Marchand Makes The Move To NCAA’s Syracuse

In 2019, Sarah Marchand had achieved one of her hockey dreams. The talented Chatham hockey product had just made an NCAA Division I hockey commitment to play for the Robert Morris University.

Then, came this announcement a week ago from Robert Morris University.

“The decision to discontinue the men’s and women’s ice hockey programs was made based on an analysis which included scholarships and operating costs, and the necessary investments to maintain and improve the current facility.”

There would no longer be a hockey program.

“After learning that the hockey program was cut I was really upset because I was only two months away from leaving,” said Marchand of the news. “It was a huge shock because nobody knew it was going to happen, even our coaches were shocked.”

Enter Syracuse University.

The school wasted no time in snapping up Marchand, who has been starring for the PWHL’s Southwest Wildcats where she scored 30 points in 38 games during the 2019-2020 season.

“After I learned about RMU cutting the program we had to think about where I could go now and what I could do next year. We had to get in touch with many other teams,” she eplained.

“I chose Syracuse because they were able to offer me everything that was important to me and they have a great program, the coaches were all really nice and really gave me a good feeling about Syracuse. They were also the closest which allows my parents to come up and watch me play still, which is something that’s very important to me.”

Prior to her time in Southwest, Marchand played for the Chatham Outlaws Midget ‘AA’ team, and split the season prior with the Chatham Outlaws Bantam ‘A’ team, and ‘AA’ boys hockey in Belle River, which is her hometown.

Marchand will study pre-medical sciences at Syracuse.