MARSHFIELD, Mass. -- On Tuesday, October 15, New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) commissioner Katie Boldvich announced the addition of Elmira College's men's and women's ice hockey programs, as well as William Smith College, to the NEHC. Elmira will continue to compete within the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) through the 2020-21 season, before joining the NEHC for the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
 
"The NEHC is excited to welcome Elmira and William Smith to the fold for the 2021-22 season," stated Boldvich. "The continued support and vision from our current members and their institutional leadership have allowed the NEHC to grow into one of the premier men's and women's ice hockey conferences in all of Division III. The addition of these programs further adds to our league's core values and mission as their commitment to the sport and their student-athletes are exemplary."
 
The Elmira men will add depth to an already outstanding cast of quality teams, including three NCAA Division III Tournament qualifiers from a season ago in UMass Boston, Hobart, and Norwich, the latter of which finished as the Division III runner-up. Additional teams in the men's league include Babson, Castleton, Johnson & Wales, New England College, Skidmore and Southern Maine.
 
On the women's side, the Soaring Eagles join a well-rounded competitive league that includes long-time rival Norwich, which won the 2018 NCAA Division III national championship, as well as Castleton, Johnson & Wales, UMass Boston, New England College, Plymouth State, Salem State and Southern Maine, as well as newly-announced William Smith.
 
"We are excited to add our men's and women's programs to the NEHC," added Elmira College Director of Athletics Renee Carlineo. "The NEHC is one of the most competitive leagues in the nation and we look forward to playing against those teams. We have a solid recruiting pipeline in the Northeast Region and a strong alumni base in the area as well, which will make for a unique experience for our student-athletes."
 
With the addition of the Elmira men and women, as well as William Smith, both leagues will feature an even 10 teams.
 
As a result of the conference switch, Elmira will gain greater exposure in the Northeast Region, especially in the New England area, an already popular recruiting spot for the Soaring Eagles. In total, the NEHC affiliates span across six states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.