Illinois State Redbirds D3 Hockey: Bigger Expectations for 2026–27
NORMAL, Ill. — There is a different feeling surrounding the Illinois State University Division 3 hockey program heading into the 2026–27 season.
The expectations are higher.
After a season that ended earlier than the Redbirds wanted, Illinois State returns to the ice with a roster that combines veteran leadership, returning contributors and an incoming group of players with talent and a few players coming from their D2 squad from last year.
The objective is simple: go further.
Illinois State competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division 3 and is a member of the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association, competing against Division 3 programs from Illinois and surrounding states.
And while every season begins with a clean slate, the Redbirds believe this year’s roster gives them plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Experience Meets New Talent
One of the biggest strengths of the 2026–27 Redbirds is the combination of players who already understand the expectations of college hockey and newcomers..
New to the team are forwards Eddie Peterson, Jason Rediger, Mitchell Fafinski and Evan Kreidler. Max Montalvo will be adding to the defensive core from the last years D2 team. Max will be joining his brother Murphy. Anthony Sorrentino and Ian Gannon will be returning to the defensive squad after injuries from last year. Veteran leader’s Mario Garcia and Cody Teson are expected to set the standard.
The incoming class also reflects something Illinois State has been emphasizing in its recruiting: finding players who are ready to compete immediately while also fitting into the culture of the program.
A Veteran Core
The newcomers will join a group of returning Redbirds who have already accumulated significant experience in the program.
The Redbirds top six forwards from last years MACHA Silver Division Champions are all returning. Peyton Enderle, Brandan Meyer, Sam Santangelo, Justin Morrissey and, Charlie Orlando.
Head Coach Michael Hernbrott on the upcoming season. “We have a deep, talented veteran team. We’ve added some talented new players. We expect competition amongst our own players and lines to make us tougher against the teams we play. We had a quality season last year. That only set the bar. We would like to raise it this year. This is a tougher schedule, but the expectation is to step up to the challenge of it.”
The Goaltending
As with virtually every hockey team, success will depend heavily on what happens in the crease.
Illinois State enters the season with returning goaltenders Matt Difilippo, Matt Ogean and Sean Devalk.
The Redbirds don’t necessarily need one player to carry the position all season. They need competition, consistency and someone to establish himself when the games become most important.
The Standard Has Been Set
The current Redbird program isn’t coming from nowhere.
Illinois State has experienced several highly successful seasons in its recent history. They have made the MACHA playoffs the past two years. Winning the MACHA East last year.
The challenge now is turning that history into sustained success.
The 2026–27 roster appears to give the Redbirds an opportunity to do exactly that.
More Than Just Making the Playoffs
For this year’s team, simply qualifying for the postseason shouldn’t be considered the ultimate goal.
The expectation is to make a run.
That means becoming a better team as the season progresses, developing chemistry between the returning players and newcomers, and ultimately being at its best when the postseason arrives.
College hockey seasons aren’t won in September.
They’re won by the teams that continue to improve through October, November and December and then find another level when the stakes rise.
That is the challenge facing Illinois State.
A Team With Something to Prove
There is also a little unfinished business surrounding the 2026–27 Redbirds.
The players know how last season ended.
They know they were capable of more.
And they now have another year of experience, a new group of recruits and another opportunity to see what this program can accomplish.
That makes the upcoming season about more than wins and losses.
It’s about establishing Illinois State as one of the programs that opponents don’t want to see on their postseason schedule.
The ingredients are there: experienced players, additions, goaltending competition and a program with a history of winning.
Now the Redbirds have to put it all together.
The goal for 2026–27 isn’t simply to get back to the postseason.
It’s to go further than they did last year.
And if this roster develops the way Illinois State believes it can, the Redbirds could make the 2026–27 season one to remember.
The next chapter starts now.
