Enter the Send Portal - 2026-2027 Transfers

[geneseo]

Geneseo picks up Caden Pendo from Chatham. (DIII all-rookie team last year.) I believe Kowin Belsterling might be coming over as well.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Geneseo picks up Caden Pendo from Chatham. (DIII all-rookie team last year.) I believe Kowin Belsterling might be coming over as well.

They did get two Chatham players, so you are probably correct.

 

[bakdraft21]

They did get two Chatham players, so you are probably correct.

looks like they have another big man in the portal as well...

 

[Fishman'81]

I suppose I could look this up, but isn't the portal essentially tits on a bull for D-3 hockey anyway? Hasn't it been the case for years that there existed no penalty for transferring?

 

[Russell Jaslow]

I suppose I could look this up, but isn't the portal essentially tits on a bull for D-3 hockey anyway? Hasn't it been the case for years that there existed no penalty for transferring?

It helps formalize the process. Before, it was always ad hoc, and you didn't necessarily know who was looking to transfer.

 

[Scott_TG]

It helps formalize the process. Before, it was always ad hoc, and you didn't necessarily know who was looking to transfer.

The portal will become mandatory starting with the new academic year (August 2026). The transfer windows get published at the start of the academic year by the NCAA. At D1, the open window began the Monday after the respective championship games for the men and women; I imagine DIII will be similar. There is also a 15-day portal entry window for players of programs that change head coaches, starting at the earlier date of either 5 days after the announcement of the new head coach or 30 days after the departing coach leaves. Grad transfers can enter any time.

 

[Fishman'81]

The portal will become mandatory starting with the new academic year (August 2026). The transfer windows get published at the start of the academic year by the NCAA. At D1, the open window began the Monday after the respective championship games for the men and women; I imagine DIII will be similar. There is also a 15-day portal entry window for players of programs that change head coaches, starting at the earlier date of either 5 days after the announcement of the new head coach or 30 days after the departing coach leaves. Grad transfers can enter any time.

Thanks for the info, but it smells like the NCAA is (once again) fixing what ain't broke.

D-3 has been a free-for-all (as far as transferring) for as long as I've paid attention, and why not? There's no money involved, and pretty-much zero National interest.

Let the boys play where they want to play.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Thanks for the info, but it smells like the NCAA is (once again) fixing what ain't broke.

D-3 has been a free-for-all (as far as transferring) for as long as I've paid attention, and why not? There's no money involved, and pretty-much zero National interest.

Let the boys play where they want to play.

They can play where they want to play. It's no different than before. The Portal just helps organize it. It's not a big deal for the D3 folks.

 

[Scott_TG]

My understanding of the rationale is that right now, DIII athletic departments can choose between the portal or the old permission to contact forms, and the NCAA doesn't want there to be two different standards. They decided that the portal is the better option as it gives the players more agency and a level playing field in that all schools can see who entered the portal. Players doing DIII to DIII transfers can still sign the self-release forms.

 

[Fishman'81]

My understanding of the rationale is that right now, DIII athletic departments can choose between the portal or the old permission to contact forms, and the NCAA doesn't want there to be two different standards. They decided that the portal is the better option as it gives the players more agency and a level playing field in that all schools can see who entered the portal. Players doing DIII to DIII transfers can still sign the self-release forms.

Unlike a whole lot of what I've seen from D-3 hockey over the past 26 years, this actually makes sense!

Thanks for the clarification.