In a significant development for collegiate ice hockey, Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America (CHA) have decided to merge their operations, effective from the 2024-25 college hockey season. Although both conferences have shared a commissioner and conference staff since 2010, they have functioned as separate entities with their own boards of directors and by-laws.
The decision to merge comes with the aim of streamlining operations and creating a more unified and impactful brand in both men’s and women’s ice hockey. Michelle Morgan, the commissioner for both Atlantic Hockey and CHA, expressed her enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “Joining forces under one name provides a strong foundation for both leagues as we build a new experience for our current and future student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”
The merger announcement comes alongside the appointment of Michelle Morgan as the new commissioner for both conferences, marking a perfect timing to merge operations and revitalize the brand and potential of the conference as a whole. Bradley Davis, the board chairman of Atlantic Hockey and Mercyhurst assistant VP for athletics, expressed his anticipation, saying, “The board of directors and our head coaches look forward to working with Commissioner Morgan on strengthening our league. This merger is a great first step in that direction.”
For the upcoming 2023-24 season, Atlantic Hockey and CHA will continue to operate separately. However, they will officially merge operations on July 1, 2024, with a vision to redefine the landscape of men’s and women’s college ice hockey. Jamie Mullin, the CHA board chairman and Syracuse senior associate athletics director, emphasized the importance of this merger, stating, “We have an opportunity to redefine both leagues as a unified men’s and women’s college ice hockey brand. Merging the conferences with a new vision, under the direction of Commissioner Michelle Morgan, sends a clear message that it is a new era for our conference.”
Further details regarding the new structure and the unified conference will be announced at a later date, promising an exciting future for collegiate ice hockey.
