Petition Results: Amazing response by LakerNation and college hockey fans everywhere. Thank you and let's keep it rolling!
Petition Results: Amazing response by LakerNation and college hockey fans everywhere. Thank you and let's keep it rolling!
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3,300+ signatures (more than MU total enrollment of 2,641)
600+ signatures from Mercyhurst alumni
29% willing to be contacted to support the project
40% would consider donating to support Mercyhurst hockey (over 1,000 individuals)
1,000+ comments that will be sent to the University administration and Board of Trustees, including:
"On July 17, 2023, [my son] Jace’s life changed forever. He met the Mercyhurst Men’s D1 Hockey team through Team IMPACT, an organization that pairs kids facing serious illness and disability with college teams. These guys didn’t just include him. They showed up for him. In the middle of classes, practices, games, traveling, and everything that comes with being a college athlete, they made time for Jace. They taught him how to skate. They showed him what it means to be part of a team. They gave up weekends just to be with him. When he was in the hospital, they would send him videos and messages. Because of them, I watched my son grow in ways I can’t even fully explain. His confidence. His courage. His joy. This isn’t just about a sport being cut. This is about relationships. This is about mentorship. This is about showing up for a kid when it matters most. These players matter. This program matters. What they’ve built matters. It’s more than just hockey. On Saturday, I had to tell a 9 year old boy that 30 of his favorite friends weren't coming back to school next year. That crushed me and it absolutely crushed Jace. "
"Had the greatest memories hanging with the guys and supporting them all throughout my time at Mercyhurst 2014-2018. They supported our baseball team at all our games. Huge fan of Hurst Hockey and what it represents."
"Mercyhurst Hockey is a team that allows people to grow in adults and learn key skills for their life and create memories for a lifetime."
"Mercyhurst Men’s ice is the founding father of hurst athletics, it would be a disgrace to let it dissipate."
"I played football at the Hurst from 04-09. One of the reasons I chose MC was bc of the D1 hockey program. Was fortunate to meet some of my best friends in college on the hockey team. Although I didn’t play a second of hockey this decision gutted me as an alum. I’m part of the current football program collective and would be happy to help in any way with this initiative."
"Yall are some of the nicest people, hardest working, and gritty people I’ve met and I hope for the best."
"D1 hockey is so important to this state, city, and university. Taking this away is a big mistake."
"My son spent 4 years at Mercyhurst and was a member of the hockey program. He received an excellent education, excellent coaching and mentoring in the hockey program and made lifelong friends. Please do not take away this wonderful opportunity for future Mercyhurst hockey players."
"Mercyhurst Hockey put the University on the map."
"Erie is a hockey town, always has been. Don’t walk away from the legacy that’s been built here."
"Mercyhurst Hockey team totally changed my grandson‘s life when they adopted him as a member of the team through a program called team impact."
"Mercyhurst hockey, both men and women’s team have gotten me through the lonely college experience. It gave me a place to escape the stress of academics, meet new people, and take pride in my school. It is one of the most student-supported sports on campus, and school morale will continue decreasing rapidly with the loss of the team. I stand with my fellow lakers and hockey fans; this decision will do more harm than good."
"Men's college hockey was what opened the door for Mercyhurst to become a Division 1 athletics department. Shutting them out is a mistake."
"As a BGSU alumnus, I know exactly how fans of the Mercyhurst program feel right now. After BGSU nearly cut their hockey program, they've been able to figure things out to create a sustainable program. I look forward to Mercyhurst doing the same."
"Why the university would eliminate the hockey program is beyond me. I understand financial pressures, but let's find a solution. Alumni networking and community engagement have always been lacking in men's hockey, so let's get rolling!"
"Men’s hockey brings a community for the students of mercyhurst. As a member of the lacrosse team it was a joy to support the team on Friday and Saturday nights. It made the life in Erie, and Mercyhurst much more enjoyable. Transparently, without a Friday/Saturday activity I would’ve left as Erie isn’t an exciting town."
"College hockey is better with smaller schools competing. From a Bentley alum, college hockey needs Mercyhurst!"
"40 years of NCAA hockey is a lot of tradition to throw away. There are a lot of proud alumni that aren’t happy."
"As the first ever Division 1 sports program on campus, Men’s Ice Hockey put Mercyhurst on the map and brought recognition to not only ice hockey, but Mercyhurst athletics as a whole. It established an identity for the athletics at the school and proved that small institutions could compete at the highest level of college sport. Wins, championships, a Frozen Four tournament appearance, and even the grueling defeats and moments of disappointment are all things that seem to be severely overlooked in the making of this decision."
"This decision is a major mistake and one that will be detrimental not just to Mercyhurst athletics, but to the University in its entirety. Be proud of your history as a hockey school."
"Mercyhurst has brought me and my friends so much joy, being able to cheer on our buddy and his Division 1 dream makes our small town community proud. Whatever happens we will always be fans of the Men’s hockey team!"
"KEEP THE PROGRAM!!!! one of the biggest sports that both students and civilians like in erie!!! As an alum, I LOVED going to these games!"
"There have been a ton of great players who have come through the mercyhurst program and it would be a real shame to watch what they have done to hockey at mercyhurst disappeared."
"Been the number 1 sport at Mercyhurst for years, known as a hockey school, great ACHA program and D1. Cut the sport that people actually go to watch. Lazy and uneducated decision by a school that is supposed to be a cut above the rest in academics."
"We have recruited players from mercyhurst to our nhl organization. It is an important program to maintain in NCAA Division 1."
"The program needs to be preserved as the growth of Hockey has been astronomical. Students need to have a place to be seen."
"My daughter goes to Mercyhurst and plays on the lacrosse team. I couldn’t imagine this being done to them. It makes the school look heartless and will make recruiting for other sports substantially more difficult."
"Played against Mercyhurst 2019 in an out of conference series. Very cool rink, great fan support. It’s a program with deep history and a passionate alumni base. It would be awful to see it come to an end. I have an immense respect and support for you guys doing this."
"Programs like Mercyhurst are a vital part of what makes college hockey special. Team from small schools like Mercyhurst and other with more limited financial resources unlike larger BIG 10 schools can still be competitive and win games. The loss of programs like Mercyhurst will leave us with a dry assembly of large schools with NIL money that will degrade the competitiveness and appeal of college hockey to players and fans. The closure of this program will also limit the amount of available spots for our talented student athletes."
"Mercyhurst Hockey was the best part of the snowy Erie winters!"
"Mercyhurst men’s hockey has been a staple at the university for nearly 40 years. It’s been featured in Sports Illustrated and almost upset hockey powerhouses Michigan and Boston College. The program does not deserve to be thrown away like yesterday’s news; there’s too much history."
"The hockey team is the identity of the school and was such a large part of my childhood. I fell in the love with the game in that rink l, and eliminating the program is going to not only negatively affect the school as a whole, but ruins any chances of impacting future lives like it did for me."
"This program is a staple in the Erie Community not just hockey.."
Impact on University Giving: New poll of Mercyhurst alumni who responded to the petition: 90% will not donate to the University again if the decision to cut men's hockey is not reconsidered.
Impact on University Giving: New poll of Mercyhurst alumni who responded to the petition: 90% will not donate to the University again if the decision to cut men's hockey is not reconsidered.
"For a Catholic University, this type of move does not align with Christian values. “Luke 6:31: Do to others as you would have them do to you.” The way this decision was made directly directly contradicts God’s word."
"Hockey program is a large part of the identity of Mercyhurst. I doubt I would ever return to the school if the program is shuttered."
"As a former athlete (women’s golf), and a lawyer, I would request that all communications concerning the solicitation of donations be immediately ceased as I will only be contributing to my law school moving forward."
"During my time as a student at Mercyhurst University, the hockey program served as a unifying force across campus, bringing together students, alumni, and the broader school community in a way few other activities could. While all athletic programs contribute meaningfully to school spirit, hockey consistently fostered a unique sense of pride and identity, often serving as a point of distinction among peer institutions. The strength of the hockey program extended beyond competition, it created lasting traditions, strengthened community bonds, and enhanced the overall student experience. Its presence elevated school spirit and provided a shared sense of belonging that resonated well beyond the rink. It is therefore deeply disappointing to witness the current situation, particularly given that prospective student-athletes were continuing to commit to the program as recently as last week. This raises concerns about the timing and communication surrounding these decisions, as well as the impact on students who have made significant personal and academic commitments. I respectfully urge the administration to reconsider this course of action and to recognize the vital role that the hockey program plays in fostering community, tradition, and institutional pride."
"To make a decision like this without consulting the alumni is unacceptable."
"This was the reason I stayed at this university. I worked hand and hand with the staff and players everyday as I was “employed” by them between volunteering with the equipment staff and part of the AT program. I will say with this decision I may never step foot on campus again."
"D1 Men’s Hockey put Mercyhurst on the map. They haven’t invested in the program in years. It feels like they’re the sacrificial lamb in the move to the REST of the sports being D1. Invest in the program."
"Mercyhurst hockey is a huge part of my life. It is the reason I met my husband. It’s a goal for my son one day. Losing this program especially with the lack of transparency and quick decision making loses all my support for the university."
"My involvement in the hockey program was a keystone in my development as a student and young adult. Removing this program is to remove that same opportunity for dozens of student athletes moving forward and rubs sand in the face of an incredible legacy from which the college is departing."
"I will never support or suggest anyone to ever come to the school again."
"My decision is not because I do not want to support the school or students athletes in other sports, it is because the way this has been handled and how easily the longest standing D1 program was dropped shows a lack of good faith leadership. To single out one program is a slap in the face to the alums who have built this program and represented this school for decades, on the biggest stages in the NCAA."
"As a Mercyhurst W Hockey alum, I cannot imagine continuing to support an athletic department or university that demonstrates such ignorance and disrespect towards the sport that created the foundation for mercyhurst to become a D1 school in the first place."
"Disappointing decision that makes me no longer proud to be an alumni."
"It is not necessarily the cutting of the program that is most disappointing, it is that fact that it was done a day after you were begging for money and gladly accepted money for a program you had no intentions of continuing. It felt very fraudulent and not in sync with the values that I recall from my time at Mercyhurst. This presents as a rash decision that very easily could have been put before alumni to show that more support was needed to keep the program going instead of just pulling the plug. We all have choices where we send our money and at this time, I do not feel that this Board has the best interests of the school and the history of the school in mind and are on the path to sending this school to financial ruin."
"It’s my only connection to the school, 24 years after graduating. No hockey=no interest from me."
"If men’s hockey is not reinstated, and the leadership at the school is not overhauled, I can say it is highly likely I will never go back to campus for any events and will continue to donate zero money"
"This decision had the appearance of being made hastily. There appears to be no attempt at all to reach out to the community, potential sponsor, or alumni to offset financial obligations. The hockey program has been integral to putting Mercyhurst in the public eye internationally for years. Your willingness to simply terminate the program is very upsetting."
"Disappointing to bring in a whole new staff and not even give them a chance to get the program back on track and get the alumni engagement stronger. Would love to see where this program was headed within the next few years."
"Mercyhurst hockey was one of the major factors that helped me choose Mercyhurst as my school. Going to the games as a student provided so many meaningful memories and led to awesome friendships. Removing this program is eliminating that opportunity for so many other students and I can not support a school, even I went there, that turns its back on its students."
Sign the Petition: Preserve Mercyhurst Lakers Hockey. Build a Sustainable Business Model for Small College Hockey Programs.
Sign the Petition: Preserve Mercyhurst Lakers Hockey. Build a Sustainable Business Model for Small College Hockey Programs.
On March 27, Mercyhurst University announced it was ending its men's D1 ice hockey program. We respectfully request that the University simply pause--not eliminate--the program. This will create time for us to leverage the incredible talent and connections in our community and build a sustainable path forward. We are building a team of business-minded Mercyhurst alumni, former Lakers players, Erie leaders, and hockey experts and influencers who are committed to working with the University to find a solution for the men's program and support the women's program over the long term.
To the University: (1) Pause the men's program, don't eliminate it. (2) Engage with the Lakers hockey community that has been built over the past 40 years to find a creative solution, don't shut us out. (3) Share our business model with other small colleges so we can preserve and grow college hockey and expand opportunities for the next generation of players.
Please sign our petition to show the University how many people care about the Mercyhurst men's and women's hockey programs. No obligations or commitments. Just show your appreciation for Mercyhurst Lakers hockey--as a fan, player, parent, or even a rival--and encourage the University to engage with our hockey community to find a sustainable solution for our programs.
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