Here come the Blue Hens! The University of Delaware announced Friday its plans to add a Division I women's ice hockey program to their athletic offerings starting in the 2025-26 season. The fledgling team will join College Hockey America, becoming the conference's seventh team and the 45th program in women's Division I hockey in the NCAA.

The team will begin its search for a head coach in 2024 and hope to have someone in place to begin recruiting to prepare to drop the puck in 2025. Delaware is no stranger to the sport as both its men's and women's club teams have enjoyed a lot of success at the club level. The women's program in particular has been a top-10 team consistently over the last 10 seasons.

Puck drops for @Delaware_IH 🔜

📰: https://t.co/UUjHygsxQo pic.twitter.com/evrRKxW0cx

— Delaware Blue Hens (@UDBlueHens) December 1, 2023

Delaware explored the addition of women's hockey thanks in large part to a feasibility study funded by the Industry Growth Fund, which is a joint initiative between the NHL and NHLPA geared towards helping universities explore the potential of adding men's or women's Division I hockey. Multiple universities have utilized this study including Tennessee State, which aims to become the first Historically Black College to add ice hockey as a varsity sport.

“We’re thrilled to be part of growing the game of women’s ice hockey here, both nationally and at UD,” Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said in a statement. “I’m confident women’s ice hockey will have success on and off the ice, and joining the CHA allows us to surround ourselves with aspiring institutions and some of the best competition in the nation.”

We're excited to welcome @UDBlueHens to College Hockey America❗️

📰 https://t.co/bFz49WxZyP@UDBlueHens 🤝 @CHAWomensHockey pic.twitter.com/JpolgM2ZiV

— CHA (@CHAWomensHockey) December 1, 2023

College Hockey America currently includes Mercyhurst, Penn State, Syracuse, Lindenwood, Robert Morris University and RIT. 

“College Hockey America is incredibly excited to welcome the newly-established Division I hockey program from the University of Delaware to the CHA and NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey,” CHA commissioner Michelle Morgan said in a statement. “Chrissi Rawak and her team have done an exceptional job in getting us to this point and I look forward to working with her as the program takes shape and builds towards its first season of competition in 2025-26.”

The University of Delaware will continue to operate men's and women's club hockey teams.