College hockey is a business. Higher education is an even bigger one. The question is whether you’re beginning to accept that reality—or still choosing to ignore what’s plainly in front of you.
Anna Maria College in Massachusetts, along with its board of governors, will soon vote on whether or not to close the institution at the conclusion of the Fall 2026 semester, or Spring 2027 semester. This isn’t just going to be the loss of a hockey program at the NCAA or AAU level—it’s the disappearance of an entire university.
This explains the complete lack of new commitments for its hockey programs this season. When there are no commitments coming in, the writing is on the wall.
When Mercyhurst announced the shutdown of its men’s Division I program, we said it wouldn’t be the last. It wasn’t a prediction meant to provoke—it was an acknowledgment of where things are headed.
Declining birth rates, escalating operational costs, and rapidly rising salaries are putting sustained pressure on athletic departments across both Division I and Division III. Without meaningful and immediate changes to NCAA regulations, it’s reasonable to expect that ten or more programs could disappear over the next five years.
Let’s be honest about the environment: rising costs across the board, shrinking enrollment pools, and families increasingly unable to afford tuition are not conditions that support growth. Believing otherwise isn’t optimism—it’s denial.
To its credit, Anna Maria is admitting its issues in public with enough lead time for students to plan their next steps. Hockey players now have an opportunity to find new programs, and staff have time to pursue new roles. That kind of transparency matters.
When an organization becomes insolvent—or sees that outcome approaching—the responsible course is to act decisively rather than prolong the inevitable and compound the damage. Anna Maria; is simply reacting to the financial condition they have, it will be a calculated decision rooted in financial reality.
The reality is, other colleges are also closing. Hampshire College just voted to close at the end of this fall semester. While it doesnt effect a hockey program it does show that these financial matters are not isolated, they are systemic.
Now, the only remaining question is how many of these players will ultimately find new homes.
