The SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo men’s hockey programs are set to join the United Collegiate Hockey Conference for the 2024-25 season. This will set UCHC men’s hockey membership to eight teams in 2024-25.

“We are honored to add Geneseo and Brockport, two teams that have a rich history of competing at a high level and doing things the right way under great leadership” said UCHC Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “They enhance our competitive profile nationally and fit perfectly geographically. The future is very bright for the UCHC.”

Located in Brockport, NY, SUNY Brockport is an inclusive learning community that inspires excellence through growth, engagement, and transformation. Brockport has grown from its founding as a teacher-training institute to a vibrant comprehensive university, offering a wide array of high-quality programs in the liberal arts and professions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Brockport is proud to serve a student population with diverse backgrounds and pathways.
 
“SUNY Brockport is pleased to accept our invitation to join the UCHC,” said Brockport President Dr. Heidi Macpherson. “The conference is known for its high level of competition, a competitive environment that will allow our student-athletes to challenge themselves and develop their skills to the fullest. I have been particularly impressed by UCHC’s commitment to community engagement, which closely aligns with SUNY Brockport’s goals. We are a University that is engaged with its community, and we look forward to our hockey players extending that commitment in partnership with the UCHC through its various outreach programs, charity events, and youth hockey initiatives.”
 
Brockport sponsors 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports with a total roster of 650 student-athletes.  The mission of the SUNY Brockport athletic department is to provide a transformational, holistic student-athlete experience by integrating intercollegiate athletics into the SUNY Brockport education. This is achieved by focusing on five key areas: Integrating with the University, Championing diversity and inclusion, achieving academically, Excelling athletically, and Playing with integrity.
 
Brockport is celebrating its 50th ice hockey season at the varsity level in 2023-24. Golden Eagle alumni have gone on to play in the AHL, ECHL, SPHL and European Leagues. Brockport has earned a spot in the SUNYAC Tournament eight times since 2010 and has posted double-digit victories in each of the last nine season. Head Coach Brian Dickinson is in his 27th season as head coach and is a two-time SUNYAC Coach of the Year recipient. In 2021-22, AHCA All-American Ryan Romeo was named the SUNYAC’s Herb Hammond Player of the Year, while a pair of Brockport student-athletes have won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in each of the last two seasons.
 
"We are thrilled and honored by the acceptance of our hockey program into the United Collegiate Hockey Conference,” said Brockport Athletic Director Erick Hart. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence. Joining this prestigious conference will not only elevate the level of competition we face but also provide our student-athletes with incredible opportunities to showcase their talents on a larger stage. We look forward to making our mark in the UCHC and continuing to uphold the proud traditions of SUNY Brockport hockey."
 
The Golden Eagles play at Wegmans Ice Arena on campus, which seats 2,000 fans.
 
"We’re honored and excited that SUNY Brockport hockey has been accepted into the United Collegiate Hockey Conference,” said Brockport Head Coach Brian Dickinson. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players, coaching staff, and the entire Brockport community. We look forward to competing at the highest level and representing our school with pride and passion on the ice. The future is bright, and we can't wait to make our mark in the UCHC." 
 
Founded in 1871, SUNY Geneseo is a distinctive public liberal arts college. Nationally recognized for excellence and value in the liberal arts, Geneseo is known for its exceptional faculty, its welcoming atmosphere, and its reputation for producing successful alumni. Its supportive inclusive community provides an honors college experience that is exceptional in cultivating creativity, engagement, and discovery. 
 
“SUNY Geneseo is rightly proud of our Ice Knights, who embody excellence in the classroom and on the ice," said Geneseo President Denise Battles. "We're excited to join the UCHC, an exemplary conference that offers compelling opportunities for our hockey program's continued development and success.”
 
The Knights are known both for stellar academic and athletic programs. SUNY Geneseo competes in 21 varsity sports and has finished in the top-25 in the Division III Learfield Sports/NACDA Directors Cup standings each of the last six completed years of competition.
 
Geneseo’s men’s ice hockey program has become a perennial Division III Championship contender. Overall, the Ice Knights have made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including six since the 2013-14 season, highlighted by a trip to the National Championship game in 2022. Geneseo has also won five of the last seven SUNYAC Championships and have won eight conference titles in program history. Geneseo has celebrated 26 AHCA All-Americans, while head coach Chris Schultz, the two-time Edward Jeremiah Award winner as Division III Coach of the Year, has a 278-129-30 record in 17 seasons with the Ice Knights.
 
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to join the UCHC,” said Geneseo Athletic Director Dani Drews. “Geneseo's hockey program is such a source of pride for our entire community. We are excited for the Ice Knights to represent the UCHC and continue their quest for an NCAA Championship.”
 
The Ice Knights play at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena, located in the Merritt Athletic Center on campus, which holds 1,600 fans.
 
“Division III hockey is rapidly evolving, and our new journey begins in the UCHC,” said Geneseo Head Coach Chris Schultz. “We are looking forward to competing in a newly aligned conference that focuses on the student-athlete experience and a competitive sportsmanship that will take the conference to new heights. I would like to personally thank President Battles, Vice President for Student and Campus Life, Michael Taberski, Director of Athletics, Dani Drews, and our new commissioner, Chuck Mitrano, for their guidance in this new endeavor.  We are confident that the Geneseo hockey tradition will continue to be a beacon at the national level.” 
 
Both Brockport and Geneseo will begin multi-sport play in the Empire 8 conference in 2024-25.   
 
UCHC men’s programs will consist of Brockport, Chatham University, Geneseo, Manhattanville College, Nazareth University, Neumann University, Utica University, and Wilkes University for the 2024-25 season.
 
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 seventh 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 University, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica University, 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.