Release courtesy of the NAIA Hockey Coaches Association
Southfield, Mich. — Members of the NAIA Hockey Coaches Association are proud to announce that the NAIA Division will progress from governance under the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) to sole governance under the NAIA Hockey Coaches Association beginning in the 2018-19 season. This move is the next step in the multi-phase process and keeps the association on target, closer to restoring hockey as a championship sport status under the NAIA.
Charter members Aquinas College, Indiana Institute of Technology, Lawrence Technological University, Lindenwood University-Belleville, and Waldorf University will be joined by Concordia University Ann Arbor, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Midland University in the NAIA Division for the 2018-19 season.
The NAIA originally sponsored a hockey championship from 1968 to 1984. The sport has seen continued growth at NAIA institutions in the last decade and additional universities are positioning themselves to establish programs over the next few years.
The NAIA Hockey Coaches Association began in 2014 when a group of coaches and athletic administrators began working with NAIA officials on the initiative to return ice hockey as a championship NAIA sport. In 2016, the group worked with ACHA Executive Director Mike Walley and ACHA leadership to create the new division. With the unanimous support of the ACHA Executive Board (7-0), this early step in the process was completed. During the initial season, the ACHA served as an incubator for the teams in the first phase of the multi-year process to regain NAIA championship status.
Many exciting games have populated the first half of the NAIA Division's inaugural season. The teams and fans look forward to a fantastic second half of competitions, capped off with a much-anticipated national tournament held in conjunction with the five other ACHA divisions in March.
"Our membership is excited to move on to our next phase. Our long-term vision continues to stay on course. The continued growth of varsity hockey programs on NAIA campuses and the continued progress toward full NAIA status is nice to see," said Commissioner Ken Gaffney. "With an endeavor as big as ours, it takes the support and partnership of many along the way. The ACHA was an early supporter and we thank them for that. We wish the ACHA nothing but the best and thank them for being gracious hosts of our programs over the past years."
The NAIA Hockey Coaches Association will continue to oversee operation of the NAIA Division. The coaches association will also continue to work with NAIA and college hockey leadership to promote the sport, organize a national championship for varsity NAIA programs, and also support the growth of college hockey and maintain positive relationships with the ACHA and other college hockey governing bodies.
