(03-31-2022 01:54 PM)AZcats Wrote: (03-31-2022 01:31 PM)Inkblot Wrote: (03-31-2022 12:50 PM)AZcats Wrote: (03-31-2022 10:07 AM)ccd494 Wrote: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2...es-to-.php
Utica is "close" to being accepted into a D-II conference, but is awaiting admission to Atlantic Hockey before committing. If they can't find a D-I conference home for hockey, they are going to stay D-III. The D-II membership vote, if Utica moves forward, would be in February 2023-24, but they would start play in D-I hockey in 2023-24 (not sure how that works).
The vote on AHA membership would come at the end of April.
The full list of 2022 D2 membership applicants has not been posted, we know of two applicants. If Utica applied for D2 membership on Feb 1, 2022 then they would be on track for D1 hockey in 2023-24 pending approval by the D2 Membership Committee in July. Depending on the AHA vote in April, at that point Utica can either move forward with D2 membership or withdraw the D2 application. D2 membership applications are due on Feb 1 every year so Utica could apply in 2023 and still have a chance at D1 hockey in 2023-24.
I understood that article as saying that Utica won't apply until February 2023.
I'm not sure how it reads either but it sounds like they have an official invite to a D2 conference which is required for the application. Whether they applied this year or wait until 2023 it still gives them a chance to start D1 hockey in 2023-24 if all the pieces fall into place.
After re-reading the article, this stood out.
Quote:The full Division II body is expected to vote on Utica's acceptance at the NCAA Convention next February.
That's not correct, the applications are due in February and the membership committee decides acceptance in July.
If I understand the DII regulations, a school must have a bona fide invitation from a DII conference before applying. The application must be made before February 1, and voted on in July, beginning the immediately following academic year.
If they had a bona fide invitation it would have been announced. Utica could not have a secret invitation in February 2022, to be voted on in July 2022.
So they will get a bona fide invitation before February 2023 and begin the 3-year transition to DII in July 2023. The actual process outlined in the Division II manual is more about reporting, etc. and not actually sports participation, which is more implied.
The contest requirements appear to only require that they played against 4-year colleges, not necessarily even NCAA or NAIA. But the conference will expect a member school to play a full schedule as soon as possible.
So as soon as 2023-2024 Utica would be expected to begin to behave like a DII school, doling out scholarships and competing in league play, while not being eligible for DII or DIII championships.
Since there is no DII championship for ice hockey, DII schools are permitted to compete in DI ice hockey. They have to give notice, and also commit to three years participation. If they do so, they are subject to DI scholarship limits.
Presumably a team that is reclassifying to DII in all sports, can immediately begin competing in DI hockey, again subject to not playing in the actual championships.
Utica would best fit with the NE-10 which sponsors 6 men's team sports: baseball, lacrosse, basketball, ice hockey, soccer and football, all of which Utica sponsors. The NE-10 plays ice hockey at the DII level and doesn't compete for the DI championship. But that is OK since two NE-10 schools, American International and Bentley do so (and only about 1/2 the schools in the NE-10 sponsor hockey).
But if Utica really wants DI hockey, they can't really do it it as an independent. They would have a hard time scheduling matches and would really be uphill to get an at-large berth. There are only three independents in DI:
Arizona State
Long Island University
Alaska (Fairbanks)
LIU had a scheduling agreement with AHA in 20-21, and applied for membership for 21-22, but the AHA did not act on it, and LIU played an independent schedule in 21-22.
Utica is geographically situated for AHA (that is why their conference tournament was played in Utica). The AHA AD's just voted to readmit Robert Morris for 2023-24 (this has to be ratified by the presidents). Robert Morris dropped ice hockey rather precipitously, and there was some question whether they would be let back in.
So if AHA does invite Utica, then the NE-10 will go ahead and formally invite Utica and Utica will apply for DII status. They could begin competing in NE-10 and AHA in 2023-24. Assuming the AHA invitation comes through, they should be able to handle scheduling for football and hockey.
So Utica can't play in the AHA unless they have an invitation from the NE-10, but they won't accept an NE-10 invitation unless they are sure they can play in the AHA.
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D3 Utica University Men's Hockey Looking To Move To D1 With Approval From the NCAA
