BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – Vermont’s men’s and women’s hockey teams are seeking to join one of the top college hockey conferences in the country.

The university invited the Hockey East Association in a letter Thursday to discuss adding the Catamounts to its roster of schools.

The University of Vermont has been a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I since 1974.

Nearly two decades ago, Vermont turned down an offer to join the fledgling Hockey East Association.

Thursday’s step is the first of many that could culminate in Vermont’s departure from ECAC Division I. The earliest the move likely would take place is for the 2005-06 season.

Vermont Athletic Director Bob Corran said the initiative is part of the athletic department’s strategic plan to see where its teams fit best. Under the direction of President Dan Fogel, Corran has been challenged to have Vermont’s team compete at the highest levels possible. Hockey East fits that criteria.

Over the past decade, Hockey East has established itself as the equal of any Division I league in the country while ECAC Division I has struggled to remain competitive at the highest levels.

Nineteen of the last 44 NCAA Division I semifinalists have come from Hockey East; ECAC has had four in the same time, including Vermont’s trip to Cincinnati in 1996.

“We felt there may be an opportunity for us to express to them, ‘We’re interested in this. Would you be interested in sitting down and talking in some detail to see whether or not we would be a good fit?”‘ Corran said.

Corran said he had “very informal, casual conversations” with Hockey East officials prior to UVM’s decision to send the letter of inquiry. Now, he said, it will be up to Hockey East to decide if it wants to explore a partnership and to set up a process if it does.

Corran said he notified ECAC commissioner Phil Buttafuoco on Thursday of Vermont’s intentions.

“Vermont’s a valued member of ECAC hockey and has contributed greatly to the history and tradition of the league over the years,” Buttafuoco said Thursday evening. “At the same time, we respect any institution’s right to seek out what it feels is best for it and we respect the process Vermont is going through in doing just that.