The East Coast Elite League (ECEL) hosted a successful ECEL Winter Classic this past weekend in New Hampshire, featuring competition across the 14U, 16U, and 18U divisions. The event brought together ECEL league members and guest programs for a weekend of high-level hockey.
16U Division: Regular Season Comes to a Close
The 16U division delivered another competitive showcase as teams wrapped up the ECEL regular season. Nassau County Lions, Long Beach Lightning, LI Rebels, Ontario Hockey Academy, Central Penn Panthers, and Northern Cyclones all competed in a slate of games that helped finalize the standings heading into the postseason.
The Nassau County Lions finished the regular season in first place with a 10-1-1 record, followed by the Long Beach Lightning (8-4-0) and LI Rebels (7-1-0). Ontario Hockey Academy closed out the season at 5-7-0, while Central Penn Panthers (2-8-2) and Northern Cyclones (2-10-0) rounded out the standings.
Several strong individual performances highlighted the season as well. Joseph Dunphy (Nassau County Lions) led all skaters with 19 points (11G, 8A). He was followed by Cody Pichichero (Long Beach Lightning) with 15 points (7G, 8A), while Colin Hite (Nassau County Lions) and James Quinn (Long Beach Lightning) each finished with 14 points (8G, 6A).
The ECEL thanks all 16U teams for a competitive and exciting regular season as the league now turns its focus toward the postseason.
18U Division
The 18U division featured a mix of ECEL teams and guest programs, providing a competitive weekend of hockey. Top Speed Hockey Academy and Mount Academy each earned multiple wins throughout the event, while Northern Cyclones and NH Mountain Kings also picked up key victories, including an overtime win to close out the weekend. The division showcased strong depth and competitiveness across the field.
14U Division
At the 14U level, NH Mountain Kings and Northern Cyclones highlighted the weekend with multiple victories. Long Beach Lightning battled through a challenging slate, gaining valuable experience against strong competition. The division delivered fast-paced games and quality development opportunities for all programs involved.
Looking Ahead
The ECEL thanks all teams, coaches, players, and families for contributing to another successful showcase weekend. With the regular season now complete for 16U, attention turns to the ECEL Playoffs, set to take place in Newburgh, NY at the Ice Time Sports Complex. The league looks forward to an exciting playoff weekend to crown the ECEL champion.
Follow the ECEL for updates, scores, and highlights throughout the 2025–26 season.