Lake Forest to Join Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association in 2009
Foresters will leave Northern Collegiate Hockey Association after 17 years

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Lake Forest College Athletic Director Jackie Slaats and Head Men’s Hockey Coach Tony Fritz announced Tuesday (March 27) that the program will join the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA) effective July 1, 2009. The Foresters are currently members of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) and will continue as full-fledged NCHA members for the next two seasons. Lake Forest will officially begin MCHA play in 2009-10.

The MCHA currently consists of Lawrence University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Adrian College, Marian College, Concordia University (Wis.), Finlandia University, Northland College, and the University of Minnesota Crookston. The league was formed in 1998 and Lawrence, M.S.O.E., Marian, and Northland are the four remaining charter members. Crookston joined the conference a year later and Finlandia in 2004. The programs at Adrian and Concordia were recently started and are set to begin play in 2007-08.

“By joining the MCHA we are aligning ourselves with institutions of a similar academic profile and athletic philosophy,” stated Slaats. “Many of the league members are also located closer to Lake Forest than those in the NCHA and we compete against them in various other sports. While we have enjoyed our relationship with the NCHA, we look forward to the new rivalries that will be formed by this move.”

Lake Forest competed as an independent until Fritz took the program to the NCHA in 1992. “I’ve enjoyed competing in the NCHA for the last 15 years,” he began, “but I am extremely excited about this move. Competing against schools more like Lake Forest will have a very positive effect on the future of Forester Hockey. The shorter bus trips will benefit our student-athletes academically and athletically.”

The Lake Forest College women’s hockey team will continue competing in the NCHA. The MCHA does not currently field a women’s division.