December
11, 2004
Report: RIT To Division I, Atlantic Hockey
By
Mike Eidelbes
Rochester
Institute of Technology will announce its intention to elevate
its hockey program to NCAA Division I status, according to a report
from a Rochester cable news outlet.
R News says
the university will make a formal announcement Wednesday. School
officials are also expected to confirm that RIT will join the
Atlantic Hockey Association for the 2005-06 season, becoming the
league's tenth member. Atlantic Hockey loses Quinnipic after this
season
– the Bobcats are jumping to the ECACHL to replace Hockey
East-bound Vermont.
Other sources
tell Inside College Hockey that RIT's move wouldn't take place
until the 2006-07 season.
RIT currently plays at the NCAA Division III level. The Tigers
have been members of the ECAC West since 1989. The school has
two national titles to its credit – it won the D-III crown
in 1985, and captured the now-defunct NCAA Division II championship
in 1983.
RIT would
become the 59th team in Division I and the second, along with
Robert Morris, to join the ranks in a span of three years.
The Tigers are coached by Wayne Wilson, the all-time leader NCAA
hockey coaches in winning percentage with a 111-25-12 record (.791)
as of Friday. A four-year letterwinner at defense at Bowling Green,
Wilson captained the Falcons to a national championship in 1984.
While at BGSU, he played under current Boston College head coach
Jerry York and was a teammate of Clarkson bench boss George Roll.
