The Iona Gales Men's Ice Hockey was a NCAA Division I ice hockey team that played in the MAAC for five seasons. Prior to the founding of the MAAC hockey conference the Gales had been a Division III ice hockey program and were a part of the D-III ECAC Hockey conference from 1977 thru 1998. When the MAAC formed their hockey conference as per NCAA regulations, the three full member schools in the conference were forced into the conference. Due to the reticence of the other MAAC schools to start hockey programs, Iona, Canisius and Fairfield were joined by five associate members for the first season in 1998–99. In the five-year existence of the MAAC hockey conference Iona was a middle of the pack team, finishing between third and eighth place and playing in every postseason tournament. Iona's b