Daan Braveman, president of Nazareth College, is excited to unveil the creation of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), a men’s and women’s ice hockey league comprised of NCAA Division III institutions that will begin play in the 2017-18 season.
“We are pleased to announce the formation of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference,” said Braveman, who will also serve as the president of the UCHC. “We have a tremendous grouping of academic and athletic institutions, and this will be will an exciting time for our student-athletes and member institutions.”
The structure includes ten men’s and women’s teams from Chatham University, Elmira College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, King’s College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, and Utica College. The conference also includes Nazareth College’s men’s team and will welcome the Wilkes University men’s and women’s teams in 2018-19. Wilkes will play an abbreviated conference schedule in 2017-18.
“We look forward to partnering with our UCHC colleagues to celebrate the accomplishments of our teams,” said William Smith Athletic Director Deb Steward. “We will be competitive rivals while united in our commitment to the NCAA Division III philosophy and student-athlete experience.”
Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano will serve as the inaugural commissioner of the UCHC. Mitrano has 22 years of experience in collegiate athletics and is in his 15th year as the Empire 8 Commissioner.
“I’m grateful to Chuck Mitrano for his leadership in pulling this group of schools together in what promises to be an exciting and competitive Division III hockey league,” said Hobart Athletic Director Mike Hanna ’68. “We look forward to our new members visiting Geneva, and our team visiting new areas where we have alumni, fans and perspective students.”
Both teams currently compete in the ECAC West. The 2016-17 seasons will be the final year for the ECAC West.
Hobart finished the 2015-16 season with a 21-5-2 overall record, matching the program record for wins in a season. The Statesmen made their sixth overall and second straight NCAA tournament appearance. Hobart has won four ECAC West tournament titles. The Statesmen have logged 14 consecutive winning seasons, and trips to the national semifinals in 2006 and 2009.
The 2016-17 season will be the third year for William Smith hockey as a varsity sport. Last season, the Herons went 8-15-2, a five-game win improvement from their inaugural season. The Herons posted a program-best four-game win streak that started with a 4-1 upset of Buffalo State on Jan. 24.
“I’m excited for the William Smith hockey program and for our future in the UCHC,” said William Smith Hockey Head Coach Jaime Totten. “The member teams are all committed to both academic and athletic excellence, as well as the growth of women’s hockey.”
What people are saying:
“Establishing a new conference was a collaborative effort on the part of all of our members. Under the leadership of our Commissioner, Chuck Mitrano, we were able to move our aspirations to reality. The opportunity to incorporate our men’s and women’s programs in the same hockey conference, the infusion of new programs along with our shared commitment to provide a quality student-athlete experience were the underpinnings for creating our new and exciting UCHC alliance.”
-Daan Braveman.
“I’m honored to serve as the inaugural commissioner of the UCHC. We have an exceptional group of institutions that will make UCHC a highly respected structure in the landscape of ice hockey. We are excited to enhance the experience for our student-athletes while representing the very best values of ice hockey.”
-Chuck Mitrano
