FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2023
Contact: Steve Schauer
nchacommunications@gmail.com
NCHA approves addition of Dubuque hockey programs
Spartans bring men's and women's programs to premier conference
ADRIAN, Mich. — The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) President's Council unanimously approved the addition of the University of Dubuque as the league's newest member for the 2023-24 season. The addition will add men's and women's hockey to one of the premier NCAA Division III conferences in the country.
"On behalf of the NCHA, we are delighted to welcome the University of Dubuque to our hockey conference," said President Jeff Docking from Adrian College. "UD is an outstanding institution, with quality leadership, excellent faculty, and a wonderful athletic program. They will be a fine addition to our league."
The University of Dubuque (UD), located in Dubuque, Iowa, will grow to 23 varsity sports with the announcement of both hockey programs. UD will be partnering with the Dubuque Ice Arena, which is home to the Dubuque Fighting Saints (United States Hockey League), and with its managing partner, Q Casino, to utilize the facility for practices and competitions.
"We are excited about the partnerships and relationships which have been developed to offer this opportunity to our student-athletes," said Nelson Edmonds, vice president of student engagement and intercollegiate athletics at the University of Dubuque. "For a short time in 2008, ice hockey was a club sport at UD and we have always envisioned offering this collegiate experience to our student-athletes, parents, and to all our UD constituents and the Dubuque community."
UD expects this will provide a competitive and enrichening engagement opportunity for many prospective students and anticipate a large cadre of student-athletes who will transfer from Finlandia University, which recently announced its closure at the end of this academic year.
"Through a series of conversations with the Finlandia athletic administration, as well as in partnership with our campus and community partners, we were able to provide the support needed to their student-athletes and their hockey program," stated Edmonds. "We are excited to combine the history of Finlandia University hockey, the passion for hockey in the Dubuque community, and the reimagining of adding a competitive NCAA program. We look forward to welcoming our incoming students from Finlandia as they become our newest Spartans."
The NCHA has a highly successful history of men's and women's hockey. Its teams are consistently ranked nationally and perform well in the NCAA Tournament, with 8 national championships. This season the league had six teams (three men and three women) ranked throughout the season.
"The NCHA has taken another step forward in welcoming the University of Dubuque to the conference," said NCHA Commissioner Jim Olson. "In my interaction with President Jeff Bullock and Athletic Director Nelson Edmonds, I have been thoroughly impressed at their dedication to creating this opportunity for the student-athletes, the campus community, and the City of Dubuque. With the level of commitment expressed by the administration at UD, I'm confident they will find quick success and elevate the level of competition in the NCHA."
"I am excited to support the application of the University of Dubuque in the NCHA," said Concordia University Wisconsin Athletic Director Rob Barnhill. "They have a rich tradition in athletics and have been adding sports, personnel, and upgrading facilities for a while now, so this seems to fit with their strategic initiatives. The addition of the Spartans hockey teams will provide the NCHA with an equal number of men's and women's programs, while also providing more opportunities for student-athletes to experience western hockey in the NCAA."
"We are excited to welcome the University of Dubuque to the NCHA beginning in the 23-24 season," said Lake Forest Collect Athletic Director Nicki Pieart. "In learning more about their plans for next season, their significant investment into both the men's and women's hockey programs, and their commitment to growing the game of hockey in the West, it was evident through their application process that the Spartans are a great fit for the league. Dubuque brings our membership to 10 institutions on both the men's and women's side and they are poised to be immediately competitive and will certainly build upon the strength of the NCHA, one of the best D3 hockey leagues in the country."
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About the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association:
The National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) provides opportunities for male and female student-athletes to compete in a nationally renowned NCAA Division III setting that is unparalleled in collegiate hockey. The experience and the memories that come with it – both on and off the ice – are a treasure for the student-athletes, coaches, families, and friends that span from Wisconsin through Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. www.ncha.org
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