Ending months of speculation about the future of the program, a schoolcommittee has recommended that St. Norbert College should not move hockey to the Division I level.
The report, obtained and reported by the Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette, concluded that the Green Knights would not be competitive at the D-I level because the school could not offer scholarships under NCAA rules.
The school was considering moving two sports — hockey and women’s soccer — to the top level and leaving the rest of the college’s sports at the Division III level. Under NCAA rules in that situation, the school could not offer scholarships.
“Lower-quality athletes would put St. Norbert D-I athletics programs at a competitive disadvantage against programs sponsored by D-I institutions that can offer scholarships,” the report said.
Among other concerns weighing in the 13-member committee’s decision were gender equity and the feasibility of joining a Division I conference.
