SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Skidmore College men’s hockey team will embark on a new era as an associate member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) in 2025-26.
SUNYAC Commissioner Tom DiCamillo announced the addition of Skidmore College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges, following approval by the SUNYAC Presidents Council meeting on April 9.
The 2024-25 season will be Skidmore’s twenty-seventh and final as a member of the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC).
“We are excited to begin competition with SUNYAC hockey for the 2025-2026 season,” Skidmore Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Director Gail Cummings-Danson said. “Skidmore has enjoyed a competitive relationship with many of the SUNYAC hockey schools, and we look forward to strengthening those opportunities and developing a similar relationship with those that we have not yet competed against.”
“Being located in the same general geographic footprint as the current membership makes for a natural partnership and will preserve our commitment to competing at the highest level of Division III men’s ice hockey,” Cummings-Danson added.
The addition of Skidmore and Hobart will bring SUNYAC’s men’s ice hockey membership to 10: Buffalo State, SUNY Canton, SUNY Cortland, Fredonia State, Hobart, SUNY Morrisville, Oswego State, Plattsburgh State, SUNY Potsdam, and Skidmore.
“Hobart and William Smith, and Skidmore, bring outstanding ice hockey programs with rich histories of success in Division III to the SUNYAC,” Commissioner Tom DiCamillo said. “The addition of these programs increases the strength of schedule within the conference and elevates what already is one of the premier Division III conferences in the nation.”
Skidmore men’s ice hockey has been a member of the NEHC, formerly the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East, since 1998. From 1985 to 1998, Skidmore was a member of the ECAC South.
“We are incredibly thankful to Commissioner Katie Boldvich for her hard work and commitment to growing the NEHC to its elite level and making our experience so special,” Skidmore Head Coach Rob Hutchison said. “Though bittersweet to see the NEHC run its course, we couldn’t be more excited to join the SUNYAC hockey conference. The league is packed with fantastic players and coaches and has always been a premier DIII hockey league. We are eager and grateful for the opportunity to build new relationships and build new rivalries with this group.”
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Skidmore is 12-4-1 (.735) against SUNYAC teams, including a 4-3 win at 2024 conference champion Cortland, a 2-2 tie against Brockport (outgoing member), and an 11-1 win over Canton (incoming member) in 2023-24.
The Thoroughbreds’ latest seasons in the NEHC have been some of the program’s strongest performances. In 2023-24, the team went unbeaten in its first 11 contests while climbing the national rankings to No. 9 in the USCHO Division III Men’s Poll. The team has advanced to two of the past three NEHC championship games, accumulating a 51-26-6 (.651) overall record.
“Our ice hockey team is a fantastic program, and this is an exciting opportunity for them to continue to compete at the highest level,” Skidmore President Marc Conner added.
