Season Preview: The Independents

October 2, 2026 by Jashvina Shah/Staff Writer (@icehockeystick) It’s an interesting time to be an independent. Being an independent program is not always enviable. The latest conference realignment — shuttering of the WCHA in favor of reanimating the CCHA — left Alaska and Alaska-Anchorage without conferences. That creates challenges, like scheduling and lack of resource sharing. Typically. But right now, it’s a little different. Schools have been adding Division I programs at quick pace in the last decade — Lindenwood, Stonehill, Augustana, St. Thomas, Long Island and Stonehill. And this season, Maryville will be playing a partial D-I schedule before…