Hood College women’s hockey is set to join the United Collegiate Hockey Conference for the 2024-25 season. This will expand the UCHC women’s hockey membership to 12 teams.

“It is exciting to see the growth of competitive opportunities for women in ice hockey and we are proud to support the rise with the addition of Hood College to the UCHC,” said UCHC Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “A strong academic institution with a commitment to the student-athlete experience, Hood is an excellent addition to the UCHC, and we are excited to be part of their history.”

Hood, located in Frederick, Md., is set to begin NCAA women’s hockey play in the 2024-25 season. Josh Funk will serve as Hood’s inaugural head coach after a stint as the director of women’s hockey at the Minnesota Advancement Program. He spent two seasons as head coach at Plymouth State University from 2020-22 and the 2019-20 campaign as an assistant coach at Division I Robert Morris University. Joey Kolega was recently named an assistant coach for the Blazers.
 
“We are excited to have our new women’s ice hockey program join the UCHC and compete alongside the outstanding institutions making up its membership,” said Hood College President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D. “The UCHC is a great fit for Hood, alongside other MAC members. We look forward to enhancing existing rivalries and establishing new ones with women’s ice hockey. This will provide our women’s ice hockey student-athletes with exceptional academic and athletic experiences.”
 
Founded in 1893, Hood College is a coeducational, independent, liberal arts college. Hood offers 32 bachelor’s degrees, 25 concentrations, 45+ minors, and pre-professional preparation in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry and law. With small class sizes, students receive individual attention from expert faculty. The College’s proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 technology corridor offers access to countless internships and research opportunities. 
 
“We're thankful for Hood College's women's ice hockey to gain membership into UCHC when we begin play in 2024-25,” said Dr. Susan Kolb, Hood's director of athletics. “The UCHC's membership includes not only some of the top teams in the region, but in all of Division III. We look forward to providing a great student-athlete experience to our future women's ice hockey student-athletes and cannot wait to begin competition in the UCHC.”
 
The Blazers compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference in 23 sports, with esports competing in the National Esports Collegiate Conference. Hood's most recent of its 30 conference championships came when men's golf won the MAC Commonwealth this spring. The Blazers have had several all-conference, all-region and national accolades in recent years.
 
The Blazers will play at Skate Frederick, a two-ice sheet facility located just three miles from campus. Skate Frederick features two NHL regulation rinks as well as a pro shop and snack bar. The rink has year-round hockey and figure skating programs. In preparation for the inaugural 2024-2025 season, Hood has plans to improve the seating, site lines and fan experience, as well as add a new Blazers locker room and team area. Hood will also be adding in signage, logos, and Blazers colors into the arena to create an energetic environment to watch and play NCAA ice hockey.

Women’s ice hockey will be Hood’s 25th varsity sport. For more information on Hood women’s hockey, visit https://hoodathletics.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey.
 
ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its sixth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.