The Merrimack College men’s hockey team was recognized at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on April 16, less than a month after winning its first-ever Hockey East Championship.
The ceremony included Massachusetts senator Barry Finegold, who represents the Second Essex and Middlesex District, and senator Bruce Tarr of the First Essex and Middlesex District. They joined Merrimack head coach Scott Borek and more than a dozen players from the 2025-26 championship team for the event.
“It’s a big deal what you’ve accomplished,” Finegold said as he addressed players. “As a state senator that represents the district you’re in, can’t be more proud of what you’ve accomplished. Merrimack is not that little school. Merrimack is now a powerhouse in sports. And what you’ve done is clearly put them on the map.”
Finegold and Tarr spoke about Merrimack’s path to securing the Hockey East title, which involved victories over top-ranked conference teams: No. 1 Providence, No. 2 UMass, and No. 3 UConn.
“You all stood up to teams with bigger schools, from teams who had maybe a little bit longer legacy, and you proved what you were made of,” Tarr said. “You showed the whole world what persistence, heart and dedication can do. Those are the kind of values we should be showcasing at the state house, and you personified them.”
Looking ahead to next season, it was announced that 18 players from this year’s title-winning roster will return for another campaign with hopes for continued success in North Andover.
Finegold expressed optimism about future achievements by saying: “What I’m even more excited about are I hear the vast majority of you are returning,” Finegold said. “So, next year when you come back, we’re going to be talking about a national championship and stuff like that.”
