Scott Borek isn't going anywhere.
Merrimack College's men's ice hockey head coach signed a long-term contract extension on Thursday, July 30, locking in the architect of the Warriors' first-ever Hockey East championship to lead the North Andover program well into the future, athletic director Joe Foley announced.
The multi-year deal comes after the best season in program history. Merrimack went 21-15-2 in 2025-26, captured the Hockey East tournament title with a 2-1 win over UConn on Saturday, March 21, and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament before falling to North Dakota 3-0 in the first round.
It's the second extension Borek has signed since arriving in North Andover. He was hired as the program's eighth head coach on April 11, 2018, and previously extended during the final week of the 2021-22 regular season.
Building through departures
The extension signals stability at a moment of roster turnover. Star goaltender Max Lundgren, the Hockey East Tournament MVP, signed with the Boston Bruins after the season. Borek praised Lundgren at a March 30 press conference: "He earned this, no doubt. He has every opportunity to possibly play in the Boston Garden again."
Borek now faces the task of reloading without his backstop while maintaining the program's upward trajectory. His overall record at Merrimack stands at 89-128-12, but the last two seasons have tilted sharply in the Warriors' favor, culminating in the conference title and NCAA bid.
Deep roots in Hockey East
Before Merrimack, Borek spent 33 years coaching in college hockey, including 16 seasons as an associate head coach at UNH and Providence College. He qualified for the NCAA tournament 13 times and won five Hockey East regular-season championships. A Dartmouth graduate (Class of 1985), he turned to coaching after a career-ending neck injury cut short his playing career.
Across his full coaching career at Dartmouth, UNH, Providence, and Merrimack, Borek has recruited 12 All-Americans, 17 NHL players, and 22 All-Conference selections.
Borek has leaned into the local fan base. At the inaugural Merrimack Roadshow event at The Autograph Tavern in Andover on Wednesday, June 24, he sat in front of the Hockey East Championship trophy and told the crowd his players averaged a 3.7 GPA during the spring semester.
"Let's continue to grow it, and let's continue to chase it," Borek said at the June 24 event, addressing fans about the program's future.
The Merrimack student newspaper described the extension as ensuring Borek will remain the Warriors' coach "well into the future." Merrimack is scheduled to face Providence College at Lawler Arena on Friday, Nov. 13, as part of the 2026-27 Hockey East season.
