Western Connecticut State to add men’s and women’s ice hockey programs – The Rink Live

DANBURY, Conn. — Western Connecticut State University announced that it will be adding both men’s and women’s ice hockey programs at the NCAA Division III level.

This move comes as part of a bigger announcement to add five other sports programs as well; women’s golf and both men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track. This increases the amount of intercollegiate sports at the university to 23.

“As we usher in a new chapter for WestConn Athletics, we’re excited about the enhanced opportunities awaiting our community,” said Lori Mazza, the director of athletics at WestConn,

in a press release

from the school.

“Given the growing interest from prospective and current students in these sports, we are eager to not only fulfill this demand, but also to help further boost enrollment at our university. It’s the perfect moment to expand into sports such as ice hockey, track and field, and women’s golf. We’re committed to sustaining a dynamic and competitive sports program, bolstered by ongoing strategic support from our administration, ensuring that athletics continue to be a pillar of the student experience here. We appreciate our community partners, and look forward to the future of WestConn Athletics, our university, and our community.”

The move to add college hockey will take a few years of planning though. The Danbury-based university already has a men’s club hockey team, which has plans to move up to the NCAA Division III level and join the Little East Conference (LEC) in 2025-26.

The women’s hockey team will start with a club program for this upcoming fall with hopes to transition up into Division III by 2026-27. Both teams will practice and compete at the Danbury Ice Arena, which is located within walking distance of the university.

Western Connecticut State University, or WCSU, is a public university that was founded in 1903. The school has a student enrollment of over 4,000. School colors are navy and orange and the program nickname is the Wolves.

Sydney Wolf is a reporter for The Rink Live, primarily covering youth and…