PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Little East Conference (LEC) Commissioner Pamela S. Samuelson announced that the Norwich University women's ice hockey program will join the league as an associate member in the LEC's inaugural season in 2025-26. . The addition of the Cadets' prestigious program increases the LEC's future women's ice hockey membership to her eight institutions.
“On behalf of the President and Director of Competition of the Little East Conference, I am pleased to welcome Norwich University Women's Ice Hockey as an Associate Member for its inaugural season,” said Samuelson. “Their additions will allow the established New England Hockey Conference rivalry to continue without interruption and increase the profile of what is expected to be a highly competitive sport for the LEC. .”
“We are excited to expand our relationship with the Little East Conference by adding a women's ice hockey program in the LEC's first year,” said Norwich Director of Athletics Ed Hockenberry. “We are very pleased to have found a home for both our men’s and women’s programs for years to come. The creation of Little East women’s ice hockey is an exciting development for Division III and for Norwich. It's natural for us to be in an ideal geographic location, continue our long-standing traditional rivalry, and create an intriguing new matchup in a highly competitive league. We are very proud of our history of success in hockey and look forward to contributing to the LEC. We are off to a great start. Pam Samuelson for welcoming us to Little East. I would like to thank the LEC Chairman, President and Sports Director.
Samuelson announced in February that the LEC combined its primary and affiliate programs in 2025-26 with active members of women's ice hockey: University of Massachusetts Boston, Plymouth State University, University of Southern Maine and Vermont State University. Announced that it will start sponsoring women's ice hockey. Castleton joined the new varsity programs at Keene State University and the University of New England as an associate member. Later, Western Connecticut State University announced it would add women's ice hockey as a varsity program to join the LEC in 2026-27.
The addition of men's and women's ice hockey in 2025-26 will increase the LEC's championship sponsorship to 23 sports, making Little East the second-largest Division III conference in New England by championship offering.
About Little East Conference
The Little East Conference (LEC) was founded in 1986 when six public institutions came together to create a single athletics conference and is now New England's premier NCAA Division III public institution. It has expanded to include competitive conferences. The LEC will soon feature 23 championship sports and sponsor high-quality competition for student-athletes while following Division III's mission of “Passion, Responsibility, Sportsmanship and Citizenship.”
The Little East is comprised of nine major institutions covering all six New England states. Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State University (NH), Boston, MA, Dartmouth College, MA, Plymouth State University (NH), Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine, Castleton University of Vermont and Western Connecticut State University.
About Norwich University
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults for the Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a wide range of traditional and distance learning programs leading to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Norwich University was founded by Captain Alden Partridge of the United States Army in 1819 and is the oldest private military university in the United States. Norwich is one of six senior military colleges in our country and is the birthplace of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
