Stonehill College is locking in its new captains with some familiar faces leading the charge
Stonehill College men’s hockey head coach David Berard has announced the leadership group for the 2026-27 season, with senior Charlie Banquier and junior Zachary Aben serving as co-captains. Seniors JJ Grainda and Matthew Romer, along with junior Leo Chambers, will join them as assistant captains.
Aben enters the season after serving as an assistant captain during the 2025-26 campaign. The junior forward returns to the ice after dealing with injuries last season. In 32 career appearances for the Skyhawks, Aben has recorded 11 points, including three goals and eight assists.
Banquier will wear the captain’s “C” during his final season with Stonehill. The Moorestown, New Jersey, native has established himself as a dependable player on the Skyhawks’ blue line. Over three seasons, he has played in 82 games, producing 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists. He has also made an impact defensively, recording 119 career blocked shots.
Chambers joins Aben as one of two juniors in the leadership group. The Toronto, Ontario, native is coming off a career-best 2025-26 season in which he posted 10 points, including two goals and eight assists, while recording 36 shots. In 55 career games, Chambers has totaled 16 points and won 230 faceoffs.
Grainda enters his senior season after a breakout junior campaign. The Carmel, Indiana, native ranked second on the team with 11 goals and finished with 15 points. He also made program history by becoming the first Stonehill player to record a hat trick against an NCAA Division I opponent.
Romer, meanwhile, returns for his second season with Stonehill after transferring from Northern Michigan. He immediately became a key offensive contributor in 2025-26, leading the team with 22 points on 15 goals and seven assists. He also led the Skyhawks with five power-play goals and two game-winning goals.
With experienced contributors across the forward and defensive groups, Stonehill will enter the 2026-27 season with a leadership core that combines returning production, experience, and familiarity with the program- a recipe for success for a program that’s on the up and up.
