HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's and women's ice hockey teams will begin play as affiliate members of the Little East Conference (LEC) beginning in the 2025-2026 season in a joint announcement by the conference and the NEC athletics department on Wednesday.

"On behalf of the LEC presidents and athletic directors, it gives me great pleasure to welcome New England College as an affiliate member in men's and women's ice hockey, and I am excited that we will be able to begin sponsoring both sports beginning in 2025-26 with their addition," said Commissioner Pamela S. Samuelson in a statement. "NEC's programs further enhance what we believe will be highly-competitive sports for our conference."
The Pilgrims' men's and women's ice hockey programs are two of the premier teams at NEC, competing on-campus at Lee Clement Arena.

"New England College and the Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Programs take great pride in our rich history of competing at the highest levels." NEC Director of Athletics Dave DeCew said. "This conference affiliation allows us to continue to compete against traditional New England area league foes and build on intra-state rivalries.  Hockey here in Henniker will continue to be played at a high level against tournament-level teams, all while under the stability of the LEC."

The NEC men's and women's ice hockey teams are currently the only Pilgrim athletic programs impacted by the move.

Samuelson announced in July 2023 the Little East Conference would begin sponsoring men's ice hockey, following the addition of varsity men's and women's ice hockey programs at Keene State College. The Owls and Pilgrims will join men's and women's ice hockey programs from LEC primary members UMass Boston, Plymouth State University, University of Southern Maine and Vermont State University Castleton, and the men's program from UMass Dartmouth.

Per NCAA Division III rules, LEC women's ice hockey will obtain automatic qualification status beginning in 2027-28, as it will begin with fewer than six sponsoring core members. The LEC will have immediate automatic qualification access to the NCAA Division III men' ice hockey championship in 2025-26 with at least six core members sponsoring the sport.

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