91³Ô¹Ï

Expanding Opportunities: Women’s Flag Football and Men’s Club Ice Hockey at Franklin Pierce

91³Ô¹Ï will introduce women’s flag football and men’s club ice hockey beginning in the fall 2027 as part of a strategic effort to expand athletic opportunities in alignment with clear regional and conference trends. These additions reflect a forward-thinking approach to program growth while supporting institutional priorities around enrollment, student engagement, and competitive positioning.

Why This Makes Sense for Franklin Pierce
Across the broader New England region and nationally, multiple institutions are actively launching or planning women’s flag football programs, with many targeting the 2027–28 academic year. This growing footprint creates a sustainable model for scheduling, recruiting, and long-term competitive success, positioning Franklin Pierce to be part of the sport’s continued momentum from its launch in fall 2027.

Men’s club ice hockey is already well established across the Northeast and broader New England region, with many comparable institutions sponsoring ACHA teams and competing in leagues such as the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA). This structure provides immediate access to regional competition and established recruiting pipelines.

Franklin Pierce will join a strong network of nearby men’s club hockey programs, including Keene State College, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Merrimack College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Springfield College, and the University of Connecticut, with competition beginning in fall 2027. This regional footprint supports sustainable scheduling, travel, and long-term program viability.

Strategic Impact
By focusing on sports with clear regional adoption, Franklin Pierce will:

• Ensure immediate and sustainable regional competition
• Align with peer institutions and evolving competitive landscapes
• Access established recruiting pipelines across New England
• Support long-term enrollment growth
• Enhance campus life and student engagement through a high-interest sport

These additions position Franklin Pierce to expand in a way that is both strategic and regionally grounded, reinforcing its place within the evolving collegiate athletics landscape.

For more information, email Senior Associate Athletic Director for Marketing, Outreach and Operations, Ben Rosenfeld at rosenfeldbe@franklinpierce.edu.