Mercyhurst's Div. I men's hockey team ends after winning six games this season and averaging the third-fewest fans in attendance.
Mercyhurst College announced the end of its Div. I men's hockey team Friday, citing "long-term viability and alignment with student demand."
The women's Div. I team will not be affected. The school will still have men's club hockey.
The Lakers played out of the Atlantic Hockey America conference and made the NCAA national tournament three times, all around the early 2000s.
This season was particularly gruelling, with the Lakers finishing last in the conference and winning just six of their 37 games.
They were also third-last in attendance, averaging 712 fans per game – less than half capacity, according to collegehockeynews.com.
Nonetheless, NCAA hockey programs can quickly rebuild from poor campaigns – if their schools care enough to see things through.
"Atlantic Hockey America is deeply disappointed by the news regarding the Mercyhurst men's ice hockey program," said AHA commissioner Michelle Morgan. "We recognize the weight of this decision and the significance it has for the student-athletes and staff members who are affected. Our focus remains on supporting those impacted by this transition and ensuring the continued stability of our conference."
The news came as a shock and some in the college hockey community were dismayed that just yesterday, the school and the hockey team were soliciting donations for the program on social media.
The loss of the Lakers leaves Atlantic Hockey America with nine teams, though there are a couple of independent schools that could be good fits: both Long Island and Stonehill are within the conference's geographic footprint.
AHA told The Hockey News it's reviewing its options right now.
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