Breaking: Merrimack to join the MAAC

Merrimack has accepted an invitation to join the MAAC.

The Warriors went Division I four years ago when they accepted an invitation to join the NEC. Merrimack will be the first Massachusetts school to join the MAAC, with the other schools based out of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland.

Merrimack and Sacred Heart will join the league for the 2024-25 season, and the MAAC will expand to 13 teams.

The league currently has 11 full members.

• Canisius (Buffalo, N.Y.)

• Fairfield (Fairfield, Conn.)

• Iona (New Rochelle, N.Y.)

• Manhattan (Riverdale,N.Y.)

• Marist (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)

• Mount St. Mary’s (Emmitsburg, Md.)

• Niagara (Lewiston, N.Y.)

• Quinnipiac (Hamden, Conn.)

• Rider (Lawrenceville, N.J.)

• Saint Peter’s (Jersey City, N.J.)

• Siena (Loudonville, N.Y.)

Holy Cross was previously in the MAAC from 1983-90. They’re the only other Massachusetts school that’s ever been a full member of the league.

The move will have no impact on men’s and women’s hockey, which will remain in Hockey East. The MAAC is a non-football conference, meaning the Warriors’ football program must figure out a home. It’s possible they could remain in the NEC as a football-only member and play as an independent FCS program.

The MAAC is expected to announce the additions of Merrimack and Sacred Heart later today.

We’ll have more on this developing story later today.