Mercyhurst University announced Friday that it will be discontinuing its men’s hockey program effective at the end of the academic year. The Lakers have been a program since 1988, spending time in each of Divisions I, II and III over its history.
Per the university’s statement, the decision was made to reflect “reflect a comprehensive strategy focused on long-term viability and alignment with student demand.”
“These were thoughtful and consequential decisions,” said Mercyhurst President Kathleen Getz said in a statement. “They reflect our responsibility to ensure Mercyhurst remains strong, responsive, and focused on providing students with the opportunities and experiences that will prepare them for success.”
The school will continue to support its women’s hockey program at the Division I level, and will continue to offer men’s hockey at the collegiate club level.
Mercyhurst says it will continue to honor the affected student-athletes’ scholarships and will also assist those that wish to enter the transfer portal.
Mercyhurst was a member of the Atlantic Hockey America conference, previously known as Atlantic Hockey since 2003 and has been a Division I program since 1999-2000.
The Lakers had been led by Rick Gotkin for the last 38 years. Last offseason, Gotkin announced his plans to retire and that the 2025-26 campaign would be his last.
Mercyhurst made three trips to the NCAA men’s hockey tournament at the Division I level, most recently in 2005. They also appeared in the Division II and III national tournaments three times, collectively. The program won conference tournament titles in 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2005.
The program’s lifetime winning percentage was .518, but had not had a winning season since 2017-18.
The Lakers were 6-28-3 in their final season, though had a great moment by upsetting Canisius in the first round of the AHA playoffs, and took eventual champion Bentley to triple-OT in Game 1 of their second-round series.
This is the second straight year a men’s Division I hockey program was discontinued as American International College ended its men’s Division I program, bumping it down to Division II.
Both AIC and Mercyhurst were part of Atlantic Hockey America. The conference will now have nine members in its men’s hockey division. There are seven teams in the women’s division.
“Atlantic Hockey America is deeply disappointed by the news regarding the Mercyhurst men’s ice hockey program,” said AHA Commissioner Michelle Morgan in a statement. “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 AHA will remain steadfast in continuing to elevate our league while remaining nimble in the continually changing landscape of collegiate athletics.”
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