From Jamestown Athletics

JAMESTOWN, ND. (jimmiepride.com) – The University of Jamestown women’s hockey program has achieved a pair of important distinctions before beginning its inaugural season in 2022-23.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association has approved UJ as an ACHA Division 1 program and the Women’s Midwest Collegiate Hockey has granted the team membership in the conference.

“It’s an honor to join such a great conference as a first-year program,” said UJ head coach Amber Schaack.  “Being able to play the best teams in ACHA D1 will help our program develop quickly and set us up for success. Our team couldn’t be more excited to start women’s college hockey in Jamestown!”

“This is a big day for our women’s hockey program and sets the course for future success,” said University of Jamestown Director of Athletics Sean Johnson.  “One of the most important goals of our program is to grow women’s hockey in our region and playing at the ACHA Division 1 level and in the best Division 1 conference in the country will help us achieve those goals.”

There are currently 29 institutions that compete in ACHA Division 1 hockey.  In the latest ACHA Division 1 poll six of the top 10 teams are members of the WMCH – Liberty (#1), Lindenwood (#4), Minot State (#5), Midland (#6), McKendree (#7) and Maryville (#10).

The WMCH does not play a round-robin schedule but does sponsor a conference tournament at the end of the season with the winner automatically qualifying for the ACHA Division 1 tournament.  Ten teams qualify for the ACHA Division 1 Tournament and UJ will be eligible in its first year of competition.