SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- This morning the State University of New York Athletic Conference released a statement making Women's Ice Hockey the 21st sport in the conference beginning in the 2023-24 season. The current North East Women's Hockey League will be absorbed by the SUNYAC. SUNY Canton has also been added to the SUNYAC for Men's Ice Hockey as an Associate Member. See the full statement released by the SUNYAC this morning regarding the updates below. 

The presidents of the SUNYAC approved both measures on Monday, May 8, following recommendations by the conference's directors of athletics.

The SUNYAC will add women's ice hockey by absorbing the Northeast Women's Ice Hockey League which has operated as a single-sport NCAA Division III conference since 2017-18. The league evolved from the former ECAC West conference.

The NEWHL will cease operations on June 30 with the SUNYAC officially taking the reins on July 1.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for the SUNYAC and for our student-athletes to operate under the SUNYAC brand and receive the recognition and services that one of the premier Division III conferences in the NCAA can provide," Tom DiCamillo, commissioner of the SUNYAC, said. DiCamillo organized the NEWHL and served as its commissioner since its inception.

The NEWHL consists of seven SUNY institutions, including five core members of the SUNYAC – Buffalo State, Cortland, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam. Canton and Morrisville will become associate members of the SUNYAC in the sport of women's ice hockey. The NEWHL conference schedule, which has been approved through 2026-27, will remain as planned as part of the SUNYAC.

Canton will join the SUNYAC in men's ice hockey beginning with the 2024-25 campaign. The conference will grow to 10 teams which will allow for a better scheduling model than the current nine-team format.

The SUNYAC institutions sponsoring men's ice hockey include eight full conference members (Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam) and one associate member (Morrisville).