Irish make move to Hockey East official

October 06, 2011|By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff

The rumors that had been swirling for months were confirmed yesterday when Notre Dame announced its men’s hockey program will be joining Hockey East starting in the 2013-14 season.

The Fighting Irish will remain in the CCHA the next two seasons. Notre Dame’s addition will result in an odd number of teams in Hockey East (11), and many hockey insiders believe Connecticut would be the natural 12th team. Currently, the Huskies play in the Atlantic Hockey conference.

“Since the formation of the Hockey East Association 27 years ago when seven schools took the ice under our banner that year, we have added programs on three occasions,’’ said Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna. “In 1989, Merrimack College became our eighth institution followed by the University of Massachusetts in 1993 and the University of Vermont in 2005. Those were all special days in the history of our conference. Today we celebrate a uniquely special event in the history of Hockey East.’’

The addition came as a result of a vote by the member schools, all of whom have played the Fighting Irish with the exception of UMass-Lowell.

Notre Dame made an impression on the league last spring by knocking off both New Hampshire and Merrimack in the NCAA Northeast regionals, preventing the league from competing for its fourth straight national championship in the Frozen Four.

“It has been suggested that the seeds of this day stem from the regionals when we decided if we couldn’t beat them, we should try to join with them and today we have,’’ said Bertagna.

Mike Lynch, Boston University assistant vice president and director of athletics, played an integral role in the decision-making process. “I had the distinct pleasure to chair a special group who has been looking into the possibilities of expanding the Hockey East Association for some time with the right partner and we believe firmly that we’ve found that partner,’’ said Lynch. “Over the last few months, we’ve entered into some really substantive discussions about the future of our league and the future of college hockey. We think we’ve made a great move in the right direction and we are thrilled to welcome Notre Dame to Hockey East.’’

Fighting Irish coach Jeff Jackson, who runs an enormously successful program that has battled Hockey East teams tooth and nail, including the 2008 NCAA championship game won by Boston College, had mixed emotions.

He’s excited about being in Hockey East but also sad to see the end of the CCHA.