The University of Vermont has accepted an invitation from The Hockey East Association and will play in the nation's premier college hockey conference in men's and women's hockey starting with the 2005-06 season.
Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna and Dr. Robert Corran, director of athletics at Vermont, made the joint announcement today at a press conference in Gutterson Fieldhouse. Corran and Mike Gilligan, special assistant to the director of athletics and the former men's hockey coach at Vermont, met with the 10 Hockey East athletic directors Tuesday in Andover, Mass.
"It is an honor to accept Hockey East's invitation and we look forward to competing for a Hockey East championship beginning with the 2005-06 season," Corran said. "This is an exciting time for our staff, student-athletes, and the entire UVM community. We have sincerely enjoyed the many wonderful years we have spent in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and look forward to continuing our association with the ECAC and its member schools through the 2004-05 season and in non-conference play in 2005-06 and beyond."
"This is absolutely the right move at the right time for Vermont," University of Vermont President Daniel Mark Fogel said. "Athletics is a window into the life of our university and this opportunity demonstrates that we are serious about our drive to raising the institution's competitive metabolism and enhancing our national profile as a school known for its academic excellence."
Vermont men's hockey coach Kevin Sneddon is equally excited about the move to Hockey East.
"I am very pleased with the decision to move to Hockey East," Sneddon said. "I had complete faith and trust in President Fogel and Dr. Corran during this process. Their vision has always been to provide our student-athletes with the best competitive experiences possible. We all feel that Hockey East is a great fit for the University of Vermont, and that the University of Vermont is a great fit for Hockey East.
"We realize we have a lot of work and planning ahead of us in order to build our program into a national contender once again," Sneddon continued. "Our staff and student-athletes are committed to this challenge."
Sneddon, like Corran, made it clear that Vermont will still continue to play many ECAC teams.
"The ECAC is comprised of great academic and athletic institutions and we look forward to continuing competition with those elite programs," he said. "I know everyone here at the University of Vermont will always value the relationship we have had and will continue to have with the ECAC."
"This is an exciting time for collegiate women's hockey, as the game continues to grow," Vermont women's hockey coach Dennis Miller said. "Hockey East is poised to grow as well, and we are excited to be joining the existing programs in the conference in 2005-06. Like Dr. Corran and Coach Sneddon, I also look forward to continuing our relationships with ECAC schools in the future."
Vermont has played Division I men's hockey in the ECAC since moving to Division I in 1974-75, and was ECAC Division II champion in 1972-73 and 1973-74. The Vermont women's hockey program was upgraded to varsity status in 1998-99, and has shown consistent improvement as it moved into Division I competition in 2001-02. Like the men's program, the Catamount women's hockey program has produced standout players and All-Americans, ECAC All-Stars and record-holders.
"We are thrilled that the University of Vermont is joining the Hockey East family," Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna said. "It is rare that such an opportunity is met without the slightest trace of reservation. I can say with all sincerity that everyone associated with Hockey East has embraced this development with unusual enthusiasm and a sense of anticipation. The great tradition of UVM Hockey will fit perfectly within our own record of success."
Hockey East has continued a steady rise to prominence since its founding charter on July 11, 1983, when the Athletic Directors from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Providence announced the formation of a new Division I men's ice hockey conference. Later that same summer, the Board of Directors approved the additions of the University of Maine and the University of Lowell (now UMass Lowell).
Official conference competition of the seven-team league began with the 1984-85 season, and expansion broadened the league to nine teams with the additions of Merrimack College (1989) and the University of Massachusetts (1993). The league is celebrating its 20th anniversary season this year, and enjoys a reputation as the strongest and most competitive conference in Division I hockey. Hockey East teams have compiled a .655 winning percentage in non-conference play in the last 14 seasons, including a .705 mark in 2002-03. In addition, Hockey East has earned 18 of 44 spots in the last 11 NCAA Frozen Fours and produced four national champions: Maine in 1993 and 1999, Boston University in 1995 and Boston College in 2001.
The Women's Hockey East Association was founded in 2001 and is comprised of six teams: Boston College, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence. Although the women's league is still in its infancy, its member programs have storied histories that include several championships and individual awards at the highest levels of play. The first 14 ECAC championships were shared among New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence, all charter members of Hockey East.
Northeastern forward Brooke Whitney was named the recipient of the 2002 Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation's top female collegiate player, an honor first won by New Hampshire's Brandy Fisher in 1998. Had the award been in existence beforehand, it very likely would have been won at some point by Cammi Granato, a three-time ECAC Player of the Year who led Providence to back-to-back championships in 1992 and 1993. Five years later, alongside nine other alums of what are now Hockey East programs, Granato captained Team USA to the Olympic gold medal during the first Olympic tournament that featured women's ice hockey as a medal sport.
For more information, please check the web at http://www.uvmathletics.com or http://www.hockeyeastonline.com.