Just 24 hours after the the petition went live....

• 2,800+ signatures (more than MU total enrollment of 2,641)

• 475+ signatures from Mercyhurst alumni

• 29% willing to be contacted to support the project

• 40% would consider donating to support Mercyhurst hockey

• 900+ 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.."