Every two years, RIIL reviews the data for all the hockey teams in the league and adjusts the composition of the divisions in an attempt to maintain, if not enhance, competitiveness and fairness.  Most seasons the results are successful, sometimes not so much. But the decisions as to where teams play are always made in good faith with the best information available.

This season a major realignment to the divisions is in effect.  Gone are the subdivisions in both Division 1 and Division 2 (no more 1A/1B or 2A/2/B). Each division is now a single group unto itself.

Last season’s 12 team Division 1 is now comprised of only eight teams.  Mount St, Charles’ squad is no longer in the league, and three other D1 teams have moved to D2.

Division 2, which had 11 teams last season, has 13 for the current campaign.  Three former D1 teams have moved to D2: Cumberland; East Greenwich / Toll Gate (EGTG); and North Kingstown.  The former East Bay co-op team comprised of players from Mt. Hope and East Providence no longer exists.  Its players have merged with RMT (the Rogers, Middletown, Tiverton co-op) to form a new five-school co-op team.  The move was made because both RMT and East Bay were each looking at possibly not having enough players to compete effectively.  The rest of the teams in the division remain the same, but there were some composition adjustments.  Players from Woonsocket have joined Cranston West, the co-op team comprised of players from Cranston West, Cranston East, and Scituate.  Blackstone Valley Schools (BVS) was formed last season as a merger between PSW (the Providence Country Day, St. Raphael Academy, and The Wheeler School co-op) and the North Smithfield, Johnston, North Providence co-op team.  This year the players from Johnston left BVS to joined Coventry which ended last season without enough players to put a team on the ice.