University of New England

UNE to add men's
ice hockey team
 
BIDDEFORD, Maine - University of New England President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., and Director of Athletics Kim Allen are pleased to announce the addition of a men's ice hockey team to UNE's existing athletics programs. 

The team, which will start at a pre-varsity level, will commence competition during the 2007-2008 academic year and will become a full-fledged varsity program in the 2010-2011 academic year.

Ice Hockey Tradition
During the mid-70's through the early 80's, UNE (formerly St. Francis College) sponsored a championship-winning men's ice hockey team. The team won three consecutive National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 5 championships from 1976 to 1979.

Coached by Bob Riley, St. Francis made one appearance at the NAIA National Tournament in Superior, Wisc. and twice qualified for the NAIA National Tournament in St. Paul, Minn. Two players from those teams - Jack Lowry and Randy Van Voorhies - signed contracts with professional hockey teams.

Athletics Director Kim Allen said, "This is an incredible opportunity to bring back a program that accomplished so much. Ice hockey is a sport with great Maine traditions with a lot of support and interest in the greater Portland and Biddeford areas." Allen continued, "The return of ice hockey to our University will energize our campus and our alumni, and contribute to building an athletics program that is regionally and nationally prominent. It will foster support for, and pride in, the University."

She added, "There has been so much change at the University over the past several years, and we are thriving and poised to pursue excellence in all areas, including athletics."

Bob Riley, head coach of the St. Francis hockey team from 1974 until 1979, echoed Allen's sentiments. "Adding ice hockey to athletics at UNE is a wonderful move," Riley said. "I have great affection for UNE. Those five years our team did some amazing things. Lessons that those players learned on the ice made them successful back then, and have led to their success where they are now. That's the part of hockey that is the best."

Biddeford Ice Arena
Allen has already met with officials at the Biddeford Ice Arena, the venue the team will use for practices and home contests. She expects the program will be able to secure ice time without displacing local high schools and other programs already using the facility.

A search will start immediately for a head coach, and the Nor'easters will be pursuing the opportunity to compete in the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association. Adding a men's hockey team will also fulfill UNE's NCAA Division III requirements for adding another male sport by the year 2010.

University of New England Athletics
The University of New England is an active member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA III) and fields 13 varsity programs: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, golf, field hockey, softball and swimming, and also offers a wide variety of club sports, intramural programs and recreational activities.

UNE has 233 student-athletes, roughly 15 percent of its undergraduate student enrollment. This past year 45 percent of UNE student-athletes qualified for the Dean's List, and, for the second year in a row, 27 student-athletes qualified for the CCC All-Academic Team. For more information on UNE athletics, visit the Athletics Department website.

(Press release posted March 5, 2007)