University of Delaware to add women’s DI college hockey program

In the ever-growing world of women’s hockey in North America, a college campus on the East Coast is set to have a new team in the near future.

On Friday, the University of Delaware announced it will be adding Division I women’s hockey program, slated to begin play in the fall of 2025.

It will become the 45th women’s DI program and the first NCAA hockey program in the state of Delaware. The Blue Hens will be joining the College Hockey America (CHA) conference.

The move comes after the school’s athletic department announced that it had been for full membership into Conference USA, with the transition from FCS to FBS football giving an opportunity to add more scholarships for female athletes at the school.

“We’re thrilled to be part of growing the game of women’s ice hockey here, both nationally and at UD.” Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said in the release. “I’m confident women’s ice hockey will have success on and off the ice, and joining the CHA allows us to surround ourselves with aspiring institutions and some of the best competition in the nation.” 

The university announced that they will begin the search for a head coach next month.

Delaware has two arenas on campus, with the team scheduled to play at Fred Rust Arena, which has a 2,500-seat Olympic-sized sheet of ice.

The Blue Hens have housed a club women’s team since 2003, competing at the DII level in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

The CHA, established in 2002, currently consists of six schools nationwide. It features Lindenwood, Mercyhurst, Penn State, Robert Morris, RIT and Syracuse.

The addition of the Blue Hens continues the expanding footprint of DI women’s hockey in the NCAA. Since 2019, Long Island University, Stonehill College and Assumption University added women’s programs at their schools.