🔒Fitchburg State to launch women’s varsity ice hockey team

For the first time, women will skate onto Fitchburg State University’s ice hockey rink as varsity players as the university will establish a women’s varsity hockey team in 2027. FSU’s board of trustees voted Thursday to make women’s ice hockey the university’s 18th varsity sport, in a move FSU President Donna Hodge considers monumental. “It reflects our deep commitment to supporting women’s athletics and creating meaningful opportunities for our female student‑athletes. It also underscores how Fitchburg State continues to gain momentum: growing stronger as an institution, increasing our impact, and showing that we truly value the dedication, talent, and passion of all our students,” Hodge said in a Thursday press release from FSU. While FSU has offered men’s varsity ice hockey on and off since 1934, the university only offers a women’s ice hockey club, which was formed in the 2024-2025 season, Chad Garner, FSU associate director of communications, said in an email to WBJ. Playing its first game starting in the 2027–2028 season, FSU’s women’s team will be in NCAA D3, playing in the MASCAC league. The team will be composed of incoming freshmen, current students, and transfers.

"Women's ice hockey will be a fantastic addition, attracting talented new students and fostering a thrilling new tradition on campus. This is a major step forward for the university,” Lynn Barrieau, vice chair of the FSU board of trustees, said in the release. The university will conduct a national search for a full-time women’s varsity coach. Women’s participation in collegiate ice hockey has been on the rise, FSU said in the release, growing 39% since 2015, according to data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. “Women’s hockey is among the fastest-growing sports in the country, and we’re proud to be part of that momentum. This new program will provide meaningful opportunities for our female student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level while continuing their academic pursuits. We look forward to building a team that embodies the competitive spirit and values of Fitchburg State,” Burke said in the release. The team will play its home games at FSU’s Wallace Civic Center, where players will have their own locker rooms. FSU began its men’s varsity ice hockey team in 1934 and ran it through 1937. After a hiatus, the program picked back up between 1959 and 1962 and then resumed again in 1970, according to DIII Hockey News. Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.