Atlantic Hockey

NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference

Atlantic Hockey Association

Formerly| MAAC (1997–2003)
Association| NCAA
Founded| 1997 (as MAAC Hockey)
2003 (as Atlantic Hockey)
Commissioner| Michelle Morgan (since 2023)
Sports fielded|

* Men's ice hockey

Division| Division I
No. of teams| 11
Headquarters| Boston, Massachusetts
Region| Northeastern United States and Colorado
Most recent
champion(s)| RIT (4th title)
Most titles| Air Force (7)
Official website| http://www.atlantichockeyonline.com/
Locations

The Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) was an NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey had no women's division, though it shared some organizational and administrative roles (and three universities) with the women's-only College Hockey America (CHA).

It was formed in 1997 and began play in the 1998–1999 season as the hockey division of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Within three years, it was granted an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. However, in 2003, Iona and Fairfield dropped hockey, leaving Canisius as the only full MAAC member that sponsored hockey. This proved somewhat problematic for MAAC Hockey, since conference bylaws only allowed full members to vote. On June 30, 2003, MAAC Hockey broke off from the MAAC and reorganized as Atlantic Hockey.[1]

On June 6, 2023, it was announced that Atlantic Hockey would be merging all operations with CHA, effective in 2024. Details regarding this merger, including whether the new league would carry the Atlantic or College Hockey name, were to be announced at a later date.[2] Shortly after the 2024 season, the new conference was announced as Atlantic Hockey America.[3]

## Membership

[edit]

### Final

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Nickname  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Undergraduate Enrollment  | Joined  | Women's Conference  | Primary Conference  | Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, Colorado[a] | Falcons | 1954 | Public/Federal | 4,400 | 2006 | N/A | Mountain West |
American International College | Springfield, Massachusetts | Yellow Jackets | 1885 | Private/Non-sectarian | 1,700 | 1998 | N/A | Northeast-10 (D-II) |
United States Military Academy | West Point, New York | Black Knights | 1802 | Public/Federal | 4,400 | 2000 | N/A | Patriot League |
Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts | Falcons | 1917 | Private/Non-sectarian | 3,958 | 1999 | N/A | Northeast-10 (D-II) |
Canisius University | Buffalo, New York | Golden Griffins | 1870 | Private/Catholic | 3,490 | 1998 | N/A | MAAC |
College of the Holy Cross | Worcester, Massachusetts | Crusaders | 1843 | Private/Catholic | 2,897 | 1998 | HEA | Patriot League |
Mercyhurst University | Erie, Pennsylvania | Lakers | 1926 | Private/Catholic | 4,055 | 1999 | CHA | NEC |
Niagara University[4] | Lewiston, New York[b] | Purple Eagles | 1856 | Private/Catholic | 3,853 | 2010 | N/A[c] | MAAC |
Robert Morris University | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Colonials | 1921 | Private/Non-sectarian | 4,005 | 2010
2023[d] | CHA[e] | Horizon |
Rochester Institute of Technology | Henrietta, New York[f] | Tigers | 1829 | Private/Non-sectarian | 16,842 | 2006 | CHA | Liberty League (D-III) |
Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, Connecticut | Pioneers | 1963 | Private/Catholic | 5,428 | 1998 | NEWHA[g] | MAAC |
Locations of Atlantic Hockey Conference current member locations.

1. ^ The Academy grounds lie almost entirely outside the Colorado Springs city limits. The U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Postal Service respectively call the grounds "Air Force Academy" and "USAF Academy".
2. ^ The campus mailing address is "Niagara University".
3. ^ Niagara's women's team was in College Hockey America before the university dropped the program in 2012.
4. ^ Robert Morris was a member of Atlantic Hockey from 2010 to 2021 until the program was cut. Subsequent fundraising efforts allowed the program to be reinstated for the 2023–24 season with Robert Morris rejoining Atlantic Hockey.
5. ^ RMU also rejoined its former women's hockey home of College Hockey America in 2023–24.
6. ^ The campus mailing address is Rochester.
7. ^ The NEWHA was founded in 2017 as a scheduling alliance between Division I and Division II women's ice hockey independents, with Sacred Heart as a founding member. It formally organized as a conference in 2018 and received NCAA recognition in 2019.

### Previous

[edit]

* Iona University (dropped hockey), 2003; then known as Iona College
* Fairfield University (dropped hockey), 2003
* Quinnipiac University (ECAC Hockey), 2005
* University of Connecticut (Hockey East), 2014

### Timeline

[edit]

## Atlantic Hockey champions

[edit]

Main article: Riley Trophy

[5]

Season | Tournament | Regular Season Champion | Tournament Champion | Notes

|
|
|
|

2003–04 | 2004 | Holy Cross (1) | Holy Cross (1) | Atlantic Hockey Association founded by American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Connecticut, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart
2004–05 | 2005 | Quinnipiac (1) | Mercyhurst (1) | Final AHA season for Quinnipiac, (leaving for the ECAC)
2005–06 | 2006 | Holy Cross (2) | Holy Cross (2) |
2006–07 | 2007 | RIT (1) | Air Force (1) | Air Force and RIT join the AHA
2007–08 | 2008 | Army (1) | Air Force (2) |
2008–09 | 2009 | RIT(2) / Air Force (1) | Air Force (3) |
2009–10 | 2010 | RIT (3) | RIT (1) |
2010–11 | 2011 | RIT (4) | Air Force (4) | Niagara and Robert Morris join the AHA
2011–12 | 2012 | Air Force (2) | Air Force (5) |
2012–13 | 2013 | Niagara (1) | Canisius (1) |
2013–14 | 2014 | Mercyhurst (1) | Robert Morris (1) | Final AHA season for Connecticut, (leaving for Hockey East)
2014–15 | 2015 | Robert Morris (1) | RIT (2) |
2015–16 | 2016 | Robert Morris (2) | RIT (3) |
2016–17 | 2017 | Canisius (1) | Air Force (6) |
2017–18 | 2018 | Mercyhurst (2) | Air Force (7) |
2018–19 | 2019 | American International (1) | American International (1) |
2019–20 | 2020 | American International (2) | Cancelled | Tournament cancelled after quarterfinals due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 | 2021 | American International (3) | American International (2) |
2021–22 | 2022 | American International (4) | American International (3)  | Robert Morris suspended its program prior to the start of the season
2022–23 | 2023 | RIT (5) | Canisius (2) |
2023–24 | 2024 | RIT (6) | RIT (4)  | Robert Morris reinstated to Atlantic Hockey for this season after restarting its hockey programs
2024–25 | 2025 | Holy Cross (3) | Bentley (1)

## Atlantic Hockey tournament champions by school

[edit]

School  | Championship Years

|

Air Force  | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011,

2012, 2017, 2018

RIT  | 2010, 2015, 2016, 2024
American International  | 2019, 2021, 2022
Canisius  | 2013, 2023
Holy Cross  | 2004, 2006
Mercyhurst  | 2005
Robert Morris  | 2014
Bentley  | 2025

No tournament was held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

## National tournament history

[edit]

NCAA tournament  Year  | AHA Rep.  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

2004 | Holy Cross  | North Dakota | L 0–3
2005 | Mercyhurst  | Boston College | L 4–5
2006 | Holy Cross  | Minnesota | W 4–3 (OT)
North Dakota | L 2–5
2007 | Air Force  | Minnesota | L 3–4
2008 | Air Force  | Miami (OH) | L 2–3 (OT)
2009 | Air Force  | Michigan | W 2–0
Vermont | L 2–3 (2OT)
2010 | RIT  | Denver | W 2–1
New Hampshire | W 6–2
Wisconsin | L 1–8
2011 | Air Force  | Yale | L 1–2 (OT)
2012 | Air Force  | Boston College | L 0–2
2013 | Niagara *  | North Dakota | L 1–2
Canisius  | Quinnipiac | L 3–4
2014 | Robert Morris  | Minnesota | L 3–7
2015 | RIT  | Minnesota State | W 2–1
Omaha | L 0–4
2016 | RIT  | Quinnipiac | L 0–4
2017 | Air Force  | Western Michigan | W 5–4
Harvard | L 2–3
2018 | Air Force  | St. Cloud State | W 4–1
Minnesota-Duluth | L 1–2
2019 | AIC  | St. Cloud State | W 2–1
Denver | L 0–3
2020 | None†  | N/A  | N/A
2021 | AIC  | North Dakota | L 1–5
2022 | AIC  | Michigan | L 3–5
2023 | Canisius  | Minnesota | L 2–9
2024 | RIT  | Boston University | L 3–6

* – at-large selection.

† – Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

## Conference arenas

[edit]

School  | Hockey Arena  | Location  | Capacity

|
|
|

Air Force  | Cadet Ice Arena | Colorado Springs, CO | 2,502
American International  | MassMutual Center | Springfield, MA | 6,866
Army  | Tate Rink | West Point, NY | 2,648
Bentley  | Bentley Arena | Waltham, MA | 1,917
Canisius  | LECOM Harborcenter | Buffalo, NY | 1,800
Holy Cross  | Hart Center | Worcester, MA | 1,600
Mercyhurst  | Mercyhurst Ice Center
Erie Insurance Arena (alternate) | Erie, PA | 1,500
6,833
Niagara  | Dwyer Arena | Lewiston, NY | 1,400
RIT  | Gene Polisseni Center
Blue Cross Arena (alternate) | Henrietta, NY
Rochester, NY | 4,300
10,556
Robert Morris  | Clearview Arena | Neville Township, PA | 1,200
Sacred Heart  | Martire Family Arena | Fairfield, CT | 3,600

## Awards

[edit]

At the conclusion of each regular season schedule the coaches of each Atlantic Hockey team vote which players they choose to be on the three or four All-Conference teams:[6] first team, second team and rookie team (third team beginning in 2007). Additionally they vote to award 7 of the 10 individual trophies to an eligible player (or coach) and 1 team award at the same time. Atlantic Hockey also awards a regular season goaltending award and regular season scoring title that are not voted on, as well as a Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, which is voted on at the conclusion of the conference tournament. All individual and team awards except Goaltender of the Year have been awarded since Atlantic Hockey's inaugural season in 2003–04.[7]

### All-Conference teams

[edit]

| Award  | Inaugural year

|

First Team | 2003–04
Second Team | 2003–04
Third Team | 2006–07
Rookie Team | 2003–04

### Individual awards

[edit]

| Award  | Inaugural year

|

Player of the Year | 2003–04
Goaltender of the Year | 2023–24
Rookie of the Year | 2003–04
Coach of the Year | 2003–04
Best Defensive Forward | 2003–04
Best Defenseman | 2003–04
Individual Sportsmanship | 2003–04
Regular Season Goaltending Award | 2003–04
Regular Season Scoring Trophy | 2003–04
Most Valuable Player in Tournament | 2003–04

### Team awards

[edit]

| Award  | Inaugural year

|

Team Sportsmanship Award  | 2003–04

### Atlantic Hockey Hall of Honor

[edit]

In 2023, in honor of its 20th anniversary, the conference selected the top 20 players from its history:

1. Eric Ehn, F, Air Force
2. Jacques Lamoureaux, F, Air Force
3. Brett Gensler, F, Bentley
4. Cory Conacher, F, Canisius
5. Brady Ferguson, F, Robert Morris
6. Dan Ringwald, D, RIT
7. Andrew Volkening, F, Air Force
8. Colin Bilek, F, Army
9. Shane Madolora, G, RIT
10. Cody Wydo, F, Robert Morris
11. Zac Lynch, F, Robert Morris
12. Matt Garbowsky, F, RIT
13. Pierre-Luc O'Brien, F, Sacred Heart
14. Brennan Kapcheck, D, American International
15. Joseph Duszak, D, Mercyhurst
16. James Sixsmith, F, Holy Cross
17. Jared DeMichiel, G, RIT
18. Zach McKelvie, D, Army
19. Jamie Hunt, D, Mercyhurst
20. Justin Danforth, F, Sacred Heart

### See also

[edit]

* MAAC Awards

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "History of the MAAC". augenblick.org.
2. ^ "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
3. ^ "Atlantic Hockey, CHA women will combine as Atlantic Hockey America for 2024-25 season". USCHO. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-01-30.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Niagara Men's Hockey To Join Atlantic Hockey
5. ^ "Atlantic Hockey Champions". 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
6. ^ "2003–04 Atlantic Hockey All-Star Teams and Regular Season Awards Announced". Atlantic Hockey. 2004-03-12. Archived from the original on 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
7. ^ "2003–04 Regular Season Award Winners". Atlantic Hockey. Retrieved 2013-07-18.

## External links

[edit]

* Atlantic Hockey Online

* v
* t
* e

Atlantic Hockey

Final teams (arenas)|

* Air Force (Cadet Ice Arena)
* American International (MassMutual Center)
* Army (Tate Rink)
* Bentley (Bentley Arena)
* Canisius (LECOM Harborcenter)
* Holy Cross (Hart Center)
* Mercyhurst (Mercyhurst Ice Center)
* Niagara (Dwyer Arena)
* RIT (Gene Polisseni Center)
* Robert Morris (Clearview Arena)
* Sacred Heart (Martire Family Arena)

Seasons|

* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Awards|

* All-Atlantic Hockey Team
* Player of the Year
* Goaltender of the Year
* Rookie of the Year
* Coach of the Year
* Best Defensive Forward
* Best Defenseman
* Individual Sportsmanship
* Regular Season Goaltending Award
* Regular Season Scoring Trophy
* Most Valuable Player in Tournament
* All-Tournament Team

Successor|

* Atlantic Hockey America

* NCAA
* List of champions
* Harborcenter (conference tournament site)

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I hockey conferences

Current|

* Atlantic Hockey America
* Big Ten Conference
* Central Collegiate Hockey Association
* ECAC Hockey
* Hockey East
* National Collegiate Hockey Conference
* New England Women's Hockey Alliance
* Western Collegiate Hockey Association
* Independents

Former|

* Atlantic Hockey Association
* College Hockey America
* Great West Hockey Conference
* Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
* Tri-State League

* Championships: Men / Women

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