Wednesday, February 10, 2021

CollegeHockey4DEI Introduced

Group aims to create positive cultural change, one shift at a time


CollegeHockey4DEI Introduced

NCAA Division I hockey student-athletes, coaches and administrators unveiled a new initiative Wednesday – College Hockey for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – that is designed to create positive cultural change in the sport through communication, education, allyship, and advocacy.

CollegeHockey4DEI.com

A group of 27 people representing the 11 Division I hockey conferences began meeting in the summer of 2020 and are leading the movement.

“The energy and commitment that this group has brought to each meeting has been inspiring,” said Jennifer Flowers, Vice President and Women’s Commissioner of the WCHA and the chair of the committee. “We are united in our goal and recognize there is work to be done. The conversations we have had give me confidence that we can affect change and ensure that college hockey is a welcoming environment for all.”

Flowers and six members of the committee took part in a virtual news conference Wednesday introducing the initiative and unveiling its website (collegehockey4DEI.com) and mission:

College Hockey for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is dedicated to creating positive cultural change across our sport through communication, education, allyship, and advocacy. Together we are working for a better tomorrow, one shift at a time.

That mantra – one shift at a time – reflects the group’s determination to pursue the challenging and necessary work of creating positive cultural change, with a recognition that sometimes that change comes as the accumulation of small steps.

“We are united in our effort to create meaningful change and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within our sport,” the website reads. “We intend to build upon the work of our institutions and partner with other organizations committed to these efforts to affect change in college hockey so that our sport may become a better version of itself. We will approach this challenging and necessary work just like we play our game: one shift at a time.”

In Wednesday’s news conference, Flowers and six members of the committee introduced the group and previewed what is to come.

“This is truly a college hockey initiative,” Flowers said. “Each of the NCAA Division I hockey conferences are represented on the committee. We believe our collective voices and our unique ability to work together as a sport provides us an opportunity to make a difference … We look forward to introducing new projects within college hockey. As those projects are finalized, we will share them.”

College Hockey for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Members
Conference Name Title Institution / Organization
Atlantic Hockey (M) Trevor Large Head Coach Canisius College
Devon Daniels Student-Athlete Mercyhurst University
College Hockey America (W) Shelley Looney Head Coach Lindenwood
Emilie Harley Student-Athlete Robert Morris University
Big Ten (M) Bill Muckalt Associate Head Coach Michigan
Robbie Stucker Student-Athlete Minnesota
ECAC Hockey (M & W) Jim McLaughlin Director of Athletics Union College
Jennifer Costa Student-Athlete Dartmouth College
Rory Herrman Student-Athlete RPI
Hockey East (M & W) Alfie Michaud Assistant Coach University of Maine
Nikki Harnett Student-Athlete University of New Hampshire
Jacques Bouquot Student-Athlete University of Vermont
Marshall Warren Student-Athlete Boston College
Jeff Konya Athletic Director Northeastern
NCHC (M) Paul Jerrard Assistant Coach University of Nebraska Omaha
Jasper Weatherby Student-Athlete University of North Dakota
NEWHA (W) Tom O’Malley Head Coach Sacred Heart University
Sophia Burns Student-Athlete Saint Michael’s College
WCHA Women Maura Crowell Head Coach University of Minnesota Duluth
Tina Kampa Student-Athlete Bemidji State Univeristy
WCHA Men Terlynn Olds Executive Senior Associate Director & SWA University of Alaska Fairbanks
Ayo Adeniye Student-Athlete University of Alabama Huntsville
Working Group Leadership Jen Flowers Commissioner WCHA Women’s League
Steve Metcalf Commissioner Hockey East
Josh Fenton Commissioner NCHC
Kate McAfee Associate Commissioner Hockey East
Mike Snee Executive Director College Hockey Inc.