The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Council of Presidents and Commissioner Angela Baumann are pleased to announce that Anna Maria College and Rivier University will be joining the MASCAC as affiliate members. 

Anna Maria and Rivier will join MASCAC men’s ice hockey beginning in 2024-2025 and provisionally for MASCAC women’s ice hockey. The multi-sport strategic addition of both of these institutions as affiliates adds members to assist in men’s ice hockey scheduling and positions the conference in preparations for launching MASCAC women’s ice hockey as a championship sport in the near future. They will join Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Plymouth State University, UMass Dartmouth, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University as the competing members in the MASCAC.

“The MASCAC is thrilled to welcome Anna Maria College and Rivier University to the conference,” Commissioner Baumann said. “The addition of these institutions secures the future of MASCAC men’s ice hockey while addressing some scheduling logistics and sets the pathway for additional opportunities. Partnering as affiliates with these two institutions in our geographic footprint advances the MASCAC membership towards reaching a strategic goal of increasing the number of sports in the league with the addition of women’s ice hockey. I look forward to working with both institutions, their administrations and providing outstanding student-athlete opportunities.” 

Located on 260 acres in Paxton, Massachusetts, Anna Maria College is a private, coeducational institution inspired by the ideals of the Sisters of Saint Anne. Anna Maria prepares students to become ethical leaders by combining a values-based, service-focused education with strong functional knowledge and the skills necessary to address the rapidly changing needs of their world. Anna Maria offers on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate degrees along with certificate programs, 13 NCAA DIII teams, club sports, and many student organizations. 

The Anna Maria men’s ice hockey team is gearing up for their sixth season in their program’s history. The team has amassed a 36-53-13 record since their start back in 2018-2019. They compete at the Horgan Arena in Auburn, MA.

“Our student-athletes, Coach David McCauley and Coach Zachary Perkins have worked hard to build a respected program in the region and the opportunity to compete in the MASCAC conference is something we are all looking forward to,” Director of Athletics Joseph Brady ‘96. “We are thankful to Commissioner Baumann, the presidents of the MASCAC universities, and the athletics directors for this invitation. The chance to compete for a conference championship is a tremendous opportunity for both programs and our department. This new partnership with the MASCAC will continue to enhance our student-athlete experience for our hockey programs.”

Rivier was founded in 1933 by the Sisters of Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus. Rivier has more than 70 programs available on campus ranging from associate to doctoral degrees. The campus comprises 45 buildings on 68 acres in the downtown Nashua area. Riv is home to over 3,200 students, with 1,000 undergraduates, 2,100 graduates, and 100 doctoral. 

The Rivier men's hockey team is heading into just its third season in the history of the program holding a 13-31-4 record in its young existence. They compete at Conway Arena in Nashua, NH, just 2.6 miles from Campus. 

“The Rivier University Department of Athletics is thrilled to align with the MASCAC for men’s and women’s ice hockey,” Rivier Director of Athletics Jonathan Harper said. “As we enter our third year sponsoring hockey, we look forward to quality competition while affording our student-athletes with the opportunity to contend for a conference championship. I would like to thank Sister Paula Marie Buley for her support and leadership through this process along with Commissioner Angela Baumann who worked diligently with the MASCAC Presidents and Directors of Athletics to make this partnership a reality. This opportunity is a tremendous enhancement for the Rivier Hockey student-athlete experience!”

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s oldest Division III men’s and women’s playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men’s ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as a football affiliate member in 2013 and Castleton University in 2024.