Atlantic Hockey America

Last updated
Atlantic Hockey America
Atlantic Hockey America logo 2024.png
Formerly MAAC (Men) (1997–2003)
Atlantic Hockey (Men) (2003–24)
College Hockey America (Women) (2002–24)
Association NCAA
FoundedMen: 1997 (as MAAC)
Women: 2002 (as CHA)
First season2024–25
Commissioner Michelle Morgan (since 2024)
Sports fielded
Division Division I
No. of teams11: Men's (10 in 2025)
6: Women's
Headquarters Boston, Massachusetts
Region Northeastern United States, Colorado and Missouri
Official website atlantichockeyonline.com
Locations
Map - College Hockey - Atlantic Hockey America states.svg

Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) is a college ice hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in NCAA Division I as an ice hockey-only conference. [1] The conference was formed by the merger of the men-only Atlantic Hockey Association and the women-only College Hockey America (CHA). [2]

Contents

History

In 2010, the men's division of CHA collapsed and two of the remaining teams joined the Atlantic Hockey Association. [3] At that time, the two leagues began working together by sharing a commissioner and administrative staff in order to streamline their operating costs. [4] The arrangement worked well enough that by 2023, the two entities decided to formalize their relationship and announced that they were merging. The new league would begin in the 2024–25 season and would welcome a new member, Delaware, the following year. [5] However, the number of men's members will be reduced by 1 in the same year as AIC drops their program to the Division II level, opting to place their hockey program in their all-sports conference of the NE-10 [6] [7]

Membership

Three schools, Mercyhurst, RIT and Robert Morris, have programs in both the men's and women's divisions. Holy Cross, Lindenwood, Penn State and Sacred Heart each operate teams of both sexes, but only one is a member of AHA. Niagara and Syracuse only have one varsity program active as of 2024 but both previously supported the other gender. [8]

Current

Conference affiliations are current for the first season of the merged AHA in 2024–25.
  Member departing for Division II in 2025.

InstitutionLocationNicknameFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentJoinedMen'sWomen'sPrimary ConferenceColors
United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, Colorado [a] Falcons 1954Public/Federal4,4002024
Yes check.svgY
X mark.svgN
Mountain West    
American International College Springfield, Massachusetts Yellow Jackets 1885Private/Non-sectarian1,7002024
Yes check.svgY
X mark.svgN
Northeast-10 (D-II)     
United States Military Academy West Point, New York Black Knights 1802Public/Federal4,4002024
Yes check.svgY
X mark.svgN
Patriot League      
Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts Falcons 1917Private/Non-sectarian3,9582024
Yes check.svgY
X mark.svgN
Northeast-10 (D-II)   
Canisius University Buffalo, New York Golden Griffins 1870Private/Catholic3,4902024
Yes check.svgY
X mark.svgN
MAAC    
College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts Crusaders 1843Private/Catholic2,8972024
Yes check.svgY
Patriot League  
Lindenwood University St. Charles, Missouri Lions 1827 Private/Presbyterian 12,2132024
Yes check.svgY
OVC    
Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania Lakers 1926Private/Catholic4,0552024
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
NEC    
Niagara University Lewiston, New York [b] Purple Eagles 1856Private/Catholic3,8532024
Yes check.svgY
X mark.svgN
MAAC    
Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania [c] Nittany Lions 1855 Public/State-related 44,8172024
Yes check.svgY
Big Ten    
Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania Colonials 1921Private/Non-sectarian4,0052024
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Horizon      
Rochester Institute of Technology Henrietta, New York Tigers 1829Private/Non-sectarian16,8422024
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Liberty League (D-III)     
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut Pioneers 1963Private/Catholic5,4282024
Yes check.svgY
MAAC    
Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Orange 1870Private/Non-sectarian19,0822024
X mark.svgN
Yes check.svgY
ACC  
  1. The Academy grounds lie almost entirely outside the Colorado Springs city limits. The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Census Bureau respectively treat the Academy as "USAF Academy" and "Air Force Academy".
  2. The campus mailing address is "Niagara University".
  3. The entire Penn State campus is designated by the U.S. Postal Service as "University Park". It straddles the boundary between State College and College Township.

Future

Primary conference affiliation is current for the first season of AHA play.

InstitutionLocationNicknameFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentJoiningMen'sWomen'sPrimary Conference [a] Colors
University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 1743Public [b] 23,2812025
X mark.svgN
Yes check.svgY
CUSA    
  1. As of the date of joining AHA.
  2. Delaware is legally chartered as a "privately governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York's statutory colleges, mostly housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education.

Timeline

USA Northeast (cropped).svg
Red pog.svg
American International
Blue pog.svg
Army
Blue pog.svg
Bentley
Blue pog.svg
Canisius
Blue pog.svg
Holy Cross
Blue pog.svg
Mercyhurst
Blue pog.svg
Niagara
Blue pog.svg
Penn State
Blue pog.svg
RIT
Blue pog.svg
Robert Morris
Blue pog.svg
Sacred Heart
Blue pog.svg
Syracuse
Green pog.svg
Delaware
Location of teams in the Northeast
Blue pog.svg full
Green pog.svg future
Red pog.svg departing
Atlantic Hockey America

  Men    Women    Both  

Champions

Conference arenas

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey</span> American college ice hockey program of Mercyhurst University

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References

  1. "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024". Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. "Atlantic Hockey, CHA women will combine as Atlantic Hockey America for 2024-25 season". USCHO. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. Shaver, Wally. "News and notes from the 2008 NCAA Men's Frozen Four" . Retrieved 2010-01-28.
  4. "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024". Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  5. "University of Delaware to Join College Hockey America for 2025-26 Season" (Press release). College Hockey America. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  6. "AIC Dropping Program Back to Division II". College Hockey News. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  7. "AIC Moving to Division II at Conclusion of 2024-2025 Season" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  8. "Niagara University Announces Restructuring Of Athletics Programs". Niagara University. March 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-19.