American Collegiate Hockey Association

Last updated
American Collegiate Hockey Association
Established1991;33 years ago (1991)
TypeChartered non-profit corporation
PurposeSport governing body
Location
President
Paul Hebert
Executive Director
Craig Barnett
Website www.achahockey.org

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a college ice hockey association. The ACHA's purpose is to be an organization of collegiate affiliated programs, which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes quality in collegiate ice hockey. The ACHA currently has three men's and two women's divisions and includes approximately 450 teams from across the United States and Canada. Most ACHA teams offer few athletic scholarships and typically receive far less university funding. The ACHA offers an opportunity for college hockey programs that struggle with large budgets and Title IX issues, as an alternative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) financial structure. [1]

Contents

Policies and regulation

The interest in college hockey has grown as the game of hockey has grown in the United States. But as aggressively as the sport has grown at the grass-roots level, the number of NCAA programs has not expanded as rapidly to meet the demand as these youth players reach college and look to extend their hockey-playing experience. This is why the ACHA level was created.

The ACHA's primary mission is to support the growth of two-year and four-year collegiate hockey programs nationwide. The ACHA identifies standards that serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level. The ACHA emphasizes academic performance, institutional sanction, eligibility criteria, and standards of play and opportunities for national competition, and the ACHA promotes all aspects of collegiate hockey stressing the personal development of individual athletes as well as national recognition for member organizations. In order to do this, the ACHA has developed organizational by-laws and a Policies and Procedures Manual to provide the policy foundation for the organization as it works to fulfill its purpose. These documents are reviewed yearly at the ACHA's annual meeting.

The ACHA's policies cover team and player eligibility, rules of play, ranking procedures, national tournament procedures, and other administrative issues, although the ACHA parallels the NCAA Division III with most eligibility requirements, recruitment processes, gameplay rules, etc. The league holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the annual convention of the American Hockey Coaches Association, in the month of April in Naples, Florida.

ACHA history

The ACHA was established on April 20, 1991. Fifteen charter members met during the Chicago Showcase in Skokie, Illinois at the North Shore Hilton. These member teams had been playing college hockey for many years but wished to legitimize its play by standardizing some of its procedures.

The members that created the organization were Tom Keegan (ACHA), Al Murdoch (Iowa State), Joe Battista (Penn State), Jim Gilmore (Ohio), Ernie Ferrari (Stanford), Howard Jenks (California), Jeff Aikens (North Dakota State), Don Spencer (West Virginia), Jim Barry (Navy), Scott Fuller (Navy), Leo Golembiewski (Arizona), Ron Starr (DePaul), Cary Adams (PCHA), Jim Warden (PCHA) and Jack White (UCLA).

The inaugural year of the ACHA was the 1991–1992 season. The goal of the organization was to create an impartial governing body to monitor national tournaments, player eligibility, and general oversight. Over the years the ACHA quickly grew to over 150 teams in three men's divisions.

An ACHA Division II game between Harvard and Coast Guard in 2019 Harvard vs. USCGA hockey (cropped).jpg
An ACHA Division II game between Harvard and Coast Guard in 2019

A Women's Division was added in 2000 with a second Women's division being added for the 2006–2007 season.

By the 2001–2002 season, marking their 10th anniversary, the ACHA had a total of 179 teams registered with 33 teams in Division I, 100 teams in Division II, 18 teams in Division III, and 20 teams in the Women's Division.

By the 2002–2003 season that number raised to over 250 teams, with Division III adding over 80 teams alone.

By the 2003–2004 season the number raised to 278 teams: 40 teams in D-I, 124 teams in D-II, 87 teams in D-III, and 27 teams in the Women's Division.

By the summer of 2007 ACHA membership had reached 360 teams (M1-54, M2-190, M3-139, W1-32, W2-8), that cover 48 of the 50 states.

During the summer of 2009 the University of Alaska Fairbanks established a Women's Division II team becoming the 49th state in the ACHA. Hawaii is currently the only state without an ACHA team.

Every year since 2003, the Men's Division I Showcase has been an event that features some of the top teams in the ACHA.

ACHA partners with Fasthockey.com to broadcast many of the league's games. [2]

In 2017, the ACHA adopted a new hosting format for holding the annual National Championship Tournament for all Men's & Women's Divisions. Then ACHA Executive Director Michael Walley championed an idea to hold all of the ACHA's National Championship Tournaments in one major U.S. city, in partnership with that city's National Hockey League (NHL) team. The inaugural year saw the 2017 ACHA National Championship Tournament Festival held in Columbus, Ohio, in partnership with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. Then ACHA Executive Director Michael Walley assumed the role of Tournament Director for the inaugural tournament, Andy Storz was placed in the role of National Tournament Manager-Game Day Hockey Operations/P.A. Announcer/Anthem Soloist, while Fasthockey.com handled broadcasting. In July 2017, after undergoing a nationwide search, Russ Slagle was selected by the ACHA's Board of Directors and appointed to fill the vacant staff position of ACHA National Tournament Director, and A.J. Boldan was placed in the role of National Tournament Manager-Broadcast Operations/Executive Producer in conjunction with the ACHA opting to engineer its own National Tournament broadcasts on a newly launched YouTube channel "ACHA National Championships".

Membership

A map of all ACHA D1 men's hockey teams. ACHA Men's D1 Teams, 2013-14.svg
A map of all ACHA D1 men's hockey teams.
A map of all ACHA D2 men's hockey teams. File-ACHA D2.PNG
A map of all ACHA D2 men's hockey teams.
A map of all ACHA D3 men's hockey teams. ACHA D3.png
A map of all ACHA D3 men's hockey teams.
A map of all ACHA D1 women's hockey teams. ACHA W1.PNG
A map of all ACHA D1 women's hockey teams.
A map of all ACHA D2 women's hockey teams. ACHA W2.PNG
A map of all ACHA D2 women's hockey teams.

The ACHA includes both Men's and Women's Divisions. The Men's side is made up of three Divisions: 1, 2, and 3. Division 3 was the last to be established in 1999. Each division has its own distinguishing set of guidelines which are explained below. The Women's side has two divisions. Division 1 began in 2000 and Division 2 is the most recent addition to the ACHA with its inception in 2006.

Despite most teams' non-varsity status, the caliber of ACHA play can be quite high, especially in Division 1. Many large universities that do not sponsor hockey at the NCAA varsity level have become powerhouses, such as Ohio University, Adrian College, and Lindenwood University. Additionally, several universities that do sponsor NCAA varsity hockey teams also field ACHA-affiliated teams. Of all non-varsity sports activities, the ACHA-affiliated hockey teams generally garner the most attention at their universities, such as Missouri State where it is the third-largest spectator sport. The same can be said for the Arizona and University of Georgia who draw the third-largest fan base behind football and basketball. [ citation needed ]

All ACHA teams are members of USA Hockey and the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).

Men's divisions

Division 1

ACHA Men's Division 1 comprises 72 teams as of the 2023–2024 season. Some of these teams also compete against NCAA Hockey D1 and D3 Schools throughout the pre-season in informal exhibition games. Nine conferences and Independent teams compete annually for the Murdoch Cup, which is awarded to the Men's ACHA Division 1 National Champion. Twenty teams compete in the National Tournament. These top-twenty teams are ranked/selected by way of computer rankings, and as determined by auto-berths from the seven regular-season Conference champions. At Nationals, teams ranked 1–12 all receive first-round byes, with teams ranked 13–20 matching up 20 vs 13 (etc.), for the rights to play in the second-round in pre-determined bracket slots. Since 2012, two teams (Penn State and Arizona State) have moved from ACHA to NCAA Division I. A third, Lindenwood moved up in 2022.

Conferences

Division 2

ACHA Men's Division 2 is currently the largest division in the ACHA, it includes approximately 200 teams in 12 conferences and Independents. These teams are divided into four Regions (Central, Northeast, Southeast and West). A total of 16 teams qualify for the National Tournament, four from each region. Each month of the season a ranking of the top 15 teams in region is released. After the final ranking in February the top two seeds from each region earn an automatic berth into Nationals. Seeds 3–10 compete in their respective single-elimination Regional Tournaments, with the two teams who win both of their games also earning a Nationals berth. The National Tournament is a pool play format with the winners of each pool advancing to the semifinals. The semifinal match-ups are the winner of Pool A vs. Pool C and Pool B vs. Pool D.

Conferences

Division 3

ACHA Men's Division 3 consists of approximately 140 teams in nine conferences and Independents. These teams are also divided into four Regions (Atlantic, North, Pacific and South). A total of 16 teams qualify for the National Tournament in the same manner as Division 2. The National Tournament has also been conducted in the same manner as Division 2 since 2010. Before that it was single elimination and every team played four games. The one exception is the semifinals match-ups. The winner of Pool A plays the winner of Pool B and the winner of Pool C plays the winner of Pool D.

Conferences

Women's divisions

Division 1

ACHA Women's Division 1 includes 25 teams for the 2019–20 season, with all but independent Wisconsin playing in one of the four WD1 conferences. Eight teams qualify for the national tournament each season: automatic bids are awarded to the playoff champions of the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association, the Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League and Women's Midwest College Hockey, with the remainder of the field filled out by the highest-placing teams from the last of a series of weekly computer rankings. At nationals, the eight teams are paired off by ranking (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc.) for a best-of-three first round, with the winners of those series advancing to the semifinals.

Conferences

Division 2

ACHA Women's Division 2 includes 51 teams for the 2019–20 season, with a majority standing as a member of one of four conferences. All teams are sorted into the Northeast Region (13 teams), the Southeast Region (19 teams), or the West Region (19 teams). At the end of the year, the top four teams from each region in the final edition of a monthly computer ranking are invited to the ACHA National Tournament. The WD2 tournament differs from WD1 in that teams are divided into four pools and play a round robin, with the pool winners advancing to the semifinals.

Northeast Region Conference

Southeast Region Conferences

West Region Conference

International competition

Players are selected from only ACHA Men's D1 to represent USA Hockey in the Winter World University Games, an IIHF and FISU event. ACHA Men's D2 and D3 division created the Select Teams to offer opportunities for the other Men division's to experience International hockey and they are ACHA events.

The Division 2 & Division 3 Selects Teams alternate going over to Europe each year during the Holiday Break to play European teams. The players are chosen from a round robin tournament in the spring usually in Pennsylvania. The tournament pits each conference's elite players against each other.

Logos

The original ACHA logo was created by Dave Kammerdeiner of the West Virginia University Art Department under the direction of Don Spencer for a cost of $50.

In August 2003, the ACHA held an official contest to design a new logo, with the winning school receiving free registration for the 2003–2004 season. The University of Washington's Husky Hockey team won the contest, with former graphic-design intern Tom Eykemans designing the new version of the logo (as shown above).

Men's champions

Division 1

YearNational ChampionRunner-UpLocationHost
1991–1992 Iowa State Michigan-Dearborn State College, PA Penn State University
1992–1993 North Dakota State Penn State Fargo, ND North Dakota State
1993–1994 North Dakota State Eastern Michigan Ames, IA Iowa State University
1994–1995 Ohio Penn State Tucson, AZ University of Arizona
1995–1996 Ohio Iowa State Athens, OH Ohio University
1996–1997 Ohio Iowa State Ann Arbor, MI Eastern Michigan University
1997–1998 Penn State Ohio Ames, IA Iowa State University
1998–1999Vacated (Iowa State [3] ) Penn State Newark, DE University of Delaware
1999–2000 Penn State Eastern Michigan Minot, ND Minot State University
2000–2001 Penn State Delaware Tucson, AZ University of Arizona
2001–2002 Penn State Illinois Laurel, MD Towson University
2002–2003 Penn State Ohio Athens, OH Ohio University
2003–2004 Ohio Penn State Ames, IA Iowa State University
2004–2005 Illinois Penn State Bensenville, IL Robert Morris University (Illinois)
2005–2006 Rhode Island Penn State West Chester, PA West Chester University
2006–2007 Oakland Penn State Youngstown, OH Kent State University
2007–2008 Illinois Lindenwood Rochester, NY Monroe County Sports Commission
2008–2009 Lindenwood Illinois Gates Mills, OH Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
2009–2010 Lindenwood Iowa State Bensenville, IL Robert Morris University (Illinois)
2010–2011 Davenport Lindenwood Newark, DE University of Delaware
2011–2012 Delaware Oakland Strongsville, OH Kent State & Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
2012–2013 Minot State Lindenwood Bensenville, IL Robert Morris University (Illinois)
2013–2014 Arizona State Robert Morris (IL) Newark, DE University of Delaware
2014–2015 Central Oklahoma Stony Brook Strongsville, OH John Carroll University & Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
2015–2016 Lindenwood Iowa State Bensenville, IL Robert Morris University (Illinois)
2016–2017 Central Oklahoma Ohio Columbus, OH Columbus Blue Jackets, OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks, & Greater Columbus Sports Commission
2017–2018 Adrian College Illinois Columbus, OH Columbus Blue Jackets, OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks & Greater Columbus Sports Commission
2018–2019 Minot State Iowa State Frisco, TX Dallas Stars, Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau
2019–2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Frisco, TX Dallas Stars, Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau
2020–2021 Adrian College Minot State St. Louis, MO Maryville University
2021–2022 Lindenwood Central Oklahoma St. Louis, MO Lindenwood University, Centene Community Ice Center
2022-2023 Minot State Adrian College Marlborough, MA New England Sports Center
2023-2024 Adrian College UNLV St. Louis, MO St. Louis Sports Commission, Centene Community Ice Center
Totals
TeamTitlesYears
Penn State 61990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Lindenwood 42009, 2010, 2016, 2022
Ohio 41995, 1996, 1997, 2004
Adrian College 32018, 2021, 2024
Minot State 32013, 2019, 2023
North Dakota State 31991, 1993, 1994
Central Oklahoma 22015, 2017
Illinois 22005, 2008
Arizona State 12014
Delaware 12012
Davenport 12011
Oakland 12007
Rhode Island 12006
Iowa State 11992

Division 2

YearNational ChampionRunner-UpHost/Location
1991–1992 Toledo Kentucky DePaul University
1992–1993 Buffalo State Northern Iowa Iowa State University
1993–1994 Ferris State Colorado State Siena College
1994–1995 Colorado State Indiana Colorado State University
1995–1996 Western Michigan Life University University of South Florida
1996–1997 Life University Penn State University of Missouri
1997–1998 Life University Indiana Rutgers University
1998–1999 Life University Michigan State University of Utah
1999–2000 Miami (OH) Indiana Indiana University
2000–2001 Life University Weber State Indiana University
2001–2002 Life University Michigan New York University
2002–2003 Colorado Stony Brook University of Southern California
2003–2004 Oakland NYU University of Maryland
2004–2005 Michigan State Oakland Oakland University
2005–2006 Oakland Liberty Rochester County Sports Commission
2006–2007 Michigan State Davenport Colorado State University
2007–2008 Davenport Indiana Florida Gulf Coast University
2008–2009 Davenport Florida Gulf Coast Grand Valley State University
2009–2010 Davenport Central Connecticut State Super East Collegiate Hockey League
2010–2011 Grand Valley State Michigan State San Jose State University
2011–2012 Florida Gulf Coast Grand Valley State Florida Gulf Coast University
2012–2013 Michigan State Grand Valley State Saint Louis University
2013–2014 New Hampshire Florida Gulf Coast Northeastern University
2014–2015 NYU Florida Gulf Coast University of Utah
2015–2016 Florida Gulf Coast Liberty Ice Line Quad Rinks
2016–2017 NYU Liberty Columbus, OH
2017–2018 Florida Gulf Coast Lindenwood Columbus, OH
2018–2019 Florida Gulf Coast Northeastern Frisco, TX
2019–2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Frisco, TX
2020–2021 Mary Iowa State Mandan, ND
2021–2022 Mary Florida Gulf Coast St. Louis, MO
2022-2023 Massachusetts Iowa Marlborough, MA
2023-2024 Indiana Miami (OH) St. Louis, MO
Totals
TeamTitlesYears
Life University 51997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
Florida Gulf Coast 42012, 2016, 2018, 2019
Michigan State 32005, 2007, 2013
Davenport 32008, 2009, 2010
Mary 22021, 2022
NYU 22015, 2017
Oakland 22004, 2006
Indiana 12024
Massachusetts 12023
New Hampshire 12014
Grand Valley State 12011
Colorado 12003
Miami (OH) 12000
Western Michigan 11996
Colorado State 11995
Ferris State 11994
Buffalo State 11993
Toledo 11992

Division 3

YearNational ChampionRunner-UpHost/Location
1999–2000 Butler Georgia Tech US Naval Academy
2000–2001 Wyoming South Dakota State Georgia Tech
2001–2002 Robert Morris (PA) Wyoming Georgia Tech
2002–2003 Muskegon College Hope College Muskegon Community College
2003–2004 Calvin Georgia Arizona State University
2004–2005 Colorado Florida Gulf Coast California University (PA)
2005–2006 Wright State Northwood Fort Myers, FL
2006–2007 Kennesaw State Albany Fort Wayne, IN
2007–2008 California University (PA) San Diego State Rochester, MN
2008–2009 Saginaw Valley State Florida Gulf Coast Rochester, NY
2009–2010 Saginaw Valley State Hope College Fort Myers, FL
2010–2011 College of the Canyons Hope College Holland, MI
2011–2012 Adrian College Davenport Vineland, NJ
2012–2013 Adrian College Michigan-Flint Springfield, MO
2013–2014 Adrian College Hope College Coral Springs, FL
2014–2015 Michigan State Florida Gulf Coast Pelham, AL
2015–2016 Oakland Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI
2016–2017 Aquinas College Calvin Columbus, OH
2017-2018 Hope College Oakland Columbus, OH
2018-2019 Sault College Grand Valley State Frisco, TX
2019-2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Frisco, TX
2020-2021 Hope College Arkansas Grand Rapids, MI
2021-2022 Hope College Michigan St. Louis, MO
2022-2023 Michigan Hope College Marlborough, MA
2023-2024 Lawrence Tech Grand Valley State St. Louis, MO
Totals
TeamTitlesYears
Hope College 32018, 2021, 2022
Adrian College 32012, 2013, 2014
Saginaw Valley State 22009, 2010
Lawrence Tech 12024
Michigan 12023
Sault College 12019
Aquinas College 12017
Oakland 12016
Michigan State 12015
College of the Canyons 12011
California University (PA) 12008
Kennesaw State 12007
Wright State 12006
Colorado 12005
Calvin 12004
Muskegon College 12003
Robert Morris (PA) 12002
Wyoming 12001
Butler 12000

Women's champions

Division 1

YearNational ChampionRunner UpLocation
2000–2001 St. Cloud State Arizona State Wentzville, MO
2001–2002 Wisconsin St. Cloud State Alpharetta, GA
2002–2003 Michigan State Wisconsin Muskegon, MI
2003–2004 Wisconsin Rhode Island East Lansing, MI
2004–2005 Robert Morris (IL) Michigan State Buffalo, NY
2005–2006 Lindenwood Robert Morris (IL) Wentzville, MO
2006–2007 Robert Morris (IL) Lindenwood Amherst, MA
2007–2008 Lindenwood Robert Morris (IL) Bensenville, IL
2008–2009 Lindenwood Robert Morris (IL) Rochester, NY
2009–2010 Lindenwood Michigan State Blaine, MN
2010–2011 Michigan State Northeastern Kalamazoo, MI
2011–2012 Northeastern Minnesota Wooster, OH
2012–2013 Minnesota Liberty Ashburn, VA
2013–2014 Miami University Massachusetts Newark, DE
2014–2015 Liberty Miami University York, PA
2015–2016 Miami University Grand Valley State Kalamazoo, MI
2016–2017 Miami University Liberty Columbus, OH
2017–2018 Liberty Adrian College Columbus, OH
2018–2019 Liberty Lindenwood-Belleville Frisco, TX
2019–2020Tournament not played Frisco, TX
2020-2021 Liberty Lindenwood Minot, ND
2021-2022 Liberty Midland St. Louis, MO
2022-2023 Liberty Minot State Marlborough, MA
2023-2024 Adrian College Minot State Boston, MA
Totals
TeamTitlesYears
Liberty 62015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Lindenwood 42006, 2008, 2009, 2010
Miami University 32014, 2016, 2017
Michigan State 22003, 2011
Robert Morris (IL) 22005, 2007
Wisconsin 22002, 2004
Adrian College 12024
Minnesota 12013
Northeastern 12012
St. Cloud State 12001

Results by school and year

37 teams have appeared in the ACHA Tournament in at least one year starting with 2001 (the first year that the ACHA sponsored a women's division). The results for all years are shown in this table below.

The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament:

  •   Pool Round
  •   Quarterfinals
  •   Semifinals
  •  2  National Runner-Up
  •  1  National Champion
APP0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
School
Michigan State1751324553215787556
Massachusetts 164798468744265475
Michigan 13561171078888758
Rhode Island 12243335446647
Robert Morris (IL) 1161212235335
Liberty1176723132111
Minnesota10910116421888
Colorado937438121048
Lindenwood 855121113
Grand Valley State711563266
Penn State 783871277
Adrian76443234
Wisconsin6612189
Western Michigan66966910
Miami6121134
Lindenwood–Belleville 565623
St. Cloud State41276
Northern Michigan45101011
Northeastern3215
Maryland2412
West LA College238
Connecticut254
McKendree277
Arizona State12
Pittsburgh17
Boston University 14
Bates College18
Iowa State111
Pennsylvania112
North Country CC18
Buffalo112
North Dakota State111
Norwich 17
Nichols19
Ohio State112
Midland18
Minot State12

† Tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Number shown is the team's final regular season ranking/seeding.

Division 2

YearNational ChampionRunner UpLocation
2006–2007 St. Scholastica Minnesota-Duluth Amherst, MA
2007–2008 Rainy River CC Minnesota-Duluth Bensenville, IL
2008–2009 Rainy River CC St. Scholastica Rochester, NY
2009–2010 Northeastern Rainy River CC Blaine, MN
2010–2011 Rainy River CC West Chester Kalamazoo, MI
2011–2012 Wisconsin–Stout Alaska Wooster, OH
2012–2013 West Chester Penn State Ashburn, VA
2013–2014 Iowa State Penn State Newark, DE
2014–2015 North Dakota State West Chester York, PA
2015–2016 Minnesota–Duluth Rainy River CC Kalamazoo, MI
2016–2017 Lakehead North Dakota State Columbus, OH
2017–2018 Lakehead Minot State Columbus, OH
2018–2019 Assiniboine CC Minot State Frisco, TX
2019–2020Tournament not played Frisco, TX
2020-2021Tournament not played N/A
2021-2022 Assiniboine CC Dakota College St. Louis, MO
2022-2023 Sault College Northeastern Marlborough, MA
2023-2024 Sault College Assiniboine CC Boston, MA
Totals
TeamTitlesYears
Rainy River CC 32008, 2009, 2011
Sault College 22023, 2024
Assiniboine CC 22019, 2022
Lakehead 22017, 2018
Minnesota-Duluth 12016
North Dakota State 12015
Iowa State 12014
West Chester 12013
Wisconsin–Stout 12012
Northeastern 12010
St. Scholastica 12007

Results by school and year

37 teams have appeared in the ACHA Tournament in at least one year starting with 2007, the first year for Women's Division 2. The results for all years are shown in this table below, other than missing data for the third-place games from 2007 and 2009.

The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament:

  •   Pool Round
  •   Semifinals
  •  2  National Runner-Up
  •  1  National Champion
APP0708091011121314151617181920
School
Delaware104363886567
North Dakota State873132464W
Rainy River CC81121532
Minnesota–Duluth6223615
California (PA)565458
Buffalo5871085
Northeastern4184NE
West Chester42126
Northern Michigan47433W
Lakehead41142W
Boston College49571NE
South Dakota State354
St. Scholastica3124
Alaska3236
Minot State3422
Assiniboine CC3611W
Vermont263NE
Wisconsin–Stout214
Penn State222
Iowa State2111
Michigan State274
Navy284SE
Bishop's233
Adrian2910
Liberty2102SE
Mercyhurst293SE
Rowan2121SE
Bates College13
Pennsylvania12NE
Connecticut15
Slippery Rock14
Wisconsin–La Crosse15
Miami17
Aquinas111
Villanova112
Loyola Chicago111
Montclair State112
New Hampshire12NE

† Tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Number shown is the team's final regular season ranking/seeding.

Zoë M. Harris Award winners

The Zoë M. Harris Award is given to the player of the year in each ACHA women's division.

YearDivision 1Division 2
PlayerSchoolPlayerSchool
2000–2001Jennifer Horton [4] Arizona State
2001–2002Andrea Lavelle Penn State
2002–2003Erin Ficken Wisconsin
2003–2004Stephanie Metcalf Colorado
2004–2005Krista Sleen [5] Robert Morris (IL)
2005–2006Kat Hannah [6] Lindenwood
2006–2007Savannah Varner [7] Robert Morris (IL) Natalie Domagala [8] South Dakota State
2007–2008Kat Hannah [9] Lindenwood
2008–2009Maura Grainger Massachusetts
2009–2010Becca Bernet [10] Lindenwood Natalie Domagala [11] South Dakota State
2010–2011Danielle McCutcheon [12] Robert Morris (IL) Brenley Anderson [13] Rainy River CC
2011–2012Ramey Weaver [14] Robert Morris (IL) Brie Scolaro [15] Delaware
2012–2013Cassie Catlow [16] Rhode Island Becky Dobson West Chester
2013–2014Hayley Williams [17] Robert Morris (IL) Kacie Johnson [18] North Dakota State
2014–2015Hayley Williams Miami University Kacie Johnson North Dakota State
2015–2016Brittani Lanzilli Massachusetts Sam Jenkins Central Michigan
2016–2017Kaley Mooney Miami University Allison Carlson Northern Michigan
2017–2018Maddie Wolsmann Michigan State Mackenzie Balogh Minot State
2018–2019Lauren McDonald Liberty Madeline Norton Buffalo
2019–2020Maddie Wolsmann Michigan State Meghan Roche Mercyhurst

Notable players in professional leagues

Men

PlayerPositionACHA TeamYearsProfessional Organizations Signed WithYears
Daniel Walcott [19] DLindenwood (M1)2012–2013Selected #140 overall in the 5th round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers

Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)

2014-present
Michael Lebler [20] FIowa State (M1)2007–2011 EHC Black Wings Linz (Erste Bank Eishockey Liga)2003–2013
Anton Lidemar [21] FLindenwood (M1)2009–2010 Başkent Yıldızları SK (Turkish Hockey SuperLig 2010–2011
Adam Kubalski [22] GUCLA (M2)2003–2007 KH Sanok, KH Zagłębie Sosnowiec, KTH Krynica (Polish Hockey Superleague)2007–2010
Justin Depretis [23] FPenn State (M1)2001–2006 Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wichita Thunder (CHL), Indiana Ice Miners (MAHL), Flint Generals (IHL),2006–2009
Tom Boudreau [24] FRobert Morris-Illinois (M2)2001–2005 Huddinge IK (Swedish Division 1), Indiana Ice Miners (MAHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), Wichita Thunder (CHL), Jersey Rockhoppers (EPHL), Mississippi Surge (SPHL), Dayton Gems (CHL)2006–2014
Curtiss Patrick [25] DPenn State (M1)2001–2004 Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL), Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wichita Thunder (CHL)2004–2009
Glenn Detulleo [26] FIowa State (M1)2000–2001 Essen Mosquitoes (Oberliga), Berlin Capitals (Oberliga), Missouri River Otters (UHL), Quad City Mallards (UHL), Vancouver Canucks (NHL), Kalamazoo Wings (IHL), Elmira Jackals (UHL), Wichita Thunder (CHL), Mississippi RiverKings (CHL), Huntsville Havoc (SPHL)1995–2012
Mark Scally [27] GPenn State (M1)1996–2000 Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Asheville Smoke (UHL), Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL), Texas Wildcatters (ECHL), Asheville Aces (SPHL), Long Beach Ice Dogs (ECHL)2000–2006
Cody Stackmann-Staves [28] DPitt-Greensburg (M3)2011–2013 Steel City Warriors (FHL)2014–Present
Ryan Lowe [29] GSan Jose State (M2)2002–2007 Utah Grizzlies (ECHL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), [30] Canberra Knights (AiHL)2007–2015
Justin Barr [31] CNorthern Kentucky (M3)2006–2008 Elmira Jackals (ECHL), Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Danville Dashers (FHL), Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) Anaheim Ducks (NHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL), Cape Cod Bluefins (FHL), Fayetteville FireAntz (SPHL)2008–2014
Jonathan Juliano [32] CDavenport (M1)2010–2011 Augusta RiverHawks (SPHL), Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL), Minnesota Wild (NHL), Danville Dashers (FHL), Dayton Demonz (FHL), Watertown Privateers (FHL),2011–Present
Mike Sellitto [33] RW Florida Gulf Coast University (M2)2007–2010 Louisiana Ice Gators (SPHL), Danbury Whalers (FHL), Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL), Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), New York Islanders (NHL) [34] 2010–2012
Paul Kenny [35] GRhode Island (M1)2010–2013 Providence Bruins (AHL), Boston Bruins (NHL)2013–Present
Tim Boyle [36] DEndicott College (M2)2014–2015 Wichita Thunder (ECHL), Ottawa Senators (NHL), Selected #106 overall in the 4th round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators 2015–Present
Shawn SkellyFAdrian College (M3)2007–2011 Toledo Walleye (ECHL), Alaska Aces (ECHL), Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL), Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)2011–Present
Cesare Dall'AraGKent State University (M1)2012–2015Hc Neumarkt (Serie B), Sc Auer (Serie B)2015–Present
Ryan MinkoffFUniversity of Washington (M2)2010–2014 Virkiä (2. Divisioona)2015–2016

Women

PlayerPositionACHA Team(s)YearsProfessional Organizations Signed WithYears
Chelsea Bräm [37] F Massachusetts (W1)2010–2014 SC Reinach (Swiss Women's Hockey League A)2014–present
Raschelle Bräm [38] F Massachusetts (W1)2010–2014 SC Reinach (Swiss Women's Hockey League A)2014–present
Sydney Collins [39] F Rhode Island (W1)2011–2016 Boston Blades (CWHL) 2016
Cassie Dunne [40] D Penn State (W1)2013–2017 Connecticut Whale (PHF)
Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
2017–2018
2019–present
Emily Ford [41] F Vermont (W1)2013–2016 Neuberg Highlanders (Elite Women's Hockey League)2016–2017
Katherine Hannah F Lindenwood (W1)2003–2008 Ottawa Raiders (NWHL I)2000–2001
Paige Harrington [42] D Penn State (W1), 2011–12
Massachusetts (W1), 2012–15
2011–2015 Buffalo Beauts (PHF), 2015–17

Boston Pride (PHF), 2017–18

2015–18
Andrea Lavelle F Penn State (W1)1998–2002 Beatrice Aeros (NWHL I)2002–2003
Kristen Levesque [39] F Rhode Island (W1)2012–2016 Boston Blades (CWHL) 2016–2017
Madeline Norton [44] F Buffalo (W2)2015–2019 Buffalo Beauts (PHF)2019–present
Sarah Stevenson [45] F Liberty (W1)2011–2015 Toronto Furies (CWHL) 2015–2016
Hayley Williams [46] F Robert Morris (IL) (W1), 2013–14
Miami University (W1), 2014–15
2013–2015

Buffalo Beauts (PHF), 2015–16

Brampton Thunder (CWHL), 2016–17
Toronto Furies (CWHL), 2017–18
SK Gorny (Russian Women's Hockey League) 2018–present

2015–present

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College ice hockey</span> US and Canadian amateur collegiate ice hockey competition

College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Valley State Lakers</span> Athletic teams representing Grand Valley State University

The Grand Valley State Lakers are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Grand Valley State University, located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The GVSU Lakers compete at the NCAA Division II level and are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League</span> ACHA ice hockey league

The Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL) is an ACHA Division II level ice hockey league. ACHA Division II level consists of players with previous Jr. A, AAA or Midget Major experience, along with high caliber high school experience. The level can range from varsity high school up to NCAA Division III skills, depending on the programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League</span> U.S. collegiate hockey league

The Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) is a non-NCAA collegiate ice hockey league in the mid-atlantic and southeast regions of the United States. The Mission of the ACC Hockey League is to provide student-athletes an option to compete in organized intercollegiate ice hockey without the high expenses of NCAA level hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association</span>

The Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA) is a conference of men's club ice hockey teams from the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) competing at the Division II level. The participating teams come from colleges and universities in the Upper Midwest, including North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Teams in the WCCHA are primarily student-run sports clubs with limited University funding, requiring significant player dues and fundraising for team operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IUP Crimson Hawks</span> Athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians, are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The university and all of its intercollegiate sports teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) within the NCAA Division II. The university sponsors 19 different teams, including eight teams for men and eleven teams for women: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, football, men's golf, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, women's tennis, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, and women's volleyball.

The Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA) is a non-profit ice hockey league for college club teams based at Midwestern United States schools. It was formed in October 1996. CCWHA is the largest women's collegeiate league in North America. All teams in the league are also required to be members of the ACHA that provides the teams with USA Hockey insurance and other member benefits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League</span>

The Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League (ECWHL) is an American Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Division 1 club level hockey-only college athletic conference for women's hockey teams. It is one of four ACHA Women's Division 1 conferences, along with the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association, the Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League, and Women's Midwest College Hockey. Primarily, the league has been concentrated in New England and Upstate and Western New York, with eleven of its thirteen members over fourteen seasons based in those areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davenport Panthers</span> Athletic teams that represent Davenport University

The Davenport Panthers are the athletic teams that represent Davenport University, located in Caledonia Township, Michigan, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for most of its sports as a provisional member since the 2017–18 academic year. The Panthers previously competed in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2005–06 to 2016–17.

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The Colonial States College Hockey Conference (CSCHC) is a non-varsity club college ice hockey league based in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The conference is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 and is made up of teams from colleges and universities based in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Arizona State University. It plays its home games at Mullett Arena in Tempe.

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The Rhode Island Rams women's ice hockey team represents the University of Rhode Island (URI) in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). Since the team's 1999 inauguration, the Rams have been one of the most successful programs in intercollegiate women's ice hockey, winning nine regular season and nine playoff titles in the 15-year existence of the Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League, both ECWHL records. The Rams have also qualified for 12 of the 18 ACHA National Tournaments held for women's teams, a number that trails only Massachusetts, Michigan and Michigan State. Highlighting Rhode Island's 12 ACHA tournament bids are eight semifinal appearances, including five in a row from 2004 through 2008. The team's present coach, Ashley Pagliarini, was a standout defenseman at URI from 2004 through 2009 and is just the second head coach in team history, taking over for program founder Beth McCann for the 2014–15 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State women's ice hockey club</span> College ice hockey team

The Penn State Women's Ice Hockey Club represents Penn State University (PSU) in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA). Since the team's establishment in 2012, it has been very successful, including a pair of ACHA second-place finishes at the Division 2 level in 2012–13 and 2013–14 and an appearance at the ACHA Division 1 national championship tournament to close the 2014–15 season. PSU is one of just three teams to appear in consecutive ACHA Division 2 championship games, joining the University of Minnesota-Duluth (2007–08) and Rainy River Community College (2008–11).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Wolverines women's ice hockey</span> Sports team

The University of Michigan Women's Ice Hockey team represents the University of Michigan (U-M) in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA). The team was founded in 1994 and has been consistently strong throughout its existence, winning a pair of CCWHA playoff titles and qualifying for 13 of the 18 ACHA National Tournaments held for women's teams, a number that ranks third all-time behind Massachusetts and Michigan State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UMass Minutewomen ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The UMass Minutemen women's ice hockey team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in the Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League (ECWHL). The Minutemen are one of the ACHA's premier programs, having qualified for 16 of the 20 ACHA National Tournaments held for women's teams, a number second to Michigan State for the all-time lead. Additionally, UMass has won four ECWHL playoff titles and has been the home of two Zoë M. Harris Award winners, one of five ACHA D1 programs to produce multiple recipients of the honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindenwood–Belleville Lynx women's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Lindenwood–Belleville Lynx women's ice hockey team represented Lindenwood University – Belleville in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in Women's Midwest College Hockey (WMCH), following a successful stint in the Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL). The team was founded for the 2014–15 season, as part of a rapid expansion of LU–B's athletic department, and quickly became one of the ACHA's top programs. The Lynx claimed three regular season conference championships and one playoff title, and qualified for five ACHA National Tournaments, highlighted by a second-place finish in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roosevelt Lakers women's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Roosevelt Lakers women's ice hockey team represents Roosevelt University (RU) in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA), following the absorption of Robert Morris University Illinois (RMU) and several of RMU's athletic teams, including women's ice hockey, that was finalized in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minot State Beavers women's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

Minot State Beavers women's ice hockey represents Minot State University (MSU) in Women's Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in Women's Midwest College Hockey (WMCH). MSU was one of the founding members of the ACHA's second women's division in 2006–07, but has seen its greatest successes within the last few years. The Beavers qualified for the ACHA National Tournament for the first time in 2017 and made it to the semifinals, and followed that up with back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019. Minot then jumped to Division 1, and was one of the founding members of WMCH with Liberty University, Lindenwood University–Belleville, the University of Minnesota, McKendree University, and Midland University.

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