![]() | |
Association | NCAA |
---|---|
Founded | 1980 |
Commissioner | G. Steven Larson (since 2013) |
Sports fielded |
|
Division | Division III |
No. of teams | 10 |
Headquarters | Duluth, Minnesota |
Region | Midwestern United States |
Official website | www |
Locations | |
![]() |
The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) is a college athletic conference which operates in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference.
The conference was formally approved in 1980 as an association of six schools in Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, though the teams' schedules would not be standardized until the following season. This led to some teams playing an unequal amount of games in the 1980-81 season. As such, the 1981-82 season is considered the first official season of play. [1]
In the summer of 2012, the five schools in the University of Wisconsin System announced that they would leave the conference to begin playing hockey in their all-sports conference, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. [2] [3] The move would have left only two men's teams in the NCHA, leading St. Norbert and St. Scholastica to join the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA). [4] In April 2013, the NCHA and MCHA announced a merger, where the NCHA would absorb the MCHA's teams (of the MCHA's 10 schools, all 7 who also sponsored women's hockey played in the NCHA). [5] The men's and women's sides will retain separate administrative structures, as well as their automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. [6]
School | Location | Nickname | Founded | Affiliation | Teams | Year Joined | Year Left | Subsequent Conference | Current Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bemidji State University | Bemidji, Minnesota | Beavers | 1919 | Public | Men | Men: 1980 | Men: 1999 | CHA (D-I) | CCHA (D-I) |
Finlandia University | Hancock, Michigan (4,501) | Lions | 1896 | Private/Lutheran (ELCA) | Both | Men: 2013 Women: 2003 | Both: 2023 | N/A (Closed in 2023) | |
Minnesota State University, Mankato | Mankato, Minnesota | Mavericks | 1868 | Public | Men | Men: 1980 | Men: 1992 | D-II Independent | CCHA (D-I) |
Northland College | Ashland, Wisconsin | Lumberjacks | 1906 | Private/United Church of Christ | Both | Men: 2013 Women: 2016 | Men: 2019 Women: 2019 | WIAC | |
St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Huskies | 1868 | Public | Men | Men: 1980 | Men: 1987 | D-I Independent | NCHC (D-I) |
The College of St. Scholastica | Duluth, Minnesota | Saints | 1912 | Private/Catholic | Both | Men: 1983–1991, 1994 Women: 2010 | Men: 2021 Women: 2021 | MIAC | |
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Blugolds | 1916 | Public | Both | Men: 1980 Women: 2000 | Men: 2013 Women: 2013 | WIAC | |
University of Wisconsin–River Falls | River Falls, Wisconsin | Falcons | 1874 | Public | Both | Men: 1980 Women: 2000 | Men: 2013 Women: 2013 | WIAC | |
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Pointers | 1894 | Public | Both | Men: 1986 Women: 2000 | Men: 2013 Women: 2013 | WIAC | |
University of Wisconsin–Stout | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Blue Devils | 1891 | Public | Both | Men: 1996 | Men: 2013 | WIAC | |
University of Wisconsin–Superior | Superior, Wisconsin | Yellowjackets | 1893 | Public | Both | Men: 1980 Women: 2000 | Men: 2013 Women: 2013 | WIAC |
Season | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
1980–81 [lower-alpha 1] | Mankato State | — |
1981–82 | Bemidji State | — |
1982–83 | Bemidji State | — |
1983–84 | Bemidji State^ | — |
1984–85 | Bemidji State | — |
1985–86 | Bemidji State Mankato State | Bemidji State^ |
1986–87 | St. Cloud State Mankato State | St. Cloud State |
1987–88 | UW–River Falls | UW–River Falls^ |
1988–89 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point^ |
1989–90 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point^ |
1990–91 | Bemidji State Mankato State | UW–Stevens Point^ |
1991–92 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point |
1992–93 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point^ |
1993–94 | UW–Superior | UW–Superior^ |
1994–95 | Bemidji State | Bemidji State |
1995–96 | UW–River Falls | UW–River Falls |
1996–97 | St. Norbert | UW–Superior |
1997–98 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
1998–99 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
1999–2000 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Superior |
2000–01 | UW–Superior | UW–Superior |
2001–02 | St. Norbert | UW–Superior^ |
2002–03 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
2003–04 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
2004–05 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
2005–06 | St. Norbert | UW–Superior |
2006–07 | St. Norbert UW–River Falls UW–Stout | St. Norbert |
2007–08 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert^ |
2008–09 | UW–Superior | UW–Stout |
2009–10 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
2010–11 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert^ |
2011–12 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert^ |
2012–13 | UW–Eau Claire | St. Norbert |
2013-14 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert^ |
2014-15 | Adrian | Adrian |
2015-16 | Adrian | Adrian |
2016-17 | Adrian | St. Norbert |
2017-18 | Adrian | St. Norbert^ |
2018-19 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
2019-20 | Adrian | Adrian |
2020-21 | Adrian | Marian |
Season | Regular Season | Tournament |
---|---|---|
2000–01 | UW–Superior | UW–River Falls |
2001–02 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point |
2002–03 | UW–River Falls | UW–River Falls |
2003–04 | UW–Superior | UW–Stevens Point |
2004–05 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point |
2005–06 | UW–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point |
2006–07 | UW–Superior | UW–Stevens Point |
2007–08 | UW–Superior | UW–Superior |
2008–09 | UW–River Falls | UW–River Falls |
2009–10 | Lake Forest | UW–River Falls |
2010–11 | UW–River Falls | Adrian |
2011–12 | UW–River Falls | UW–River Falls |
2012–13 | UW–River Falls | St. Norbert |
2013–14 | Lake Forest | Lake Forest |
2014-15 | Adrian | Lake Forest |
2015–16 | Adrian | Adrian |
2016–17 | Adrian | Adrian |
2017-18 | Adrian | Adrian |
2018-19 | Adrian | Adrian |
2019-20 | Adrian | Adrian |
2020-21 | St. Scholastica | Adrian |
^ Won National Championship
School | Arena | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Adrian | Arrington Ice Arena | 500 |
Aurora | Fox Valley Ice Arena | 3,500 |
Concordia Wisconsin | Ozaukee Ice Center | 1,000 |
Finlandia | Houghton County Arena | 1200 |
Lake Forest | Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse | 1,000 |
Lawrence | Appleton Family Ice Center | 1,200 |
Marian | Blue Line Family Ice Center | 2,000 |
Milwaukee Engineering | Kern Center | 800 |
Northland | Bay Area Civic Center | 1,000 |
St. Norbert | Cornerstone Community Center | 2,000 |
Trine | Thunder Ice Arena | 700 |
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) is a college athletic conference in the Midwestern United States that participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The current CCHA began play in the 2021–22 season; a previous incarnation, which the current CCHA recognizes as part of its history, existed from 1971 to 2013. Four of its nine members are located in the state of Michigan, with three in Minnesota and one each in Ohio and South Dakota. It has also had teams located in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Nebraska over the course of its existence.
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is a college ice hockey conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a women's-only conference.
Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association was a college athletic conference which operated in the midwestern United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference. The conference included only men's teams.
The 2004 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 26, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 10. A total of 15 games were played. This was the first season in which the Atlantic Hockey sent a representative to the tournament. Atlantic Hockey assumed possession of the automatic bid that had been the possession of the MAAC after it collapsed and all remaining ice hockey programs formed the new conference.
The 2001 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 12 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey.
The 1999 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 12 schools in playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I. It began on March 26, 1999. The second round was on March 27 and March 28. The semifinals were on April 1. The National Championship Game was on April 3, 1999. A total of 11 games were played, the final 3 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA. The University of Maine defeated New Hampshire by a score of 3–2 in overtime, to claim their second national championship.
The Harris Cup is an ice hockey championship trophy, awarded annually to the NCAA Division III Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) league playoff champion.
The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Bemidji State University. The Beavers are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and play at Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota, as of the 2010 season, after previously playing at the John S. Glas Field House.
The Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey team is an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represents Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Mavericks compete in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). Their home arena is the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center located in downtown Mankato, Minnesota.
NCAA Division III women's ice hockey is a college ice hockey competition governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as part of the NCAA Division III. Sixty-seven teams competed in NCAA Division III women’s hockey across eight conferences in the 2019–20 season.
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) men’s hockey team is the collegiate hockey team at the university. UWRF is a Division III hockey team, a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Falcons are a part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), which is also a part of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). However, the WIAC announced in February 2012 that they would be leaving the NCHA due to budgetary reasons, effective for the 2014–15 season. The Falcons have won three national titles, one as a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1983, and two NCAA national titles in 1988 and 1994. The Falcons play at Hunt Arena, which opened in 1973. Steve Freeman is the head coach of the Falcons and is the all-time wins leader for both UWRF and the WIAC with over 400 wins.
The University of Wisconsin–River Falls (UWRF) women's ic hockey team competes at the Division III level as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They finished in the top four in 2003, 2009, 2014, 2015.
The 2004 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the 45th conference playoff in league history and 50th season where a WCHA champion was crowned. The 2004 tournament was played between March 12 and March 20, 2004, at five conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. By winning the tournament, Minnesota was awarded the Broadmoor Trophy and received the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The International Collegiate Hockey Association (ICHA) was an intercollegiate ice hockey conference from 1965-80 competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference had member schools in both Canada and the United States.
The 1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its fourteenth year under head coach Bob Johnson, the team compiled a 27–14–1 record and outscored all opponents 218 to 155. The Badgers were the recipients of an at-large bid in the first year that the NCAA guaranteed 8 teams entry into the postseason tournament and in doing so became the first team to win a national championship because of the expanded format.
The NCHA men's tournament is an annual Division III conference tournament that has taken place since 1986. The winner of the tournament has received an automatic bit to the NCAA Tournament since they were first offered in 2000.
The Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association tournament was a Division III college ice hockey tournament held annually to determine the MCHA champion. The tournament operated from the inception of the conference in 1999 to its absorption by the NCHA in 2013.
The 2013–14 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season began on October 26, 2013, and concluded on March 22, 2014. This was the 41st season of Division III college ice hockey.
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's ice hockey tournament is the annual conference ice hockey championship tournament for the NCAA Division III Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The tournament has been held annually since 2014.