BISMARCK, ND – Defending American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division II National Champion University of Mary will soon take on a new challenge. The ACHA national governing body has approved the Marauders application to move up to Men's Division I beginning the 2023-24 season.

Currently in their fourth season after first taking to the ice in September 2018, the Marauders are a dominant force in ACHA M2. In addition to the 2021 national championship in UMary's first trip to the national tournament, the Marauders have sat atop 13 of the last 15 national rankings. UMary has an overall record of 134-22-5-10 (W-L-OTL-T) against all opponents. Against ACHA M2 foes the Marauders are a stellar 127-9-1-7. Playing on home ice at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink the Marauders are virtually invincible with a mark of 62-1-0-0 against M2 programs.

"From a standing-room only crowd for our first game, to a national championship last spring, our community has embraced our Marauders hockey program," said University of Mary President Monsignor James Shea. "Our intention when we first took to the ice in 2018 was to provide scholar-athletes from our region and beyond an opportunity to compete for a university committed to competitive excellence, while also providing ethical formation in virtue and a correct understanding of the purpose of athletic competition. I am proud to say we have wildly exceeded our expectations. We look forward to the opportunities and challenges provided by competing at the highest level of the ACHA."

"This is very exciting news for the ACHA and a great next step for the University of Mary hockey program and surrounding Bismarck-Mandan community," said Craig Barnett, ACHA executive director.

In their inaugural 2018-19 season, the Marauders finished 39-5-2-1, but were ineligible for the postseason as a first-year team. UMary was 39-9-2 and on their way to the national tournament in year two when COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 ACHA National Championships. The Marauders continued to dominate in 2021, claiming the national championship on home ice in the program's first championship opportunity and finished the season 38-4-6-1. This season the Marauders are currently 18-4-1-2.

"This move up in divisions is a testament to Head Coach Dan Huntley's leadership," said University of Mary Executive Vice President Jerome Richter. "He not only ushered in championship caliber hockey when called upon, but to do so, he recruited young men from all over the country with grit and courage to pioneer a start-up program from scratch. In just over three years, these scholar-athletes and their former teammates have taken their quest for greatness even farther through impactful service — earning the nation's top community service award in Division II ACHA hockey. Not only do they have a passion for hockey, but a passion for making a difference as servant leaders for the whole of life. Make no mistake, our goal is to win, but our purpose is to form our athletes to be great through virtue — like God wanted them to be. This is a championship caliber hockey program in so many ways and we look forward to continued success in ACHA Division I hockey."

"As athletic director, I am extremely proud of the growth and development of our hockey program over such a short period of time," said University of Mary Director of Athletics Dale Lennon. "Not only have we won a national championship, but our coaches and players did so in a way that exemplified the athletic department's motto of 'Greatness through Virtue'. From the very first faceoff, we have embraced all challenges and taken advantage of every opportunity. And so, it only makes sense that we take that next step and enter ACHA Division I Hockey. Go Marauders."

"Congratulations to University of Mary Hockey on its move to Men's Division I for the 2023-2024 season," said Brian Moran, ACHA Men's Division I Commissioner. "By adding another elite level team, Men's Division I team continues to grow in quantity and quality."

With the addition of UMary, a total of 73 teams across 24 states will compete in ACHA Men's Division I in 24 states during the 2023-2024 season. The ACHA is comprised of over 460 teams competing in five men's and women's divisions.

"Today is a monumental day for the continued development of our hockey program," said Huntley. "We had the goal of developing our program into an ACHA M1 program since our inception in 2018. I believe we have proved ourselves at the M2 level with unprecedented success including winning the 2021 ACHA Men's Division II National Championship and earning the No.1 national ranking in 13 of the last 15 ranking periods."

The Marauders successes have led to numerous awards over three seasons. Huntley, the program founder and architect, is a two-time ACHA M2 Coach of the Year recipient. Forward Zach Garrett was honored as the 2021 ACHA M2 Player of the Year. Six Marauders have earned All-American honors and UMary has earned 16 Academic All-American citations.

"I can't thank the M2 coaches enough that welcomed our program with open arms, competed against us, became friends with me, and helped make our program better," added Huntley. "I would like to thank Jon Eccles for his support as the Men's Division II Commissioner. His support of UMary receiving the bid to host the 2021 National Tournament was instrumental in continuing the overwhelming support from our campus and local community. We are proud members of the ACHA Division 2 and will never forget our roots.

"Beginning with the 2023-24 season we will play at the highest level our institution is allowed and the timing could not be better. The transition from ACHA Division II to Division I will be embraced by our next two recruiting classes. We will transition as the old guard leaves their legacy on our program with individual and team successes. Those players who took a chance on the University of Mary when hockey was first introduced will be remembered. So many firsts were accomplished during those years. The players now coming into the program will be able to dictate their own legacy at the Division I level."

It is anticipated that UMary will be accepted into an existing ACHA Men's Division I conference, with detailed information to be announced at a later date.

"We expect that in the coming days we will receive an official invitation from an ACHA Division I conference to begin play in 2023-24," said Huntley. "It will enhance a current rivalry we have along I-94 and will provide structure to our season with a great schedule, player recognition, an opportunity to expand the University of Mary's name recognition in the Midwest and provide a chance to play for a conference championship as well as an automatic bid to the ACHA Men's Division I Tournament."

As an existing program, the Marauders will be immediately eligible to compete in postseason play in ACHA M1.

"At our press conference in 2017 announcing the addition of men's hockey, I acknowledged our community deserved to have college hockey. We set our sights high and accomplished much of what we set out to do, including providing college hockey for local North Dakota players. Now we can say there is more to accomplish as we provide an option at the ACHA Division I level for our best local scholar-athletes and bring others from outside our area to our great community to compete for the University of Mary on the national stage," Huntley said. "We intend to compete for conference and national championships right away but understand that we must improve to do so. We still have some work to do to finish this season and the next, but we will be ready for 2023-24 when it arrives."

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