Pal-Mac Reloads After Run

Program Outlook

Pal-Mac enters the 2026 season in Class D after a 17–1 campaign in 2025. The Red Raiders combined consistent scoring with strong defensive results throughout the year and advanced to the sectional final. After losing top face off player Luke VanGorden to graduation, Pal-Mac hopes to build on last year’s performance.

Coaching Continuity

Joe Hill returns for his 19th season as head coach at Pal-Mac. His career record at the school stands at 231–78. A former Canandaigua player, Hill has guided the program through sustained success over nearly two decades. That continuity remains a key factor as the team brings back an experienced and dedicated group of players.

Returning Award Winners

A large group of returning players earned league and sectional recognition in 2025. Jackson Dennie returns after an 80-goal, 31-assist season that earned him All-League First Team Attack honors, a place on the Section 5 Class C All-Tournament Team, and a college commitment to NJIT. Reid Diehl also returns after scoring 75 goals with 43 assists and earning All-League First Team Attack honors and All-Tournament recognition, and a college commitment to Mercyhurst. Sophomore Max Hill is a third player with over 100 points last year. In the midfield, Brandon Dennie (D’Youville) and Branden Thomas return after earning All-League First Team and Finger Lakes Player of the Year honors, respectively. Defensively, Henry Beaton and Carson Lich (Ohio Northern University) return after earning All-League First Team recognition, with Lich also named Finger Lakes Player of the Year and First Team All State. In goal, Drew Ikewood returns after recording 156 saves and earning All-League First Team Goalie honors.

Games This Year

The 2026 schedule again features a mix of league and non-league contests. League games, designated as FLE matchups, include meetings with Wayne, Newark, Livonia-Avon-Geneseo, and Geneva. These games will serve as key measuring points within league play. The remainder of the schedule consists of NL matchups against teams such as Fairport, Brighton, Grand Island, Midlakes, Bloomfield-Honeoye, and Voorheesville.

Season Focus

Returning nearly all of its scoring and maintaining long-standing stability on the sideline, Pal-Mac enters the 2026 campaign with experience and depth, focused on sustaining its high level of play. Coach Hill says, "The Red Raiders aim to uphold the program's tradition of success, understanding that continuing this strong legacy requires relentless hard work, focus, unity, and discipline on and off the field."

Preseason stories are based on information from SportsFive.NET databases and coaches.

Stories are planned for each of the teams in Section V and will be released, a few at a time, between now and the start of the playing season. The stories will remain on the front page for about one week and then will be available in the NEWS archive. There will be links for all the published stories HERE and a link will also be available on each TEAM PAGE.