Significant expansion is anticipated for NCAA hockey in the foreseeable future, spearheaded by a fresh entrant from the St. Louis region.
Maryville University, currently an NCAA Division 2 institution housing ACHA Division 1, 2, and 3 teams, is set to elevate beyond club sports and join the NCAA structure starting with the 2027-28 academic year.
The university’s athletic department, known as the Saints, also fields women’s hockey squads in ACHA Divisions 1 and 2.
Prior to their full immersion, the team plans to compete against NCAA adversaries during the 2026-27 season, targeting a minimum of 20 matchups against NCAA Division 1 programs.
The current program utilizes the Maryville University Ice Hockey Center for its club contests, a modern and aesthetically pleasing facility boasting two ice sheets, each conforming to NHL regulations. Capital has already been secured for enhancing the venue to meet the standards of other NCAA D1 facilities.
The ACHA Division 1 team from Maryville has already demonstrated its potential merely through its lineup; its player pool already shows a glimpse of NCAA D1 caliber, notably in a 3-1 defeat to independent LIU, where the final goal was an empty-netter, on October 31st, 2025.
A local rivalry is also beginning to emerge, geographically speaking, given the proximity of NCAA D1 independent Lindenwood’s Centene Community Ice Center, which is merely a 17-mile journey from Maryville’s home rink.
Furthermore, the Centene venue will serve as the host location for Maryville’s ACHA D1 team as they contend for the ACHA Nationals commencing on March 12th.
In conclusion, considering the prevailing geographical trend of collegiate hockey moving eastward, the introduction of a new team from the Midwest offers a welcome change, with aspirations for its eventual integration into a conference.
