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Wayne State (Michigan) ends women’s hockey program

Wayne State (Michigan) will discontinue its women’s ice hockey program, effective immediately. School officials said the decision was necessary because of continuing reductions in state appropriations to higher education.

“With all the successes we have enjoyed recently with championships, high academic achievement and graduation rates, this action leaves an empty feeling and is a disappointment for our women’s hockey student-athletes, our alumni and the department,” said Director of Athletics Rob Fournier. “This last-resort consequence only underscores the economic reality that confronts higher education in the State of Michigan today.

“In the end, the cost and expenditures of our most expensive operating program determined this difficult decision. Importantly, however, the educational objectives of our women’s hockey student-athletes will be protected.”

Of the current 16 sport programs at Wayne State, women’s hockey is the most expensive and has the largest operating budget, Fournier said. Wayne State offers seven other women’s sports: basketball, cross country, fencing, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. The Warriors’ men’s varsity offerings are baseball, basketball, cross country, fencing, football, golf, swimming and diving, and tennis.

All current student-athlete scholarships will be honored, provided they meet satisfactory progress standards under NCAA guidelines. Releases will be offered to those who wish to transfer to other schools this summer, where they will be eligible to participate immediately as the normal residency requirements of the NCAA are waived.

The Warriors’ women’s hockey program recently concluded its 12th season and ninth as a member of College Hockey America, which includes Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris and Syracuse.

The Warriors compiled a 138-209-29 record during that time. In terms of conference play, Wayne State recorded an all-time CHA mark of 48-59-7 in nine seasons, tying for the CHA regular-season title in 2007-08.

Wayne State had 26 all-CHA recipients (10 first team and 16 second team), plus another nine student-athletes who were voted to the CHA All-Rookie Team. There was one All-American and one CoSIDA Academic All-American in the last 12 years.