The regular season is winding down, so it’s time to take a look at how Upper Valley squads are doing on the ice with the postseason approaching.
Boys
NHIAA Division I
Hanover
The Hanover Bears are .500 thus far at 6-6, which is good for eighth in the division. The Bears had a tough 0-3 start to the season, but roared back and won five games in a row. However, Hanover has stumbled lately, losing three of its last four, with its latest win coming against Manchester Central-Manchester West-Memorial on Saturday.
The Bears will aim to build on their latest win as they enter the final six games of the regular season. Next up for Hanover is Nashua North-Nashua South on Saturday. The Bears close the season Feb. 28 when they host Londonderry.
Ten teams make the playoffs in Division I, so the Bears will have to be locked in to avoid slipping out of playoff contention.
The NHIAA Division I boys’ hockey playoffs are set to begin on March 4.
NHIAA Division II
Lebanon-Stevens-Mascoma
The co-op of Lebanon, Stevens, and Mascoma, also known as the LSM Raiders, has had a challenging season, as they sit 11th in the 12-team division at 2-12. The Raiders’ wins this season have come against Winnacunnet and Timberlane-Pelham.
Only eight teams in Division II make the playoffs, so an appearance by the Raiders seems a long-shot as the eighth-place squad, Somersworth-Coe-Brown, is 6-7.
With that said, the Raiders do still have some time to make a playoff push with four games remaining in the regular season. They next hit the ice at Alvirne-Milford on Saturday and close the season Feb. 28 at Dover.
The NHIAA Division II boys’ hockey playoffs are slated to begin March 7.
VPA Division II
Woodstock
The Woodstock Wasps are having themselves a bit of a season turnaround and are seventh in the division at 4-8-2. The Wasps started the season 1-6-2 but have had more success of late, winning three of their last five games.
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Wasps will look to continue to gain some positive momentum. Woodstock will next host North Country on Saturday and end the season at home against Hartford on Feb. 28.
Hartford
The Hartford Hurricanes, who were just one game away from playing in the state final last season, have struggled during their 2025-2026 campaign. They are in 10th in the 11-team division at 3-12.
The Canes have lost four of their last five games, and their wins have come against St. Johnsbury Academy twice and Brattleboro.
Hartford has five games left in the regular season. Up next is Middlebury at home on Saturday, and they close out on the road against Woodstock on Feb. 28.
Up to 16 teams can participate in the playoffs per the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website. Therefore, both Canes and Wasps appear poised to play in the postseason.
The VPA Division II boys’ hockey playoffs are slated to start March 3-4.
Girls
NHIAA Division I
Lebanon-Kearsarge-Mascoma
The co-op of Lebanon, Kearsarge, and Mascoma sits atop the division at 11-2 in what has been one of the better season is program history so far. The Raiders are undefeated in New Hampshire and their only losses this season have come against Beekmantown (N.Y.) Central, which is one of the top-ranked girls team in New York.
Lebanon-Kearsarge-Mascoma has won four of its last five games and will aim to maintain its defensive dominance in the final four regular-season games. The Raiders have only given up 6 goals total in their 11 wins, which include seven shutouts.
The Raiders were scheduled to face Oyster River-Portsmouth on Wednesday, but the game was suspended and will be played at a later date due to an injury suffered by an Oyster River-Portsmouth athlete.
The Raiders will next face off with Salem at home on Saturday. They are currently scheduled to close the season Feb. 27 against Oyster-River Portsmouth at UNH’s Whittemore Center.
Eleven squads make the postseason in Division I, and barring a collapse, the Raiders should cruise to a first-round bye as the first five seeds are awarded one.
Hanover
Hanover, the defending state champion, is currently in 10th place with a 5-7 record, but their standings should improve over the final two weeks of the season.
The Bears got off to a strong 2-0 start but then struggled, winning just one of eight contests against a schedule loaded with powerhouse out-of-state opponents.
But the Bears are 5-2 against New Hampshire schools with there only losses coming in two one-goal games against the Raiders.
Lately, the Bears’ potent offense has been picking up steam. The Bears will look to keep the scoring going in their final six games to improve their seeding heading into the playoffs. Hanover could still position itself to host a playoff game with some late season victories.
The Bears will next battle Oyster River-Portsmouth at home on Saturday. They close the season on Feb. 28 when they host St. Thomas-WNC-DOV.
The NHIAA Division I girls’ hockey playoffs are scheduled to start on March 3.
VPA Division II
Hartford
Hartford, which has won back-to-back Division II state championship the last two seasons, has certainly positioned itself for a chance at a three-peat at 9-3-2, which is top of the standings.
While the Canes started the season 9-0, they have have been winless since mid-January and have lost three times and tied twice in their last five contests.
Hartford, which has six games remaining in the regular season, has some time to get back to its winning ways as the playoffs approach. They travel to Burlington on Saturday and end the season at home on Feb. 28 against Burr & Burton.
Woodstock
Woodstock has not had much success in terms of wins this season at 3-11, which is good for seventh place in the division. But after starting the season 0-8, things have gotten a bit better for the Wasps. Notably, Woodstock has won two of its last three games.
Momentum could be swinging the Wasps’ way as they finish their final five games of the season. They will next take on Rutland on the road on Saturday. Woodstock wraps up the regular season on Feb. 28 on the road against U-32.
Up to 16 teams make the playoffs according to the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website, so both the Canes and Wasps are likely to see some postseason action.
The VPA Division II girls’ hockey playoffs are slated to start March 3-4.