ANGOLA, Ind.—Trine University's hockey teams have been accepted as members of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, the organizations announced today.
The Thunder men's and women's NCAA Division III hockey programs will compete in the conference beginning in the 2017-18 season. The season will be the inaugural campaign for both teams. The addition of the Thunder women's program will give the NCHA a membership of 10 women's teams, with Aurora University and Northland College also set to add women's teams to the conference. Trine's men's team will give the conference 12 members. NCHA membership is made up of schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Trine is the conference's first member located in Indiana.
"Joining the NCHA provides the perfect opportunity for our student-athletes to have a positive experience in a growing conference," said Matt Land, assistant vice president of athletics at Trine University. "We are excited about the opportunities that joining the NCHA will provide for the student-athletes in our hockey programs both on and off the ice."
"As we launch and build our new men's and women's programs, we look forward to playing in a conference with competition that will test us, knowing it will help our Thunder teams develop and grow as we seek to make the name Trine University synonymous with quality collegiate hockey," said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president.
The 2017-18 season will be the 18th season the conference has sponsored women's hockey. The NCHA also includes teams from Adrian College, Concordia University Wisconsin, Finlandia University, Lake Forest College, Marian University, St. Norbert College and The College of St. Scholastica.
The first 15 seasons of NCHA men's play were played under the name Midwest Collegiate Hockey Conference. The league changed its name to its current title and joined administrative forces with the women's side of the former NCHA In April 2013. The men's league includes, in addition to Trine, Adrian College, Aurora University, Concordia University Wisconsin, Finlandia University, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Marian University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Northland College, St. Norbert College and The College of St. Scholastica.
Trine previously named Tom Hofman and Alex Todd as head coaches for its NCAA Division III hockey teams. Hofman will head the women's team, while Todd will lead the men's program. Trine's women's hockey team will be the only women's intercollegiate team in Indiana, and its men's team will join nine others in the state.
Construction will begin this summer on the $7.2 million, 1,000-seat Thunder Ice Arena, which will house both programs. The arena, which will be located on U.S. 20, will include an NCAA-compliant ice rink, men's and women's lockers, concessions, a pro shop with wearables, sticks and skates for sale, a VIP lounge, banquet hall and two press boxes. It also will host area youth leagues and be open for community skating, and include an area for skate sharpening and rental.
The new arena and hockey teams are expected to bring additional students to Trine and provide an economic boost to the Steuben County area, where Trine is located.