By: Ryan Finch | Follow me on Twitter/X @RyanFinch0815
The Maine Mariners are bringing back one of the promising young forwards from their historic 2025-26 season, as Ben Allison has re-signed with the organization for the 2026-27 season.
Allison’s return gives head coach Rick Kowalsky another young forward who showed throughout his short time in Maine that he can make an impact when given the opportunity. After joining the Mariners late in the regular season following a standout career at Saint Mary’s University, Allison quickly proved that he belonged at the professional level.
The Halifax, Nova Scotia native arrived in Maine after leading all U Sports players in scoring during his final collegiate season. Allison recorded 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points in just 30 games at Saint Mary’s, building off a three-year collegiate career in which his point totals increased every season. He also previously appeared in seven ECHL games with the Wichita Thunder during the 2022-23 season.
Allison appeared in seven regular-season games for the Mariners after joining the team in March, recording one goal and one assist. While the sample size was small, it didn’t take long for him to show flashes of the offensive ability that made him one of the top scorers in Canadian university hockey.
His biggest opportunity, however, came during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Allison appeared in five postseason games and finished with two goals and two assists for four points. His best performance came during Game 3 of the North Division Finals against the Wheeling Nailers, when he recorded three points, including a goal and two assists, in a 6-3 Mariners victory. Allison also scored Maine’s first goal of the night in Game 5 of the series, helping the Mariners take a 3-2 series lead.
Perhaps his most memorable moment came in Game 6. With the Mariners one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, Allison found himself with a chance to become an instant hero. He broke in alone on a breakaway in overtime with an opportunity to end the series, but Wheeling goaltender Taylor Gauthier made the save. The Nailers would eventually win in overtime, forcing a deciding Game 7. Despite the disappointing ending, Allison’s playoff performance provided Mariners fans with plenty of reason to be excited about what could come next.
His return also gives Maine an important piece of continuity as the organization looks to build on the most successful season in franchise history. The Mariners finished the regular season with a franchise-record 93 points and won their first playoff series in team history before falling to Wheeling in seven games.
For Allison, the 2026-27 season represents an opportunity to take what he learned during his first professional experience and turn it into a larger role. For the Mariners, bringing him back means retaining a young forward who already showed he can perform when the pressure is at its highest. After getting a taste of professional hockey and playoff intensity last season, Ben Allison now has the opportunity to write the next chapter of his story in Maine—and Mariners fans will get to see just how high his ceiling can be.
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