SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –
Scott Borek will remember the 2025-26 edition of the Merrimack men's hockey team for a different reason.
Sure, the Warriors claimed the program's first-ever Hockey East Championship following a second half of the season in which they were among the hottest teams in the country. And yes, the run to the conference title included wins over top-seeded Providence, No. 2 UMass-Amherst and No. 3 UConn.
Borek, however, had a different viewpoint when asked to reflect on the season.
"I'll tell you what was accomplished this year the most," Borek said after a season-ending loss to North Dakota in the Sioux Falls Regional of the NCAA Tournament. "I'm a big humility guy. I walked into the room after the game was over and I know everybody says goodbye and that, but our team, to me, this was just different.
"The way they speak to each other, the way they care for each other. The biggest success, to me, I really do think our guys love each other."
Borek referenced a galvanizing conversation ahead of the campaign that undoubtedly brought players closer to each other.
"We grew as a group," Borek said. "We were so close. So, we will definitely take the time to do that (reflect). We haven't talked about it yet because we obviously came here to win another championship. But for the first time in 37 years we're Hockey East champions and every guy in that room, whether he was in a suit or uniform tonight, deserves a lot of credit for that happening. I'm really proud of that. I'm really proud of them."
Merrimack sophomore captain
Caelan Fitzpatrick echoed Borek's sentiments.
"It was such a fun year," Fitzpatrick said after the loss. "We grew really close as a group as the season went on. We had a lot of adversity and the way we handled that as a group, I feel like we collectively became tighter and it's fun to be a part of. I think it showed in our play in the second half, especially. Again, I couldn't be more proud of our group this year."
The youthful Warriors, including graduate student in
Mark Hillier and senior
Matthew Campbell, know they have a lot to be proud of. They helped the program reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years with a culture of sustained success seemingly in place.
"I'm just very, very proud to be the coach at Merrimack College," Borek said. "I love our team. I love our guys individually and collectively. There's a really bright future ahead."
