NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Head Coach Cam Ellsworth announces he will be stepping away from coaching:

Serving as head men's hockey coach at Norwich University for the past seven years has been the pinnacle of my professional career. The honor of leading this storied program and working with such exceptional student-athletes has been a profound privilege.
 
After thoughtful reflection, I have made the decision to step away from coaching to pursue new professional endeavors.
 
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Tony Mariano and President Emeritus Richard Schneider for entrusting me with this remarkable opportunity. I am equally thankful to Ed Hockenbury, President Mark Anarumo, and LtGen John Broadmeadow for the support of both myself and the program throughout my tenure.
 
Above all, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the players I have had the privilege to lead and serve these past seven years. You have been the heart of my experience at Norwich, and I am immensely grateful for each of you.

Over the course of seven seasons, Coach Ellsworth guided the team to an impressive record of 115-39-19 (.720 win percentage), securing a regular-season and two tournament championships in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) in addition to three NCAA Tournament berths. The Cadets were NCAA Tournament runners-up in 2018-19, narrowly defeated by Wisconsin-Stevens Point 3-2 in overtime. The following year, the Cadets—buoyed by an 18-game unbeaten streak including nine consecutive shutouts to close the season—were the top ranked team in the country before the NCAA Tournament was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under his mentorship, the Cadets have earned a significant number of individual honors including a National Player of the Year, three Academic All-Americans, four Conference Players of the Year, and five All-Americans. Tom Aubrun (Chamonix, France) became the third Cadet named National Player of the Year when he was recognized as the 2020 Sid Watson Award winner while setting five NCAA records. His streaks of consecutive shutouts (9) and shutout minutes (527:31) are NCAA ice hockey records for all levels and were only halted when the NCAA Tournament was suspended. During his time at Norwich, Ellsworth's teams have established nine NCAA records. In recognition for the overall success during the 2019-20 season, Ellsworth was named the NEHC Coach of the Year and the American Hockey Coaches Association Ed Jeremiah Award winner as the National Division III Coach of the Year.   
 
Norwich's Director of Athletics, Ed Hockenbury, acknowledges Coach Ellsworth's achievements. He expresses gratitude for the commitment and diligence that paved the way for these successes, both on and off the ice:

I want to thank Cam Ellsworth for his leadership of our men's hockey program. Following Coach Mike McShane was not an easy task, and Cam's integrity, humility, tireless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to his players ensured that Norwich hockey remained competitive at the highest levels while providing a quality experience for the members of his team. Amidst incredibly high expectations and a national Division III hockey landscape that has grown more challenging every year, Cam led his program the right way.
 
His remarkable winning percentage speaks to his ability as a hockey coach. He recruited high character young men who performed at the highest levels both on the ice and in the classroom, and he supported them behind the scenes in countless ways that will be meaningful the rest of their lives. He taught his players to be community minded, working with Darn Tough to initiate the sock toss that provides socks for those in need, and providing hours of volunteer support from his team to the Black Bears youth hockey organization.
 
In addition, Cam worked with our generous alumni and rink staff to make improvements to the facility, maintaining Kreitzberg Arena's place at the pinnacle of Division III hockey rinks. And Cam was an active and supportive member of our department and the University community, advocating for his program while supporting the Norwich mission. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Cam, I appreciate his many contributions to our hockey program, and I wish him and his family well.

The storied Norwich men's hockey program will begin a new chapter as members of the Little East Conference (LEC) in 2025-26. The program has won four national championships in the past three decades and boasts a strong national reputation, supportive administration, passionate alumni, and an exceptional group of returning players.

Kreitzberg Arena, the on-campus home facility for the Cadets, has been the host site for multiple NCAA Tournament games, hosting the NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships in 1999, 2003, and 2004, along with the 2018 NCAA Division III women's ice hockey championship. To date, the Cadets have twice had the honor of lifting the national championship trophy on their home ice; once by the men's team in 2003 and subsequently by the women's team in 2018.
 
Norwich will immediately begin a national search for the next head coach who will maintain and enhance the tradition of continued excellence, both on and off the ice.