2025-26 Season Preview: Jersey Hitmen

The 2025-26 National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) season previews will provide an in-depth look at every team as they gear up for the year ahead. Leading up to opening night, a different team will be spotlighted each day. Each preview will include insights from the head coach, sharing expectations and outlooks for the upcoming season.

Jersey Hitmen

Division: Atlantic

Location: Wayne, NJ | Ice Vault Arena

2024–25 Regular Season Record: 25-21-5-0 | 61 points

After falling in the first round of the playoffs to the Mercer Chiefs last season, the Hitmen return hungrier and stronger, turning their early exit into fuel for a dominant comeback season.

A big component returning to the team will be goaltender Nick Bunch, the backbone of the team. Bunch had a number of clutch performances last season and will be key to their success this upcoming year. Head Coach and GM Toby Harris believes this team will be a special one with a lot of depth from top to bottom.

“This year’s squad is built from the net out as we return 24-25 starting goalie Nick Bunch,” said Harris.  “Bunch was awesome last season in 34 games posting 2.67GAA & .928 save%. On top of that we have arguably our strongest defensive core & deepest forward class since our 2021-22 Founders & Dineen Cup Championship squad.” 

The Hitmen will have a young core this season, but that won’t stop them from grinding day in and day out. Harris hopes to get his team acclimated to a demanding schedule as they will quickly adapt to the pace, pressure, and consistency required to compete at the higher level.

“We will have a very young team this season with only nine skaters having played junior hockey,” said Harris. “So becoming acclimated to the day to day grind of junior hockey and the intense schedule will be a point of emphasis.”

Fans in New Jersey can expect to be treated to high-intensity competitive hockey every time they hit the ice. 

“Our fans will be treated to a high tempo, highly competitive style of play,” said Harris. “We will push the pace north to south and attack in waves.”

Harris is thrilled his players chose to be here, believing it’s the start of a fun and special season.

“With the changing landscape of junior hockey what is extremely exciting about this season’s team is that we were every player’s first choice,” said Harris. “Every player on this roster chose the Hitmen, they chose the NCDC. That is something special in this day and age.”