Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) President Shirley Ann Jackson announced today that the Institute is planning to elevate the women’s ice hockey program Division III to Division I. A timetable is being developed for the move.

“We have been evaluating our options for moving a women’s varsity sport to Division I for some time,” President Jackson said. “We have a great tradition in ice hockey, making it an appropriate choice as a Division I sport at Rensselaer. We are now drafting a timeline, which will include an application to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).”

“It’s an exciting time at Rensselaer,” said Director of Athletics Ken Ralph. “With outstanding student-athletes, a top young head coach in John Burke, and our winning tradition, I believe we can make an impact at the Division I level in the not-too-distant future.”

“I am thrilled and the members of the women’s team are thrilled,” said Burke, who took over the women’s program after the sudden death of Bill Cahill in October. “We have an opportunity to carry out one of Bill’s goals, which was to compete successfully at the highest level, and we are elated.”

Rensselaer elevated its women’s hockey program from a club team to a varsity team beginning in the 1995-96 season. After only two seasons of sub-.500 records, the Engineers have posted winning marks every year since. In its eight years of varsity status leading into this season, RPI had an overall record of 108-83-10 (.562) with four post-season appearances.

Rensselaer’s best season came last year when the team won a school-record 20 games (20-7-0 overall; 17-3-0 ECAC East) and advanced to the finals of the ECAC East Tournament. Individually, Cahill was named the league’s Coach of the Year, Julie Vallarelli was the Goaltender of the Year, and Julie Welte was honored as the Rookie of the Year.

This season, RPI is 10-2-2 overall and 6-1-0 in the ECAC East. The Engineers, who are in first place in the league standings, are currently ranked eighth in the nation in Division III.

With its elevation, the women’s ice hockey program would become the second Division I sport at Rensselaer, joining the men’s hockey program. The men’s team has been in existence since 1901-02 and has two National Championships to its credit (1954 & 1985). RPI also has 21 Division III programs.

Should Rensselaer be accepted to the ECAC, it will join a league that currently features Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, St. Lawrence, Union, Vermont, and Yale. The same 12 schools currently make up the ECAC Division I men’s hockey league.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu