Men’s ice hockey is looking to defend its Ivy League Championship this season and pick up the National Collegiate Athletic Association title and the Eastern College Athletic Conference title. As they prepare for their season opener on Nov. 1, head coach Reid Cashman named Tucker McRae ’26 as captain, along with Eric Charpentier ’27, CJ Foley ’27, Alex Krause ’26 and Cam MacDonald ’26 as assistant captains.
Growing up in Calgary, Canada, hockey has been an integral part of McRae’s life. From skating on outdoor rinks, ponds and lakes to joining the Alberta Junior Hockey League, “It’s kind of what everyone does,” McRae said.
McRae credits his hockey journey with introducing him to many new opportunities and a community with strong relationships.
“It’s allowed me to grow as a person, challenging me mentally, learn a ton about myself and grow into the kind of person I want to be,” McRae said.
In McRae’s freshman year, the Big Green was one of collegiate hockey’s worst teams. Cashman took over in 2022 after a stint with the Washington Capitals of the NHL, where he ran development camps.
The squad “took it upon themselves to get better every day and change the direction of our program,” Cashman said.
McRae also highlighted making smaller improvements every day and not letting championships and playoffs distract the team’s skill set.
“It’s focusing on the day or the task at hand being present and intentional with everything we do, and just making sure we’re getting better every day.”
For McRae, being captain “is a huge honor,” especially with Dartmouth’s many successful players who have also held the captain role before.
McRae credits previous captains, Sean Chisholm ’25 and Steven Townley ’25 for creating a “culture that has fostered pride” in playing for Dartmouth. ”
McRae was an obvious choice for captain. Cashman praised McRae’s communication between coaches and players, as well as his persistence through injuries.
“It’s a daily contribution,” Cashman said. “He just keeps showing up with the same mindset, the same attitude.”
The team elected McRae as captain and saw him as their “fearless, genuine and selfless” leader.
“Tucker is the heart and soul of our team,” Krause said. “He’s probably the most respected guy in our room. We all love Tucker and we’ll follow him wherever he goes.”
McRae said that he has high expectations of his players.
“It’s crucial that we’re on the same page and holding each other to that higher standard. We also have a ton of other guys who lead in their own ways. Younger guys can look to the older guys that were named as captains and see how they’re supposed to carry themselves on the ice, off the ice, at team events, at community events.”
The Big Green will play their first game of the 2025-26 season on Nov. 1 against Stonehill College.
