The NCAA announced Tuesday that during the Jan. 9-10 NCAA convention in San Diego, Calif., its membership adopted legislation to establish an official championship in women’s ice hockey, effective with the 2000-01 season.
The specific format and field size of the championship has not yet been determined.
Currently, 53 schools (25 Division I, two Division II and 26 Division III) sponsor women’s ice hockey as a varsity sport. Of those institutions, 34 are ECAC members: 13 in the Division I women’s league, 17 in the women’s alliance and four as independents.
The NCAA Division III Presidents Council also has announced that it intends to introduce legislation for a vote during the 2001 NCAA Convention that would establish a Division III national championship, effective with the 2001-02 academic year.
The American Women’s College Hockey Alliance, sponsored by USA Hockey, currently conducts championships at the Divisions I and III levels. The 2000 championships will be held March 24-25 at Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena.
