Danbury, CT – The Eastern College Athletic Conference announced today SUNY Canton is among eight schools forming a new NCAA Division III women's ice hockey league called the ECAC North Atlantic Hockey League.

The ECAC North Atlantic will be comprised of eight institutions that either currently compete independently or are adding a women's ice hockey program next year. SUNY Canton, Becker College, Daniel Webster College, Endicott College, Johnson & Wales University, Morrisville State College, Salem State University and Stevenson University will be the founding members of the ECAC North Atlantic Hockey League.

"It's exciting to be a part of the new ECAC North Atlantic Hockey League," said Director of Athletics Randy B. Sieminski. "The ECAC is renowned and respected nationwide for its excellence in promoting educational leadership and excellence in athletics. We're proud to be among those schools creating this new conference for women's hockey, and we can't wait to hit the ice next season to compete for a conference championship."

The league was formed based on bringing together ECAC members that currently sponsor the sport of women's ice hockey or plan to sponsor the sport next season. The ECAC currently sponsors two women's hockey leagues and five total Division III hockey leagues. The ECAC Women's East is currently the largest ECAC league with 14 members, while ECAC Women's West currently holds 10 institutions.

"We'd like to thank the ECAC, and particularly Katie Boldvich, for their outstanding guidance leading to the formation of the ECAC North Atlantic Hockey League," added Sieminski. "It's exciting to be part of a brand new conference while also benefitting from the extraordinary reputation, experience and name recognition of the ECAC."

The eight schools will play each other twice during the regular season and an ECAC North Atlantic Champion will be crowned following a post-season conference tournament.

"The ECAC North Atlantic will provide a tremendous platform for our women's ice hockey student-athletes," said Head Women's

Ice Hockey Coach Dave LaBaff. "We are grateful for the opportunity the ECAC has provided and all of the hard work they have done to organize and create our league. SUNY Canton is a proud new member of the ECAC North Atlantic, and we couldn't be more thrilled. We can't wait until next year at this time when we are checking the league standings and preparing for another weekend of battling the other terrific schools in our conference."

"We already play several of the teams who will be joining the ECAC North Atlantic Conference, and it's great competition," said SUNY Canton Captain Lora Ardoin. "That's what it's all about for us. We want the opportunity to prove ourselves and battle for a league championship. We can't wait to drop the puck on the 2015-16 ECAC North Atlantic. The rest of the conference better be ready for the Roos."