Boasting five conference titles and proximity to Boston’s hockey hub, this Massachusetts powerhouse leverages professional alumni and elite coaching to anchor its case for a jump up.
Despite starting play in 2015, Endicott College has appeared in eight conference championships, winning five. Those victories earned Endicott berths to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The team's best season was in 2022-23, going 23-3-2 and reaching the NCAA Semifinals before falling to eventual champion Hobart 3-1. These factors, coupled with a solid group of professional alumni, gets the Gulls the number five spot on our list of most viable DIII Schools to go DI.
Head Coach R.J. Tolan has led the Endicott since day one. He played for the University of Massachusetts–Lowell from 1998-2002. Across a decade behind the bench, Tolan notched a 199-61-21 record.
Raymond J. Bourque Arena is the Gulls' home rink, which opened in September of the inaugural season. The legendary Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Fame member was involved with the facility's construction since the beginning.
"I am honored and have been grateful for the chance to actively assist in the construction fundraising, the funding of youth scholarships, and the educating of our youth," said Bourque at the dedication ceremony. "As an athlete, I have always valued teamwork, leadership, dedication, passion, and a strong sense of community."
Geographically, Endicott makes sense to join Hockey East. It is situated just under 27 miles from Boston on the historic North Shore of Massachusetts. The Gulls are also 38 miles to Lowell, under 20 miles outside Merrimack College and under two hours from Amherst.
The Hershey Bears celebrate a goal by Hershey Bears' Logan Day (26) during the decisive game 7 of the AHL Eastern Conference Finals between the Hershey Bears and Cleveland Monsters on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Giant Center in Hershey. Harrison Jones / USA TODAY NETWORKLogan Day is by far Endicott's most famous alumnus. Day played for the Gulls from 2016-18 and then went pro. He spent parts of seven seasons in the American Hockey League between the Bakersfield Condors, Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hershey Bears. While in Chocolatetown, Day won back to back Calder Cups. Following the two titles, Day departed for the Russian Kontinental Hockey League. Barys Astana signed Day to a one year contract ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
With a student population comparable to Merrimack and a strong winning culture, Endicott would make sense to go Division I if the logistics line up.
