BABSON PARK, Mass.—The 2024-25 season for Babson College men's ice hockey as a member of the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) will be its last, as the Beavers will join the Little East Conference (LEC) as an affiliate member for its inaugural season in 2025-26.

"With significant league movement across the country that is now impacting Babson and the NEHC, we have decided to move our men's ice hockey program to the LEC," said Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement Mike Lynch. "LEC hockey includes many familiar foes from the NEHC in a favorable geographic footprint. The conference retains the same access Babson has experienced when it comes to automatic qualification into the NCAA Tournament and provides our student-athletes a continued opportunity to play some of the best teams in the region and nation."

Babson College joins longtime conference rival Norwich University as LEC affiliate members with today's announcement.

LEC Commissioner Pamela S. Samuelson announced in July 2023 the conference would begin sponsoring men's ice hockey, and welcomed current NEHC member New England College as the league's first affiliate on February 13, 2024. In addition to the aforementioned three affiliates, the LEC will consist of six core men's ice hockey playing members in Keene State College, Plymouth State University, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Southern Maine, and Vermont State University Castleton. 

"On behalf of the LEC presidents and athletics directors, I am excited to welcome Babson College and Norwich University as affiliate members in men's ice hockey," said Samuelson. "Their addition further enhances what we believe will be a highly competitive sport at the national level for the LEC, and will allow longstanding rivalries to continue for our members currently playing in the NEHC."

The LEC will have immediate automatic qualification access to the NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championship in 2025-26, with at least six core members sponsoring the sport.

The history of the NEHC dates back to 1966 and has seen several membership changes over the 50+ years of its existence. The conference formally changed its name to the NEHC from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East at the beginning of the 2015-16 season. Babson's conference membership dates back to the late 1970s.

The NEHC currently has 10 members to conclude this season but will go to 11 institutions next year with the additions of Albertus Magnus College and Salve Regina University and loss of Johnson & Wales University, who will join the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

Following the 2024-25 season, NEHC members Babson, Castleton, New England College, Norwich, Southern Maine and UMass Boston will depart for the LEC, leaving the NEHC with Albertus Magnus, Salve Regina, Elmira College, Hobart College and Skidmore College.