The University of Michigan is on the path to potentially introducing a Division I women’s hockey program, as shared by Regent Denise Ilitch, who believes the initiative has significant backing within the Big Ten school. While the decision seems positive, Ilitch mentioned in a phone interview that logistical challenges remain, notably concerning whether a shared facility for both men’s and women’s teams should be constructed and how a project with costs exceeding $300 million would be financed.
Ilitch expressed her enthusiasm for kickstarting the women’s hockey program and is exploring interim solutions, such as utilizing an off-campus arena. “Everyone involved, including the president and supporters, aims for the same outcome,” she indicated, further emphasizing a sense of urgency while refraining from fixing a precise timeline. “Though I won’t commit to a specific date, I hope within months we can decide the program’s location,” whether it would be the storied Yost Arena or a new facility.
Yost Arena, with its century-long history as the home of the men’s team, is currently deemed too small to accommodate a second varsity program. A feasibility study commissioned by the school evaluated several alternatives, with the least expensive suggesting a $50 million expansion of Yost, which presents potential drawbacks like reduced ice-time and diminished parking space on campus.
An alternative proposed in the study is constructing a $300 million arena with a seating capacity for 8,000 to 10,000 attendees. Building a dual-rink facility could cost about $330 million, providing enhanced revenue options. Furthermore, establishing and annually funding a women’s program was conservatively estimated at $4.1 million, but partnership opportunities, including arena naming rights, could help mitigate financial challenges.
Ilitch has long championed the establishment of a women’s hockey program at Michigan to address the absence of a Division I team in the state since the closure of Wayne State’s program in 2011. This expansion effort aligns with a national trend where female hockey registration increased by nearly 43% over the past decade, alongside growth in Division III teams and the introduction of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) last year.
Detroit has been at the forefront of these developments, recently hosting yet another PWHL neutral site matchup featuring the reigning champion Minnesota Frost against the New York Sirens. Detroit is also considered a potential expansion market for the PWHL, which contemplates adding up to two teams next season. “In a city like Detroit, dubbed Hockeytown, it feels odd not to have a collegiate team,” noted New York forward Elle Hartje, a Detroit native and a former Yale player. She acknowledges the PWHL’s foresight in eyeing Detroit for growth, hoping it spurs NCAA developments too.
Detroit native Abby Roque, a Sirens teammate from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, reflects fondly on the possibility of such a program existing earlier in her journey. Had Michigan had a women’s program, pursuing hockey closer to home would have been an appealing option. “Providing local girls in Michigan a program now would be extraordinary, because visibility makes goals more reachable,” Roque shared.
A study by Collegiate Sports Associates reported 45 Michigan natives being part of women’s college rosters for the 2023-24 season, ranking the state fourth in the nation with 5,327 female hockey participants, following behind states like Minnesota, Massachusetts, and New York. Currently, Michigan hosts a women’s club team previously coached by Jenna Trubiano, now focusing on supporting Ilitch in developing the Division I program. The trend of Michigan-born players leaving the state for better hockey prospects, often resulting in a talent drain, has been a concern highlighted by Trubiano.
Significantly, Michigan’s arch-rival Ohio State triumphing in recent NCAA titles intensified Michigan’s resolve for a women’s hockey push. As Trubiano aptly put it, Ohio State’s success ignited interest at Michigan, noting, “Ohio State winning a national championship spotlighted our lack of a program.” In a lighthearted revelation, she admitted to initially supporting Ohio State’s victory to propel Michigan’s agenda. With competitive spirit, Trubiano conveyed, “Michigan fans fundamentally aspire to outperform Ohio State in all arenas.”