Women’s hockey will become the 21st sport in the SUNYAC conference starting in the 2023-24 season.
In addition, Canton will join SUNYAC as an associate member in men’s hockey starting in 2024-25, bringing the total number of programs to 10 in the conference.
The SUNYAC chairmen approved both measures on May 8 following recommendations from the conference’s athletics directors.
SUNYAC will add women’s hockey by absorbing the NEWHL, which has operated as an NCAA Division III single-sport conference since 2017-18. The league evolved from the previous ECAC West Conference.
NEWHL will cease operations on June 30th with SUNYAC officially taking over on July 1st.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for SUNYAC and our student-athletes to serve under the SUNYAC brand and gain the recognition and services that one of the NCAA’s major Division III conferences can provide,” SUNYAC Commissioner Tom DiCamillo said in a statement. .
DiCamillo has organized and served as its commissioner since its inception.
NEWHL is made up of seven SUNY affiliated institutions, including five SUNYAC core members – Buffalo State, Cortland, Oswego, Plattsburgh, and Potsdam. Canton and Morrisville will become associate members of SUNYAC in the sport of women’s hockey. The NEWHL conference schedule, approved through 2026-27, will remain as planned as part of SUNYAC.
Canton’s joining the men’s SUNYAC conference would allow for a better scheduling model than the current nine-team format.
The SUNYAC organizations that sponsor men’s hockey have eight full conference members (Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, Oswego, Plattsburgh, and Potsdam) and one associate member (Morrisville).