2026-27 NCDC Season Preview: South Conference – Southeast Division

The 2026-27 NCDC Season Preview Series continues with a look at the South Conference’s Southeast Division.

All six organizations will compete at the NCDC level for the first time this season, bringing several established Premier programs into Tier II hockey along with the expansion Yorktown Admirals. The division features organizations with strong development histories, experienced returning players making the jump and rosters built to handle the increased pace and physicality of the NCDC.

Here is a team-by-team look at the Southeast Division entering its inaugural NCDC season.

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Head Coach: Brad Gaylord
2025-26 Premier Record: 13-25-4-2, 32 points

The Carolina Jr. Hurricanes enter their first NCDC season with a roster built around speed, conditioning and a relentless forecheck.

“Our biggest strength is our speed and relentless forecheck,” Gaylord said.

Chris Zwirblia, Thomas LeClair, Lincoln Gambol and Owen Nasholds are among the returning players expected to elevate their games as Carolina makes the jump to Tier II.

The incoming group includes Cam Stehle, Sebastian Kaminsky, Nate Mongeau, Troy Horn, Tyler Smith, Beknut Yrys, Simon Carlqvist, Kai Salmon and Henri Varasimacki.

Carolina continued to prioritize speed and conditioning throughout the offseason.

That emphasis should be evident in the team’s identity.

“Speed and relentless compete level,” Gaylord said.

Playing sound defensively and maintaining commitment to the team’s systems will be critical against the rest of the Southeast.

“Playing sound defensively and buying into our systems,” Gaylord said.

For Carolina, the move to the NCDC is a significant moment for the organization and its market.

“It means a lot,” Gaylord said. “We’ve wanted NCDC here in Carolina for a while now, and now we have it. We’re very excited to show the league what we’re made of.”

Gaylord also believes the Triangle is ready to embrace Tier II hockey.

“We feel the area is ready for NCDC, and it’s exciting for our fans to experience Tier II hockey.”

 

Charleston Colonials

Head Coach: Erik Cole
General Manager: Matt Reid
2025-26 Premier Record: 19-22-2-1, 41 points

The Charleston Colonials enter their first NCDC season looking to bring offensive ability and a fast, gritty identity to the Tier II level.

Reid identified offense as one of the team’s biggest strengths entering the season.

Finn Kelly is among the returning players expected to take on a larger role, while newcomer Cameron Gaines could make an immediate impact.

Charleston focused on improving defensively during the offseason as the organization prepared for the move to a higher level of competition.

The Colonials want to combine that improvement with an aggressive playing style.

“Fast and gritty,” Reid said.

Playing through adversity will be one of the biggest keys as Charleston adjusts to NCDC hockey.

The organization enters the year with a straightforward goal of remaining competitive while continuing to develop its players.

 

Charlotte Rush

Head Coach: Trevor Kleckner
2025-26 Premier Record: 23-17-3-1, 50 points

The Charlotte Rush enter their first NCDC season with culture, character and humility at the center of the program.

“I think the biggest strength of our team is our culture,” Kleckner said. “We’ve built an incredibly solid foundation of character and humility that will carry us to wins.”

Hunter Kerzner is expected to take on a larger offensive and leadership role after recording 32 points in 37 Premier games last season.

Defenseman Tristin McAuliffe also moves up after posting 36 points in 32 games and enters the season with three years of potential junior eligibility remaining.

Newcomer Jaeger Johannes could make an immediate impact after recording 72 points in 57 games for Windy City 16U AAA.

Charlotte’s offseason focus extended beyond roster construction.

“Our biggest focus was restoring pride in the Rush logo,” Kleckner said.

The Rush expect to play with speed and attack quickly in transition.

“We’ll be looking to counter fast in transition and strike fast offensively,” Kleckner said.

There will be little room for inconsistency in the Southeast.

“There’s no easy nights,” Kleckner said. “It doesn’t matter who you are playing, or where, you can never ever take a night off. The team that is the most consistent will win the division.”

Charlotte has also been selective about which players it believes can successfully make the jump.

“It’s Tier II hockey, and just because players had a good season at the Premier level doesn’t mean it will translate to NCDC,” Kleckner said. “We’ve been very careful with who we recruit and believe we have a solid group together.”

 

Hampton Roads Whalers

Head Coach: Colten Teubert
2025-26 Premier Record: 36-7-1-0, 73 points — Southeast Division Champions

The Hampton Roads Whalers move to the NCDC after finishing atop the Premier Southeast Division with 36 wins and 73 points last season.

Teubert believes excitement, commitment and character will be among the biggest strengths as the Whalers make the jump.

“Excitement and commitment to the program,” Teubert said. “We have recruited strong character prospects.”

Zilitis and Gustafsson are among the returning players expected to take on larger roles, while Albin Klar is one newcomer Hampton Roads believes can make an immediate impact.

The Whalers focused on building a roster with toughness, internal motivation and the right mentality to handle the challenges of Tier II hockey.

Teubert described the group’s identity with a distinctly Whalers-style message:

“Pirates setting sail with no escape, no false flags and all in, all heart.”

Consistency and discipline will be essential.

“A consistent team effort, disciplined hard Whalers hockey,” Teubert said.

The goal for Year 1 at the NCDC level is ambitious.

“Winning NCDC Dineen Cup,” Teubert said.

As for whether Hampton Roads has assembled the right group for the move:

“Time will tell,” Teubert said. “Fingers crossed we did our job recruiting and scouting the right players ready for this challenge.”

 

Potomac Patriots

Head Coach: Alex Grose
2025-26 Premier Record: 33-10-0-1, 67 points

The Potomac Patriots enter their first NCDC season following a 33-win Premier campaign and with confidence throughout the lineup.

“Our goaltending is strong and confident,” Grose said. “Our offense has depth and is a smart, skilled, hardworking group.”

Declan Sweeney and Bruno Alic are among the returning players expected to take on larger roles.

Newcomers Jaylen Nurse and Elias Tauberman are also expected to contribute early.

Potomac’s offseason focused heavily on finding players who fit the organization both on and off the ice.

“We focused on finding the right guys to bring to Potomac that we believe will be good for us both on and off the ice,” Grose said.

The Patriots expect to play an aggressive style.

“We are a relentless team,” Grose said. “We’ll be in every battle, in your face, every game.”

That mentality will be important in a division where every opponent is capable of winning on a given night.

“Never giving up,” Grose said. “Anyone can beat anyone on any given night.”

While a Dineen Cup is an obvious goal, Potomac’s definition of success goes further.

“Our goal is to develop players both on and off the ice, and move them on to school,” Grose said. “If we end up winning a Dineen Cup, that’s amazing.”

The NCDC provides another opportunity for Potomac’s local players.

“We are thrilled with the promotion to the NCDC,” Grose said. “The move allows us to bring in higher-caliber players, while also giving our local players a chance to play NCDC hockey in their hometown.”

 

Yorktown Admirals

Head Coach: CJ Sweigart
2026-27: First NCDC Season

The Yorktown Admirals begin their first season as an organization in 2026-27, building an entirely new roster for NCDC competition.

With no returning team to lean on, Yorktown will use training camp to begin establishing roles and developing its identity.

“We have a deep forward core and a tight-knit group that has been training together all summer,” Sweigart said. “But as an expansion organization, we really have to see how things come together in training camp.”

The Admirals placed a major emphasis on character and competitiveness during the recruiting process.

“We focused on finding high-compete and high-character individuals for our organization no matter the position,” Sweigart said.

While the final style of play will develop as the roster comes together, Sweigart has already seen qualities he wants to become central to the program.

“What I do see is a lot of drive in this group,” Sweigart said. “Any time you have a group with a ton of desire to get better, push each other and celebrate each other’s successes, we want that to translate into how we track and defend and all those details that make you hard to play against.”

Building chemistry quickly will be one of the organization’s first major challenges.

“Our ability to come together and gel quickly with an entirely new roster against the well-established and very difficult Southeast Division will be a really great challenge for our players and staff,” Sweigart said.

For Yorktown, the foundation begins with development.

“Our central goal as an organization is the development of our players and advancing them to the next stage of their career,” Sweigart said.