Keene State [DIII] Launching Program In LEC Push To Add Hockey to Conference

[Scott_TG]

The multi-sport Little East Conference will be begin competing in Men's Hockey in 2025-26 on the back of Keene State's announcement that they will be the 6th full member to start a men's team and 5th to launch a woman's team. Thr conference's bylaws require a conference championship be offered if six or more members compete in the sport.

The LEC women's programs will include UMB, Castleton, Plymouth State, Southern Maine and the new Keene State program. UMass-Dartmouth is the school with a men's program but not a women's thus triggering a men's conference. Eastern Connecticut State, Western Connecticut State and Rhose Island College offer no hockey.

Since there is no MASCAC women's conference only the NEHC is affected as all four existing programs play there. The NEHC will still have an auto bid with 6 members.

I believe the MASCAC wanted to eventually bring full members MCLA, Salem State and Worcester State along with men's hockey associate Plymouth State with new associates Anna Maria and Rivier for their own conference so this throws a wrench into those plans. The MASCAC falls one short of the autobid.

I figured we risked a bunch of 6 team conferences once the autobid was lowered. What happens to the At-Large bids if the conference fractures outpace new programs to open up additional berths in the tourney?

https://www.uscho.com/2023/07/24/li...25-26-eyeing-womens-hockey-membership-as-well

 

[dhammond]

The multi-sport Little East Conference will be begin competing in Men's Hockey in 2025-26 on the back of Keene State's announcement that they will be the 6th full member to start a men's team and 5th to launch a woman's team. Thr conference's bylaws require a conference championship be offered if six or more members compete in the sport.

The LEC women's programs will include UMB, Castleton, Plymouth State, Southern Maine and the new Keene State program. UMass-Dartmouth is the school with a men's program but not a women's thus triggering a men's conference. Eastern Connecticut State, Western Connecticut State and Rhose Island College offer no hockey.

Since there is no MASCAC women's conference only the NEHC is affected as all four existing programs play there. The NEHC will still have an auto bid with 6 members.

I believe the MASCAC wanted to eventually bring full members MCLA, Salem State and Worcester State along with men's hockey associate Plymouth State with new associates Anna Maria and Rivier for their own conference so this throws a wrench into those plans. The MASCAC falls one short of the autobid.

I figured we risked a bunch of 6 team conferences once the autobid was lowered. What happens to the At-Large bids if the conference fractures outpace new programs to open up additional berths in the tourney?

https://www.uscho.com/2023/07/24/li...25-26-eyeing-womens-hockey-membership-as-well

If we run out of at-large bids, especially if the MAC splits from the UCHC, I wonder if they’d lower the access ratio from 6.5:1 to 6:1.

 

[SHockey98]

Will there be a women's LEC in 2025-26? Or are they not launching an official "conference" until they get a sixth? I assume they would just do the WIAC route and play with 5, but is that confirmed?

 

[Scott_TG]

Will there be a women's LEC in 2025-26? Or are they not launching an official "conference" until they get a sixth? I assume they would just do the WIAC route and play with 5, but is that confirmed?

From what I gathered they are not launching women's hockey without the 6 needed for an automatic berth

The WIAC needs to figure out the right incentive to get one of their members to be team 6 as these small conferences are going to eliminate Pool B...

 

[spwood]

If the at-large bids are falling by the wayside, I wonder if any conferences go to a best-of-three finals format to better protect their highest seed...

 

[SHockey98]

From what I gathered they are not launching women's hockey without the 6 needed for an automatic berth

The WIAC needs to figure out the right incentive to get one of their members to be team 6 as these small conferences are going to eliminate Pool B...

I really thought the WIAC would go hard after Dubuque. Maybe they did, but that seems like a missed opportunity to get to 6