Rivier University (N.H.) to Add Men’s and Women’s Hockey

Rivier University, a private Catholic university in Nashua, N.H., announced that it will launch a men’s and women’s hockey program beginning in 2021. The school said it plans to launch as an ACHA program and transition to NCAA Division III for the 2022-23 season.

Rivier has an enrollment of 2,242 students. The school said home games will be played at Conway Arena in Nashua.

“With the launch of men’s and women’s ice hockey programs, the University continues to demonstrate its deep commitment to college athletics and student success,” says Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM, Rivier’s President. “Recruitment of athletes for these teams will add to recent momentum generated through the expansion of our athletics and academic facilities, launch of in-demand academic majors, and addition of early admission incentives.”

The university is currently searching for a head coach.

“We’re looking for hockey coaches who share our deep belief in the value of Division III athletics, which prioritizes student-athletes as students first who develop skills for learning and leadership,” shares Joanne Merrill, Rivier’s Director of Athletics.

The GNAC doesn’t sponsor ice hockey but many full members of the conference do have hockey programs, many of which are in the New England Hockey Conference.

GNAC schools that also have hockey programs include Albertus Magnus (Ind.), Anna Maria (Ind.), Johnson & Wales (NEHC), Norwich (NEHC) and Suffolk (NEHC). The addition of Rivie gives the GNAC six men’s hockey programs.