Hockey East will sponsor a women’s hockey league beginning no later than the 2004-2005 season.

There are currently five Hockey East schools that have women’s programs: Boston College, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Providence.

They will play in the ECAC’s Eastern Division this season along with Niagara, Quinnipiac (Conn.), and the Connecticut.

Three other Hockey East schools have women’s club teams: Boston University, Massachusetts, and UMass-Lowell. Merrimack is exploring the possibility of adding a women’s program.

Maine coach Rick Filighera was elated by the news.

“First of all, it will make us an identifiable league which will help our recruiting. College hockey people know about Hockey East. Secondly, it will make it easier to schedule games. Thirdly, it will help us promotion-wise,” said Filighera.