Perhaps schools in the New England Hockey Conference are feeling a sense of relief as they see Hobart College hockey's dominance disappear after next season.
And with some excitement, New York State University Athletic Conference programs will welcome two-time NCAA Division III national champions the Statesmen and Skidmore Thoroughbreds for the 2025-26 season.
Brian Miller, Hobart & William Smith Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation, announced that the Statesman and William Smith Herron hockey teams will compete in the SUNYAC starting next season.
“We are very excited and honored to have found a home for such a familiar and respected institution and hockey program within SUNYAC,” Miller said. “We already play many of these programs on a non-conference schedule and feel the strength of the league is on par with the NEHC.
“I would like to thank Commissioner Tom DiCamillo and the current SUNYAC Membership Administrators and Presidents for welcoming Hobart and William Smith Hockey into their esteemed ranks. We feel we can bring even more value to an already strong league. We look forward to some tough competition.”
The SUNYAC Men's Hockey League will also welcome current NEHC member Skidmore. The Statesmen and Thoroughbreds (both programs are civilian organizations) will join SUNYAC teams in Buffalo State, Canton, Cortland, Fredonia, Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam.
In the SUNYAC Women's League, William Smith will face Buffalo State, Canton, Cortland, Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam.
Brockport and Geneseo will both join UCHC in 2024-25.
“Hobart, William Smith and Skidmore bring great ice hockey programs to SUNYAC with a rich history of success in Division III,” DiCamillo said. “The addition of these programs strengthens the schedule within the conference and further elevates what is already one of the best Division III conferences in the nation.”
Both SUNYAC men's and women's schedules will be played in a double round-robin format, with 18 conference games for the men and 14 for the women.
“We're excited to be joining the SUNYAC Hockey League. This has a long history of great programs throughout our program's history. So it's going to be an easy transition for us,” Hobart said. head coach Mark Taylor said. “Joining a league with the best teams in the country and maintaining a high-intensity schedule will be a win-win. Plus, there is always excitement and nuance in joining a new league, so It will be fun for players.
“We look to make the most of our final year at NEHC as we look to win another league championship with Katie Bordovich, an outstanding commissioner. I certainly have high regard for her leadership. Ta.”
When playing against NEHC opponents, the Statesmen and Herons had to spend far more time traveling than their conference opponents. The closest opponent for either program is Elmira College, a 54-mile drive away. The next closest school is Skidmore, which is 3 hours and 162 miles away, and the remaining schools are between 4 and 7 hours away.
