2021-22 NEWHA Season

This is the 2021-22 New England Women's Hockey Alliance season. This is the Alliance's fourth season.
On September 26, 2018 the New England Women's Hockey Alliance has made a formal application to become an NCAA recognized conference and thus becoming eligible for an automatic bid to the tournament. 
The conference was approved as being a recognized NCAA Division I Conference on August 1, 2019. This allows the conference members a chance to qualify for the NCAA Women's Hockey Tournament. No official word on when the conference will be awarded an automatic bid to the tournament.https://www.uscho.com/2019/09/04/new-england-womens-hockey-alliance-approved-for-ncaa-division-i-status-effective-with-19-20-season/ On January 29, 2020 the conference announced it would be expanding for the 2021-22 season with the addition of the Stonehill Skyhawks who are adding women's ice hockey. Stonehill College is located in Easton, Massachusetts. The team will be based out of the Bridgewater Ice Arena in nearby Bridgewater, Massachusetts.https://newhaonline.com/general/2019-20/releases/20191209do1o9v This would give the conference seven teams and make it eligible for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the 2021-22 season. The NCAA has not officially announced that the conference would be granted the automatic bid but the possibility exists that the tournament field may be expanded to fit the NEWHA automatic bid. Stonehill's entry is being delayed to 2022-23 due to the issues with getting the program going in a pandemic.
==Membership changes==
*None for 2021-22
*On January 29, 2020 the conference announced it would be expanding for the 2021-22 season with the addition of the Stonehill Skyhawks who are adding women's ice hockey. Stonehill College is located in Easton, Massachusetts. The team will be based out of the Bridgewater Ice Arena in nearby Bridgewater, Massachusetts.https://newhaonline.com/general/2019-20/releases/20191209do1o9v Due to complications with getting the program started with issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic the school would announce it was delaying the start of of play until the 2022-23 season.
On June 29, 2022 the league announced the addition of the Assumption Greyhounds women's ice hockey team to the conference for the 2023-24 playing season.https://www.newhaonline.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220629o1o8px
==Teams==
Team 	Location 	Arena
Franklin Pierce Ravens 	Rindge, New Hampshire 	Jason Ritchie Ice Arena
LIU Sharks 	Brooklyn and Brookville, New York	Islanders Iceworks and Northwell Health Ice Center
Post University Eagles 	Waterbury, Connecticut 	Sports Center of Connecticut
Sacred Heart Pioneers 	Fairfield, Connecticut 	Sports Center of Connecticut
Saint Anselm Hawks 	Goffstown, New Hampshire 	Sullivan Arena
St. Michael's Purple Knights	Colchester, Vermont 	C. Douglas Cairns Recreation Arena
Stonehill Skyhawks 	Easton, Massachusetts 	Bridgewater Ice Arena
==Standings==
== Conference Tournament==
===Original Format===
All six teams qualify for the single elimination tournament.
===Quarterfinals===
*Sacred Heart Pioneers defeated Post University Eagles 5-2
*Saint Anselm Hawks defeated St. Michael's Purple Knights 2-1
===Semifinals===
*Franklin Pierce Ravens defeated Sacred Heart Pioneers 2-0
*Saint Anselm Hawks defeated LIU Sharks 3-1
===Final===
*Franklin Pierce Ravens defeated Saint Anselm Hawks 1-0
==References==
Category:2022 in ice hockey
Category:New England Women's Hockey Alliance seasons