After two seasons with the NA3HL’s Norwich Sea Captains, Arvada native Chase Leivian has parlayed those seasons into an opportunity with NCAA Division II Franklin Pierce.

A freshman this season at the Rindge, N.H.-based school, Leivian spent the 2024-25 season as Norwich’s captain.

“I am extremely excited for Chase that he has earned this opportunity to continue his academic and hockey careers at Franklin Pierce,” said Sea Captains head coach Kevin Cunningham. “Chase is everything that a coach wants in a player – skilled, smart, tough, committed, a great teammate, and outstanding leader. Those characteristics made him an excellent Sea Captain and he will certainly bring those attributes to the Ravens hockey program and the FPU campus community. I look forward to seeing Chase continue to thrive during his time in college and beyond.”

Leivian credits Cunningham for helping him reach the next level of the game.

“The opportunity arose for me to commit to Franklin Pierce through the work of my coach Kevin Cunningham in Norwich,” said Leivian. “He utilized connections with a former player of his, Cole Madzey, who is in his final season at Franklin Pierce, to get me a visit. Once I was on campus, I knew it was a fit – the school, hockey, style, and everything in between. I was quick to accept when offered a spot for this upcoming season.

“I am a gritty, hard-nosed player with a knack for getting in front of the net, winning corner battles, and taking faceoffs. That is what Franklin Pierce is all about. I felt as though my style was perfect to come in and make a positive impact with this group. Academically, I am interested in the business world, with a focus in accounting and finance. They have exactly that here at Franklin Pierce, which sold me academically, as I can better myself as a student and feel this is the perfect place to prepare for life after hockey.”

Over 93 career games with the Sea Captains, Leivian recorded 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists), producing identical 29-point totals in each regular season. During his time in Connecticut, he tallied 13 multi-point performances and finished as the team’s second-leading scorer in 2024-25.

In the classroom, getting back into the swing of school is something that has Leivian excited.

“School has always been critical to me,” Leivian said. “I have always taken pride in my work, and I have known I wanted to be a collegiate player, which school is obviously a significant part of. I am majoring in accounting and finance with a minor in business, which will be a great academic fit.”

Leivian played for the Arvada Hockey Association from Mites through Pee Wees. He then spent his 14U A, 14U AA, and 16U AA seasons with the Boulder Hockey Club. Overlapping Leivian’s time at Boulder was his high school hockey career at Ralston Valley where he spent his freshman and sophomore years. Before his junior year of high school, Leivian had the opportunity to play 16U AAA for the Colorado Rampage before playing 18U AAA for the Colorado Thunderbirds during his senior year of high school. He wrapped his youth career with a second year at the Rampage, playing 18U AAA.

Looking ahead, Leivian has goals in mind, both on and off the ice.

“For my short-term goals, I look to make an immediate impact in any way possible,” said Leivian. “I want to leverage my strengths to find my role on this team and continually push myself to improve every day for the benefit of my teammates. I also want to have a smooth transition into school, as I have been away from it for a while throughout my junior career. In the long term, I aim to become a leader on the team and continue to contribute to building this program in the right direction.

“In life, I strive to maintain excellent grades and establish myself through internships and other opportunities, which will enable me to excel in my post-graduation years.”

Photo/Patrick Garriepy

— Matt Mackinder

(September 8, 2025)