Men’s Ice Hockey Selected Second in ECAC Preseason Poll; Stavroff, Cleaves and Croteau Named to Preseason All-League Team

Clifton Park, N.Y. – The ECAC announced its preseason poll ahead of the 2026-27 season on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 16). The ECAC selected Dartmouth to finish second in the conference. Hayden Stavroff, Hank Cleaves, and Emmett Croteau were all named to the Preseason All-League Team.

The Big Green is coming off a historic season in which the team won the ECAC Championship for the first time in program history, marking its first appearance in the title game since 1980. Dartmouth advanced to the NCAA Regional on Tim Busconi's overtime, game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Princeton.

Coming into the 2026-27 season, Dartmouth was selected to finish second in the ECAC, receiving two first-place votes. Quinnipiac took home the top spot in the poll, with Cornell rounding out the top three.

Individually, three student-athletes were named to the ECAC Preseason All-League Team: Hayden Stavroff (forward), Hank Cleaves (forward), and Emmett Croteau (goalie). Dartmouth accounts for half of the six total student-athletes named to the team. The full ECAC Preseason All-League Team can be found here.

Stavroff was a unanimous selection after a strong 2025-26 campaign. He became the first Dartmouth player to lead the nation in scoring, tallying 29 goals and 19 assists playing in all 35 games. Additionally, Stavroff was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and Ivy League Player of the Year, and he became the first Dartmouth skater to win the Walter Brown Award, which is given to the top American-born player in New England.

Cleaves had a career year a season ago, setting new career highs in goals (18), assists (22), and points (40). The career year led to the now-junior forward being named to the All-Ivy First Team and a Second Team All-ECAC selection. Cleaves enters this season as one of the top face-off players in the country, finishing last year with a 52.9% win rate.

Netminder Croteau started 24 games a season ago, compiling a 15-5-4 record and a .922 save percentage. He was a Mike Richter Award finalist (the award given to the nation's top goalie), a Second Team All-ECAC selection, and an All-Ivy selection at the conclusion of last season. He was named Most Outstanding Player at the ECAC Tournament, posting a 0.46 GAA and a .982 save percentage in the semifinals and finals.

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