The August 2023 report of the DIII championships committee is out and has some juicy details for women's hockey.
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/com...3CC_Report.pdf
Initially brought up back in June, the women's ice hockey committee requested a six-year pilot program (2024-2029) in which the Frozen Four would alternate between a neutral site and the current highest-remaining seed format, similar to what the men are doing full-time.
At the August meeting, this was approved after the committee brought back additional data and opinions from coaches and administrators. However, the committee is moving forward with just a FOUR-year pilot program (2024-2027). As of now, it is proposed that the 2024 and 2026 championships will be held at the home site of the highest seed, as it had been. 2025 and 2027 would be held at neutral sites, and the results would be analyzed to see if it is worthwhile to move forward, or return to the "old" format. Gender equity seems to be a big point of interest from the committee, and since the men's game follows this pattern, the women's game should also. Giving the women the proper facilities and experience was brought up in the report. Note: there were multiple complaints about last year's championship at Amherst.
Another key point that the Championships committee made is that they think it would be a better suggestion to have the neutral site championships held in consecutive years to "gain a more immediate perspective" on whether this would be the right move going forward. Frankly, I think the championships committee is a bit sick of the "neutral vs. home site" argument in men's and women's hockey. I believe they want to give the women's tournament a chance to explore the neutral site again, but they really want to get this argument over with, and pick a long-term plan and stick with it.
So... in all likelihood, we're looking at 2024 at a home site, and most likely 2025 and 2026 at two different neutral sites. After that, we'll see how well the tournaments are attended and what the decision is long-term. Keep in mind, if 2024 ends up at a home site out east, 2025 will have to be held in the west region. That could allow for a pilot of both a eastern and western neutral site.
Other notes:
-There is not currently enough data and support to change the dates of the tournament. Back in June, the women's ice hockey committee wanted to move first round games off of the Wednesday after conference title games, and push it to the following Saturday. This move would push back the QF to the next Saturday (currently the weekend of the Frozen Four), and the semifinals to the following Friday (the same as the men's current championship). This would give the first round teams much more of an advantage in the quarterfinals with the added rest. But teams that earn byes would have quite the break before playing playoff hockey again. However, the committee is reworking the process to have these things changed, so perhaps this could come up again soon and the change may be made down the road.
-The SUNYAC officially picked up the NEWHL's automatic bid, as expected.
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/com...3CC_Report.pdf
Initially brought up back in June, the women's ice hockey committee requested a six-year pilot program (2024-2029) in which the Frozen Four would alternate between a neutral site and the current highest-remaining seed format, similar to what the men are doing full-time.
At the August meeting, this was approved after the committee brought back additional data and opinions from coaches and administrators. However, the committee is moving forward with just a FOUR-year pilot program (2024-2027). As of now, it is proposed that the 2024 and 2026 championships will be held at the home site of the highest seed, as it had been. 2025 and 2027 would be held at neutral sites, and the results would be analyzed to see if it is worthwhile to move forward, or return to the "old" format. Gender equity seems to be a big point of interest from the committee, and since the men's game follows this pattern, the women's game should also. Giving the women the proper facilities and experience was brought up in the report. Note: there were multiple complaints about last year's championship at Amherst.
Another key point that the Championships committee made is that they think it would be a better suggestion to have the neutral site championships held in consecutive years to "gain a more immediate perspective" on whether this would be the right move going forward. Frankly, I think the championships committee is a bit sick of the "neutral vs. home site" argument in men's and women's hockey. I believe they want to give the women's tournament a chance to explore the neutral site again, but they really want to get this argument over with, and pick a long-term plan and stick with it.
So... in all likelihood, we're looking at 2024 at a home site, and most likely 2025 and 2026 at two different neutral sites. After that, we'll see how well the tournaments are attended and what the decision is long-term. Keep in mind, if 2024 ends up at a home site out east, 2025 will have to be held in the west region. That could allow for a pilot of both a eastern and western neutral site.
Other notes:
-There is not currently enough data and support to change the dates of the tournament. Back in June, the women's ice hockey committee wanted to move first round games off of the Wednesday after conference title games, and push it to the following Saturday. This move would push back the QF to the next Saturday (currently the weekend of the Frozen Four), and the semifinals to the following Friday (the same as the men's current championship). This would give the first round teams much more of an advantage in the quarterfinals with the added rest. But teams that earn byes would have quite the break before playing playoff hockey again. However, the committee is reworking the process to have these things changed, so perhaps this could come up again soon and the change may be made down the road.
-The SUNYAC officially picked up the NEWHL's automatic bid, as expected.
