MASCAC Launching Women's Hockey

[Scott_TG]

Today's press release from the MASCAC announced that Rivier and Anna Maria are joining as associate members for men's hockey in 2024-25 and "provisionally for women's ice hockey".

This announcement didn't make sense as there is no MASCAC women's hockey as of now but the release continues:

"...preparations for launching MASCAC women’s ice hockey as a championship sport in the near future. They will join Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Plymouth State University, UMass Dartmouth, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University as the competing members in the MASCAC."

If no other MASCAC launches, we will see a MASCAC conference featuring Anna Maria, MCLA, Plymouth State, Rivier, Salem State and Worcester State.


If they go for a 2024-25 launch, the earliest they would get a berth would be the 2027 NCAA Championship tournament.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

If they get a new member for a 2024-25 launch, the earliest they would get a berth would be the 2027 NCAA Championship tournament. If they launch without 6 they would need stable membership for two consecutive seasons to qualify.

I don't believe this part is true. Since the MASCAC is already an all sports conference recognized by the NCAA, they do not need to have any waiting period whenever they add an additional sport. It's not a new conference per se, but a new sport in an already existing conference. Once they get six teams (even if some are associate members), they are good to go. Same reason the SUNYAC women's hockey will not have to wait for an auto bid when they assume control of the NEWHA.

 

[Scott_TG]

I'm reading the automatic bid rules and it looks like they have to sponsor the sport for two academic years to get a new automatic bid and I don't think they qualify for the exceptions listed.

I think the SUNYAC gets the autobid because they've passed down the same one from the ECAC-West days using the core membership exception and grace period for the time it took them to bring in Morrisville and Canton to get the numbers back to the minimum.

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[SHockey98]

Wow, a conference with those five, and a sixth coming from one more school that sponsors men's hockey adds a women's team... that could be a rough team qualifying for an automatic bid. Someone will rise up, I'm sure, but those first couple years could be a tall task.

 

[Scott_TG]

You're right, my bad.

MASCAC Women would get an autobid in their third season