curry netminder Thomas Heaney minutes later on a man advantage of their own, but were turned away. Soon after a successful penalty kill for the Cadets, Gage Dill made it a two-goal game on a breakaway.

Early in the second period, the Colonels stretched their lead to three on an odd-man rush. Norwich was inches away from cutting the deficit, but Devon Thibodeau (Pelham, Ont.) hit the post, which was followed by a Heaney save. Curry continued to push the play and extended their lead to four with eight minutes left.

With three minutes left in the middle frame, the Cadets broke through. Jed Brazo (Homer, N.Y.) tapped the puck along to Niko Benjamin (Surprise, Ariz.), who started the rush. Benjamin's original shot was saved by Heaney, but the rebound was collected by Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, Ont.), stuffing it by Heaney to cut into the Curry lead. The Colonels regained the four-goal lead and added another one late in the third.

Norwich will hold their first-ever Little East Conference (LEC) contest Friday night when it hosts Plymouth State at 7:00 p.m., when the sixth annual Darn Tough Sock Toss will take place.