Hobart and William Smith Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Miller announced today that the Statesmen and Heron hockey teams will compete in the State University of New York Athletic Conference beginning in the 2025-26 season.
"We're extremely excited and honored to find a home for our hockey programs with such familiar and respected institutions within the SUNYAC," Miller said. "We already play many of those programs in our non-conference schedule and feel the strength of the league is right on par with the NEHC.
"I want to thank Commissioner Tom DiCamillo and current SUNYAC member administrators and presidents for accepting Hobart and William Smith hockey into their esteemed ranks. I feel we'll bring added value to an already strong league and look forward to the tough competition."
The SUNYAC men's hockey league will also welcome current NEHC member Skidmore. The Statesmen and Thoroughbreds will join SUNYAC teams Buffalo State, Canton, Cortland, Fredonia, Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh, and Potsdam.
In the SUNYAC women's hockey league, William Smith will compete against Buffalo State, Canton, Cortland, Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam.
"Hobart and William Smith and Skidmore bring outstanding ice hockey programs with rich histories of success in Division III to the SUNYAC," DiCamillo said. "The addition of these programs increases the strength of schedule within the conference and elevates what already is one of the premier Division III conferences in the nation."
Both the men's and women's SUNYAC schedules will feature a double round robin with the men playing 18 conference games and the women 14 conference games.
Hobart Head Hockey Coach Mark Taylor
"I'm excited about joining the SUNYAC hockey league. It has a long history of excellent programs that we've played throughout the history of our program; so, this will be an easy transition for us. To join a league with teams that are among the best in the country and maintain our high-strength of schedule makes it a win-win. Plus, there's always some excitement and nuances of joining a new league so that'll be fun for the players.
"We'll make the best of our last year in the NEHC in pursuit of another league championship and with our commissioner Katie Boldvich, who has been an outstanding commissioner. I certainly valued her leadership."
William Smith Hockey Head Coach Matt Cunningham
"Moving to the SUNYAC will present an exciting new challenge for our student-athletes. It's an honor to join this New York-based league with strong teams and a rich history. We will look forward to competing with these schools while elevating the experience for our student-athletes."
ABOUT HOBART HOCKEY
Since 1978-79, the Statesmen have competed as a varsity hockey program. Hobart has grown into one of the strongest programs in the nation. The two-time defending national champions have won 20 or more games in each of the past five seasons and eight of the past nine. The Statesmen have been selected to the NCAA tournament field nine straight times (including the 2020 tournament that was canceled due to COVID).
ABOUT WILLIAM SMITH HOCKEY
The Herons skated as a varsity program for the first time in 2014-15. William Smith has finished with a winning record in four of its nine seasons. The Herons posted a program-record 18 wins in 2018-19 and again in 2019-20. Last season, William Smith went 17-9-1.
ABOUT THE SUNYAC
Now in its 65th season of athletic competition, the SUNYAC is one of the strongest and most vibrant conferences in NCAA Division III that features 22 league championships and nearly 5,000 student athletes.
ABOUT THE NEHC
Since the 2017-18 season, Hobart has competed in the New England Hockey Conference. The Statesmen have won three NEHC championships, including each of the past two. In 2021-22, William Smith joined the NEHC. The Herons advanced to the semifinals of the NEHC tournament in each of their first three seasons in the league.
Hobart and William Smith will compete in the NEHC for the 2024-25 season before moving to the SUNYAC.
