Northern Collegiate Hockey Association

Last updated
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association logo.svg
Association NCAA
Founded1980
CommissionerG. Steven Larson (since 2013)
Sports fielded
Division Division III
No. of teams10
Headquarters Duluth, Minnesota
Region Midwestern United States
Official website www.nchahockey.org
Locations
Map - College Hockey - D3 - NCHA states.svg

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.

Contents

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]

Members

Current

SchoolLocation
(Population)		NicknameFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentColorsYear JoinedPrimary Conference
Adrian College Adrian, Michigan
(20,645)		Bulldogs1859Private1,400   Men: 2013
Women: 2009		 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Aurora University Aurora, Illinois
(180,542)		Spartans1893Private4,400   Men: 2015
Women: 2017		 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon, Wisconsin
(25,142)		Falcons1880Private/Lutheran (LCMS)1,600   Men: 2013
Women: 2007		 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
University of Dubuque Dubuque, Iowa
(59,667)		Spartans1852Private/Presbyterian (PC USA)2,190   Men: 2023
Women: 2023		 American Rivers Conference
Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois
(19,367)		Foresters1857Private1,417     Men: 1992–2009, 2013
Women: 2000		 Midwest Conference
Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin
(75,644)		Vikings1847Private1,469   Men: 2013 Midwest Conference
Marian University Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
(44,678)		Sabres1936Private/Catholic1,411   Men: 2013
Women: 2009		 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(577,222)		Raiders1903Private2,300   Men: 2013 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
St. Norbert College De Pere, Wisconsin
(25,410)		Green Knights1898Private/Catholic2,015   Men: 1994
Women: 2010		 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Trine University Angola, Indiana
(9,340)		Thunder1884Private2,000     Men: 2017
Women: 2017		 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Former

SchoolLocationNicknameFoundedAffiliationTeamsYear JoinedYear LeftSubsequent
Conference		Current
Conference
Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota Beavers1919PublicMenMen: 1980Men: 1999 CHA (D-I) CCHA (D-I)
Finlandia University Hancock, Michigan
(4,501)		Lions1896Private/Lutheran (ELCA)BothMen: 2013
Women: 2003		Both: 2023N/A (Closed in 2023)
Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota Mavericks1868PublicMenMen: 1980Men: 1992D-II Independent CCHA (D-I)
Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin Lumberjacks1906Private/United Church of ChristBothMen: 2013
Women: 2016		Men: 2019
Women: 2019		 WIAC
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota Huskies1868PublicMenMen: 1980Men: 1987 D-I Independent NCHC (D-I)
The College of St. Scholastica Duluth, Minnesota Saints1912Private/CatholicBothMen: 1983–1991, 1994
Women: 2010		Men: 2021
Women: 2021		 MIAC
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin Blugolds1916PublicBothMen: 1980
Women: 2000		Men: 2013
Women: 2013		 WIAC
University of Wisconsin–River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin Falcons1874PublicBothMen: 1980
Women: 2000		Men: 2013
Women: 2013		 WIAC
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin Pointers1894PublicBothMen: 1986
Women: 2000		Men: 2013
Women: 2013		 WIAC
University of Wisconsin–Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin Blue Devils1891PublicBothMen: 1996Men: 2013 WIAC
University of Wisconsin–Superior Superior, Wisconsin Yellowjackets1893PublicBothMen: 1980
Women: 2000		Men: 2013
Women: 2013		 WIAC

Membership timeline

Dubuque UniversityTrine UniversityAurora UniversityNorthland College (Wisconsin)Milwaukee School of EngineeringLawrence UniversityMarian University (Wisconsin)Adrian CollegeConcordia University WisconsinFinlandia UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–StoutSt. Norbert CollegeLake Forest CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin–Stevens PointCollege of St. ScholasticaUniversity of Wisconsin–SuperiorUniversity of Wisconsin–River FallsUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau ClaireBemidji State UniversityMinnesota State University, MankatoSt. Cloud State UniversityNorthern Collegiate Hockey Association

Champions

Men

SeasonRegular SeasonTournament
1980–81 [lower-alpha 1] Mankato State—
1981–82Bemidji State—
1982–83Bemidji State—
1983–84Bemidji State^—
1984–85Bemidji State—
1985–86Bemidji State
Mankato State		Bemidji State^
1986–87St. Cloud State
Mankato State		St. Cloud State
1987–88UW–River FallsUW–River Falls^
1988–89UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point^
1989–90UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point^
1990–91Bemidji State
Mankato State		UW–Stevens Point^
1991–92UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point
1992–93UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point^
1993–94UW–SuperiorUW–Superior^
1994–95Bemidji StateBemidji State
1995–96UW–River FallsUW–River Falls
1996–97St. NorbertUW–Superior
1997–98St. NorbertSt. Norbert
1998–99St. NorbertSt. Norbert
1999–2000UW–Stevens PointUW–Superior
2000–01UW–SuperiorUW–Superior
2001–02St. NorbertUW–Superior^
2002–03St. NorbertSt. Norbert
2003–04St. NorbertSt. Norbert
2004–05St. NorbertSt. Norbert
2005–06St. NorbertUW–Superior
2006–07St. Norbert
UW–River Falls
UW–Stout		St. Norbert
2007–08St. NorbertSt. Norbert^
2008–09UW–SuperiorUW–Stout
2009–10St. NorbertSt. Norbert
2010–11St. NorbertSt. Norbert^
2011–12St. NorbertSt. Norbert^
2012–13UW–Eau ClaireSt. Norbert
2013-14St. NorbertSt. Norbert^
2014-15AdrianAdrian
2015-16AdrianAdrian
2016-17AdrianSt. Norbert
2017-18AdrianSt. Norbert^
2018-19St. NorbertSt. Norbert
2019-20AdrianAdrian
2020-21AdrianMarian

Women

SeasonRegular SeasonTournament
2000–01UW–SuperiorUW–River Falls
2001–02UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point
2002–03UW–River FallsUW–River Falls
2003–04UW–SuperiorUW–Stevens Point
2004–05UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point
2005–06UW–Stevens PointUW–Stevens Point
2006–07UW–SuperiorUW–Stevens Point
2007–08UW–SuperiorUW–Superior
2008–09UW–River FallsUW–River Falls
2009–10Lake ForestUW–River Falls
2010–11UW–River FallsAdrian
2011–12UW–River FallsUW–River Falls
2012–13UW–River FallsSt. Norbert
2013–14Lake ForestLake Forest
2014-15AdrianLake Forest
2015–16AdrianAdrian
2016–17AdrianAdrian
2017-18AdrianAdrian
2018-19AdrianAdrian
2019-20AdrianAdrian
2020-21St. ScholasticaAdrian

^ Won National Championship

Arenas

SchoolArenaCapacity
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

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Collegiate Hockey Association</span> US college ice hockey conference

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Collegiate Hockey Association</span> College athletic conference in the Midwestern United States

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament</span>

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season</span> American college ice hockey season

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season</span>

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.

References

  1. ↑ The NCHA formed in 1980, but team schedules would not be standardized until 1981.
  1. ↑ "A History of the NCHA". Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ Hodkiewicz, Weston (February 15, 2012). "Wisconsin state schools' move away from NCHA 'a shock to the system,' St. Norbert coach says". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  3. ↑ Staff (April 24, 2012). "WIAC schools to leave NCHA after 2012-13 season". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ Staff (June 20, 2012). "St. Norbert, St. Scholastica moving to MCHA for 2013-14 season". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ Carito, Katie (April 24, 2013). "NCHA is reborn". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  6. ↑ "MCHA Renamed NCHA | New Structure Approved". Press release. Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. April 22, 2013. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.