March 6, 2008

Niagara University, N.Y. - Syracuse University will become the fifth member of the College Hockey America (CHA) Women's Conference, beginning in 2008-09, CHA commissioner R.H. "Bob" Peters announced today. Beginning next season, the conference will include Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris, Syracuse, and Wayne State.

"College Hockey America Women's Conference is pleased and proud to welcome Syracuse University as a conference member effective immediately," Commissioner Peters said. "Syracuse University has a storied history of athletic excellence and therefore will add further to the competitive strength of the College Hockey America Women's Conference."

Mercyhurst women's coach Michael Sisti is delighted with the CHA's newest member: "Mercyhurst is happy that Syracuse has decided to come on board. I believe the conference has accomplished a great deal in its first six years and the addition of Syracuse will only help the league's competitiveness and prestige."

"We are excited to start our journey to becoming extraordinary in women's ice hockey," said Syracuse director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. "We are grateful to College Hockey America for recognizing the commitment we've made to be competitive in the sport. We believe we will enhance the conference and will do our best to represent it in the most amazing fashion."

The CHA Women's Conference is in its sixth year and, as the conference playoffs begin Friday at Niagara, currently has two teams (Mercyhurst and Wayne State) ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Niagara was a charter member of the league, along with Mercyhurst and Wayne State. Robert Morris joined the conference for the 2005-06 campaign.

The Syracuse women's ice hockey team will play its inaugural season in 2008-09.