Squelching rumors surrounding the program, officials at the United States Military Academy stated that they have no desire to return to the ECAC or to ask for admission into Hockey East. The Cadet football team’s recent jump from independent status to Conference USA membership had sparked discussion that a similar move could be underway for the Army hockey team.
After 107 years as a football independent, Army signed on as Conference USA’s eighth member last spring; the Black Knights will begin play in the conference this fall. Most of Army’s other sports teams are aligned with the Patriot League.
“The only thing [the hockey team is] missing is the chance to compete for a league championship or playoff,” said Army assistant hockey coach Paul Haggerty, a 1991 graduate of the academy and a member of the last Cadet team to play a season in the ECAC. The school’s struggles in conference play led to the decision to drop out of the league.
In Army’s last season as a member of the ECAC, the Cadets finished with an overall record of 8-18-3, including just three conference victories. As an independent, Army was 20-13-1 last season and 13-13-0 thus far this year.
Ken Kostik, who covers Army sports for the North County News in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., contributed this report.
