St. John’s University Set to Join the ECHC for the 2025-26 Season

The Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference (ECHC) is thrilled to announce the addition of St. John’s University to its Silver Division for the 2025-26 season. This marks the return of the Red Storm hockey program, which last competed in the 1979-80 season.

St. John’s brings a proud hockey tradition to the ECHC, having competed in the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) from 1970-71 through 1979-80 (excluding the 1974-75 season). During that time, the program amassed an impressive 95 wins, 55 losses, and 9 ties, for a winning percentage of .641. This legacy highlights the team’s competitive spirit and sets the stage for its highly anticipated return to collegiate hockey.

Devin Bertrand, Deputy Commissioner of the ECHC’s Silver Division, expressed his excitement about St. John’s joining the Conference:

"We are very excited to bring St. John’s University into our family. They are another marquee name in college athletics and will bring a special spotlight to what we are building in the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference. Upon meeting with members of their leadership group, we are expecting the Red Storm to hit the ground running and compete on Day 1. We are very excited to work with them and support their efforts to grow their program internally.”

As the Red Storm prepares to re-enter collegiate hockey, their leadership group has demonstrated a commitment to rebuilding the program with a focus on competition, tradition, and growth. The ECHC is confident that St. John’s will bring energy and enthusiasm to the Silver Division while helping to further elevate the conference’s profile.

The return of St. John’s hockey is more than just a revival; it’s an opportunity to write a new chapter in the program’s history. The team’s inclusion in the ECHC aligns perfectly with the conference’s mission to grow the sport at the AAU Division III level and provide student-athletes with meaningful opportunities to compete and succeed.

The Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference welcomes the Red Storm with open arms and eagerly anticipates their impact both on and off the ice.