ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- There is a big shakeup coming in the world of NCAA Division III ice hockey with the announcement of the newly formed United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC). The UCHC will be a men's and women's ice hockey league comprised of several institutions from the ECAC West Conference, including both the Elmira College men's and women's ice hockey teams, as well as a handful of first-year programs from the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The UCHC will debut in the 2017-18 season and will include teams from Chatham University (PA), Elmira College (NY), Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY), King's College (PA), Lebanon Valley College (PA), Manhattanville College (NY), Neumann University (PA), Stevenson University (MD), and Utica College (NY). The conference also includes Nazareth College's (NY) men's team and will welcome Wilkes University (PA) men's and women's teams in 2018-19. Wilkes will play an abbreviated conference schedule in 2017-18.
"We are pleased to announce the formation of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference," said Nazareth College and UCHC President Daan Braveman. "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."
Along with Braveman, Patricia Thompson, Vice-President of Athletics at Elmira College, will serve as the Vice-President of the UCHC and chair of the Director of Athletics committee.
"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."
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 Empire 8 Commissioner. During his tenure with E8, the conference has received national recognition and is considered the leader in sportsmanship education and policy. He has served as President of the Division III Commissioners Association, was named ECAC Administrator of the Year in 2008 and was honored as the prestigious NCAA Bob Fredrick Sportsmanship Award winner in 2010-11 for his demonstrated leadership nationally in the area of sportsmanship policy and education. He was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America" and has served on numerous NCAA committees. Mitrano is also currently the President of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. A highly respected speaker on leadership, he has conducted dozens of programs for student-athletes, coaches, and administrators for institutions and conferences across the country.
"I'm honored to serve as the inaugural commissioner of the UCHC," says Mitrano. "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."
Elmira will compete for the last time as a member of the ECAC West during the 2016-17 season. The Soaring Eagles hockey programs have amassed 17 tournament titles over the years, the most by any institution, past or present.
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