Speculation has it that HockeyEast Women could begin play this fall.

Maine, UNH, Northeastern, BC, Providence and - wait for it - UConn
could start a women's HE conference for 2002-2003.

That would leave the ECAC DI East with only Quinnipiac and Niagara.

If Hockey East Women happens, we might see an MAAC Women's DI league
(or some form of ECAC WSE league) featuring:  Quinnipiac, Niagara,
Mercyhurst, Findlay and Wayne State.  Sacred Heart, currently in the
ECAC DIII East, would love to play at the DI level and might join that
league.

Holy Cross (DI) and St. Michael's (DII), also playing in the ECAC D3
leagues, seem less likely to join a Div I league.  Rhode Island may
have
varsity hockey in the future.

Meanwhile, the ECAC DI North will add Union College starting in
2003-2004.  Currently the Skating Dutchwomen are playing in an ECAC
DIII league.  That will leave only Clarkson and RPI in the ECAC DI
Men's league without a DI Women's counterpart, and they are both
thinking about it, but playing in the ECAC D3 leagues.

Back in HockeyLeastland:
Merrimack will probably field a DI Women's side sometime after 2004 and
plans on joining Hockey East.
UMass-Lowell and Amherst seem likely to remain club sides.
Boston University may elevate its club team, when their new rink is
completed, if Jackie wins the quad, when that outdoor surface next to
Pandemonium finally becomes fully functional ...







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                    \
    good shooting
    rhun
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Women's College Ice Hockey from rhun:  http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~cwinters

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