Following the closure of Northland College in Ashland, WI, Beloit College has stepped up to the table and found themselves in the D-III Hockey world looking to beginning quickly in the 2025-2026 season. Beloit, a small liberal arts college, located near the Wisconsin / Illinois border, features a small undergraduate class of approximately 948 students (Fall 2023). They sponsor 18 intercollegiate varsity teams, nine for men & women, respectively.

Beloit will be looking to compete in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), uniquely, former Northland Head Coach Shane Buckley will be taking over the Men’s program, meanwhile, former Northland & PWHL Minnesota Head Coach Jake Bobrowski finds himself in a new spot once again, taking over the Women’s program.

Buckley, a former goalie for Northland from the years 2009-2013, took over the HC role for the Jacks after being the HC for West Virginia (ACHA Men) for four seasons (2018-2023).

Bobrowski, a man of many destinations as of late, began as a former assistant at Hamline University (NCAA D-III Women, ’15-’21), an assistant for the University of Minnesota (NCAA D-I Women, ’22), HC at Elmira College (NCAA D-III Women, ’23), an assistant for PWHL Minnesota, winners of the inaugural PWHL championship in 2024, and finally, his most recent position as HC for Northland College (NCAA D-III Women, ’25).

As to potentially competing in the WIAC, this may not solve the conference auto-bid woes on the women’s side. A league is required to have four-full members (six total), this addition would give the men six members after the Northland departure, granting them the auto-bid once again. However, the women will fail to satisfy the full-four member rule, assuming the WIAC can land another team from a league such as the NCHA… They will still be one team short (5) with the addition of Beloit, but would need a full-WIAC member to join (bringing the total up to 6) in order to be granted the beloved auto-bid every other conference enjoys the luxury of.

The Buccaneers will be set to play in the new NAHL (North American Hockey League) arena for the Janesville Jets, a project valued around $23 million (approx. 25 minutes away from campus). The facility is brand new and features approximately 140,000 square feet, designed for sports teams, regional and national companies, and organizations for meetings conferences, and trade shows. The main rink features a 1,500 capacity seat arena and a multipurpose arena that seats up to 250 people.

The WIAC will now look like this on the hockey side of things:

1. Beloit College

2. Wisconsin – Eau Claire

3. Wisconsin – River Falls

4. Wisconsin – Stevens Point

5. Wisconsin – Stout (Men only)

6. Wisconsin – Superior

Time will tell if we see more changes in the western region of Division III hockey, most specifically the WIAC, still looming for a women’s auto-bid, while less decorated and skilled conferences reap the benefits. A conference with an undefeated national champion and annual contender in River Falls, WI, along with a strong follower that holds NCAA tournaments and WIAC titles to its name, UW-Eau Claire. 99% of the people who disagree with the WIAC men’s & women’s auto bids have never seen a WIAC game in person, nor a playoff game for that matter, it’s night and day compared to some of the leagues out east.