Northeast Collegiate Hockey League

Conference| ACHA
Founded| 2007
Commissioner| Steve Hurtubise
Sports fielded|

* Ice hockey
* men's: yes

Division| Division I
No. of teams| 6
Headquarters| New Brunswick, New Jersey
Region| Northeast
Most recent
champion(s)| Oswego State Lakers (3rd title)
(2024–25)
Most titles| Niagara Purple Eagles (5)
Official website| League website
Locations

The Northeast Collegiate Hockey League is an ACHA Division I Hockey League consisting of seven teams in the Northeastern United States. A majority of members are located in New York with additional teams coming from New Jersey.

## History

[edit]

The league was announced on July 19, 2007 with plans to begin its first season later that year.[1] The league's first seven members were Binghamton University, Ithaca College, Penn State Berks, Rutgers University, St. Bonaventure University, SUNY Cortland, and SUNY Oswego. Andy Gojdycz was named the NECHL's first commissioner.

Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Syracuse University joined the NECHL from the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League.[2] By 2013, the Orange were joined by four more former ECHL schools; Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University at Buffalo, and Canisius University.[3]

The College of New Jersey jumped from ACHA Division II and joined the NECHL for the 2022–23 season.[4]

Buffalo was unable to field a team for the 2024–25 season, leaving the NECHL with five teams.[5][6] However, the Bulls remained members of the conference officially. Oswego announced it would leave the conference following the 2024–25 season and join the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League's new ACHA Division I conference.[7]

## Format

[edit]

Teams play a 15 game league schedule, playing each of the other five teams three times in the regular season. At the conclusion of the regular season the league holds a post season tournament hosted by one of the member schools. The tournament is held over three days at a single venue with top-seeded teams receiving first round byes. The Memorial Cup and an automatic bid to the ACHA Men's Division I National Championship Tournament is awarded to the winner of the tournament.

## Membership

[edit]

School  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Primary conference

|
|
|
|
|
|

University at Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | 1846  | Public  | 28,192  | Bulls | Mid-American Conference (D-I)
Canisius University | Buffalo, NY | 1870  | Private/Roman Catholic  | 5,152  | Golden Griffins | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (D-I)
Rochester Institute of Technology | Henrietta, NY | 1829  | Private/Non-sectarian  | 13,861  | Tigers | Empire 8 (D-III)
Rutgers University | New Brunswick, NJ | 1766  | Public  | 67,556  | Scarlet Knights | Big Ten Conference (D-I)
SUNY Oswego | Oswego, NY | 1861  | Public  | 8,909  | Lakers  | SUNYAC (D-III)
The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | 1855  | Public  | 7,340  | Lions | New Jersey Athletic Conference (D-III)

Note: Canisius and RIT also field NCAA Division I hockey teams, SUNY - Oswego also fields NCAA Division III.

### Former Members

[edit]

* Penn State Berks, moved to the CSCHC
* Ithaca College, moved to the UNYCHL
* Binghamton University, moved to the UNYCHL
* Syracuse University, moved to the ESCHL
* St. Bonaventure University, moved to the UNYCHL
* SUNY Cortland, moved to the UNYCHL
* Cornell University, moved to the UNYCHL
* Niagara University, moved to the ESCHL

### Membership timeline

[edit]

### Conference Arenas

[edit]

School  | Hockey Arena  | Capacity

|
|

Buffalo  | Northtown Center | 1,800
Canisius  | LECOM Harborcenter | 1,900
RIT  | Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena | 2,100
Rutgers  | ProSkate Ice Arena  | 1,500
SUNY - Oswego  | Campus Center Ice Arena | 2,500
TCNJ  | Tsai Field House |

## Championship results

[edit]

Season | Date | Winner | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Regular season winner | Source(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2007–08  | February 4, 2008  | Oswego Lakers | 4–2  | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Campus Center Ice Arena | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | [8]
2008–09  | March 1, 2009  | Cornell Big Red | 5–3  | Penn State Berks | ProtecHockey Ponds  | Penn State Berks
Rutgers Scarlet Knights | [9]
2009–10  | February 21, 2010  | Binghamton Bearcats | 4–0  | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Body Zone Sports Complex  | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | [10]
2010–11  | February 20, 2011  | Syracuse Orange | 8–4  | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Campus Center Ice Arena | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | [11][12]
2011–12  | February 19, 2012  | Cornell Big Red | 4–3 (OT)  | Syracuse Orange | Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | [13]
2012–13  | February 24, 2013  | Buffalo Bulls | 8–7 (2OT)  | Niagara Purple Eagles | Northtown Center | Niagara Purple Eagles | [14]
2013–14  | March 2, 2014  | Niagara Purple Eagles | 6–5  | Canisius Golden Griffins | Northtown Center | Syracuse Orange | [15][16][17]
2014–15  | February 22, 2015  | Niagara Purple Eagles | 5–4  | Buffalo Bulls | Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion | Niagara Purple Eagles | [18]
2015–16  | February 21, 2016  | Syracuse Orange | 6–3  | Niagara Purple Eagles | Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion | Syracuse Orange | [19]
2016–17  | February 26, 2017  | Niagara Purple Eagles | 9–1  | Canisius Golden Griffins | Harborcenter | Syracuse Orange | [20]
2017–18  | March 4, 2018  | Buffalo Bulls | 5–2  | RIT Tigers | The Rink (Ithaca, NY)  | Buffalo Bulls | [20]
2018–19  | March 3, 2019  | Buffalo Bulls | 2–1  | Canisius Golden Griffins | North Buffalo Ice Rink  | Buffalo Bulls | [20]
2019–20  | March 1, 2020  | Niagara Purple Eagles | 4–3  | Oswego Lakers | North Buffalo Ice Rink  | Niagara Purple Eagles | [20]
2020–21  | Not played due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021–22  | February 27, 2022  | Niagara Purple Eagles | 3–2  | Oswego Lakers | Dwyer Arena | Niagara Purple Eagles | [21]
2022–23  | February 26, 2023  | Buffalo Bulls | 4–3  | Canisius Golden Griffins | Tsai Field House | RIT Tigers | [22]
2023–24  | February 18, 2024  | Oswego Lakers | 5–2  | Canisius Golden Griffins | Deborah F. Stanley Arena | Oswego Lakers | [23]
2024–25  | February 23, 2024  | Oswego Lakers | 11–0  | RIT Tigers | LECOM Harborcenter | Oswego Lakers | [24]

## ACHA National Tournament results

[edit]

Year | Round | NECHL Team | Score | Opponent | Opponent Conference | Reference

|
|
|
|
|
|

2009  | First Round  | #16 Penn State Berks | 2–14  | #1 Lindenwood Lions | CSCHL | [25]
Consolation  | CXL  | #12 Kent State Golden Flashes | CSCHL | [26]
2010  | First Round  | #16 Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 3–8  | #1 Lindenwood Lions | CSCHL | [27]
Consolation  | 5–6 (OT)  | #15 SUNY Canton Kangaroos | ECHL | [28]
2011  | First Round  | #15 Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 1–12  | #2 Davenport Panthers | GLCHL | [29]
Consolation  | 6–8  | #16 Slippery Rock | CHMA | [30]
2012  | Play-in Round  | #16 Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 1–5  | #17 West Virginia Mountaineers | CHMA | [31][32]
2013  | Play-in Round  | #19 Niagara Purple Eagles | 0–1 (OT)  | #14 Central Oklahoma Bronchos | WCHL | [33]
2014  | Play-in Round  | #19 Syracuse Orange | 1–6  | #14 Oakland Golden Grizzlies | GLCHL | [34][35]
2015  | Play-in Round  | #17 Buffalo Bulls | 3–4  | #16 Colorado Buffaloes | WCHL | [36]
Play-in Round  | #15 Niagara Purple Eagles | 7–2  | #18 Robert Morris Colonials | CHMA | [37]
First Round  | 1–4  | #3 Central Oklahoma Bronchos | WCHL | [38]
2016  | Play-in Round  | #18 Syracuse Orange | 5–3  | #15 Illinois Fighting Illini | CSCHL | [39][40]
First Round  | 2–3  | #3 Stony Brook Seawolves | ESCHL | [41]
2017  | Play-in Round  | #18 Syracuse Orange | 3–4  | #15 Midland Warriors | Independent  | [42][43]
2018  | Play-in Round  | #19 Buffalo Bulls | 1–8  | #14 Davenport Panthers | GLCHL | [44][1]
2019  | Play-in Round  | #19 Buffalo Bulls | 1–4  | #14 Missouri State Ice Bears | WCHL | [45][2]
2020  | Play-in Round  | #20 Niagara Purple Eagles | CXL[a] | #13 Central Oklahoma Bronchos | WCHL | [47]
2021[b] | First Round  | #14 Canisius Golden Griffins | 0–10  | #3 Lindenwood Lions | CSCHL | [48]
2022  | Play-in Round  | #18 Niagara Purple Eagles | 3–7  | #15 Ohio Bobcats | CSCHL | [49]
2023  | Play-in Round  | #20 Buffalo Bulls | 3–8  | #13 Grand Valley State Lakers | GLCHL | [50]
2024  | First Round  | #24 Oswego Lakers | 4–1  | #9 Niagara Purple Eagles | ESCHL | [51]
Round of 16  | #24 Oswego Lakers | 3–4 (OT)  | #8 Ohio University Bobcats | Independent  | [52]
2025  | First Round  | #20 Oswego Lakers | 3–2 (OT)  | #13 Indiana Tech Warriors | WHAC | [53]
Round of 16  | #20 Oswego Lakers | 3–6  | #4 Liberty Flames | Independent  | [54]

### NECHL team tournament records

[edit]

Teams that no longer participate in the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League are in italics.

Name  | P  | W  | L  | OTL  | GS  | GA  | %W

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Oswego State Lakers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 050.00
Penn State Berks | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 000.00
Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 39 | 000.00
Niagara Purple Eagles | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 025.00
Syracuse Orange | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 025.00
Buffalo Bulls | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 24 | 000.00
Canisius Golden Griffins | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 000.00

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The 2020 ACHA Division 1 National Tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[46]
2. ^ The NECHL did not play a 2020–21 season however some schools opted to play a shortened spring season. Canisius finished this period ranked 14th in the nation and was given a berth into the national tournament.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Northeast Collegiate Hockey League". nechlhockey. 19 July 2008. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
2. ^ Riordan, Tim (21 December 2009). "ECHL, Another one bites the dust". Bull Run. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
3. ^ Benner, Timmy (20 September 2012). "UB Hockey: Keeping Live Hockey On The Ice". Bull Run. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
4. ^ "LIONS JUMPING TO DIVISION 1, JOINING NECHL FOR 2022/23". tcnj.acha.hockeytech.com. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
5. ^ Daley, Henry (20 May 2024). "SA de-recognizes men's and women's ice hockey club teams". The Spectrum. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
6. ^ Lai, Mylien (2 October 2024). "SA derecognition could halt UB ice hockey after 128 years". The Spectrum.
7. ^ "Oswego State University Men's ACHA D1 Club Ice Hockey". www.oswegoachahockey.com. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
8. ^ "2007-08 Season Recap". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
9. ^ "2008-09 Season Recap". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
10. ^ "2009-10 Season Recap". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
11. ^ "2010-11 Season Recap". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
12. ^ "2010-11 NECHL Game Schedule". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
13. ^ "2011-12 Season Recap". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
14. ^ "2012-13 Season Recap". nechlhockey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
15. ^ "Tweet". Twitter. Canisius Hockey. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
16. ^ "Tweet". Twitter. Canisius Hockey. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
17. ^ "Tweet". Twitter. Canisius Hockey. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
18. ^ "Back to Back Champs!!". www.nuachahockey.pointstreaksites.com. Niagara University Hockey. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
19. ^ "Tweet". Twitter. Syracuse Hockey. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
20. ^ a b c d "Past NECHL Results". Northeast Collegiate Hockey League. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
21. ^ Puff, Derek (28 February 2022). "Niagara ACHA D1 Hockey Headed to Nationals". news.niagara.edu. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
22. ^ Malnoske, Andy (1 March 2023). "Ryan Edwards wins team title with Buffalo Ice Bulls". WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
23. ^ "Oswego State University Men's ACHA D1 Club Ice Hockey". www.oswegoachahockey.com. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
24. ^ "Lakers club hockey headed to nationals". Oswego County News Now. 4 March 2025.
25. ^ "Men's Hockey Advances To ACHA Quarterfinals With 14-2 Win". Lindenwood University Athletics. 15 March 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
26. ^ "2009 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championships Bracket" (PDF). ACHA Hockey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
27. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Advances to ACHA DI Semifinals". Lindenwood University Athletics. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
28. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey No. 15 in Final ACHA Poll". SUNY Canton Athletics. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
29. ^ "Panthers Dominate No. 15 Rutgers". Davenport University Athletics. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
30. ^ "2011 M1 National Tournament". ACHA Hockey. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
31. ^ "2012 M1 National Tournament". ACHA Hockey. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
32. ^ "Tweet". Twitter. Penn State Men’s Hockey. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
33. ^ "2013 ACHA Division 1 National Tournament". ACHA Hockey. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
34. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Earns 17th Seed For The 2014 ACHA D1 National Championship". Lindenwood University Athletics. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
35. ^ "University of Delaware Ice Arenas". www1.udel.edu. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
36. ^ Riordan, Tim (5 March 2015). "Bulls furious Rally comes up one goal short". Bull Run. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
37. ^ "2015 ACHA MEN'S DIVISION 1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS" (PDF). ACHA Hockey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
38. ^ Carter, Whitt (11 March 2015). "UCO Hockey Wins First ACHA Division I National Championship". www3.uco.edu. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
39. ^ "ACHA Boxscore - Syracuse University vs University of Illinois". acha.stats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
40. ^ Ceva, Claudia (4 March 2016). "Men's Hockey Wins First National Tournament Game". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
41. ^ Desantis, Michael (5 March 2016). "SBU Ice Hockey Outlasts Syracuse in First Round of Nationals". The Stony Brook Press. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
42. ^ "Midland University makes history with first win at ACHA National Championship". www.midlandathletics.com. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
43. ^ "ACHA Nationals Boxscore - Syracuse University vs Midland University". achanationals.stats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
44. ^ "Panthers win big during first round over Buffalo in the ACHA National Championships". Davenport University Athletics. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
45. ^ Hill, David (19 March 2019). "UB hockey teams get their chance in the spotlight". www.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
46. ^ "ACHA CANCELS 2020 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT". pointstreaksites.com. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
47. ^ "2020 ACHA Division 1 Nationals Bracket". www.achanationals.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
48. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Cruises to First Round Win at Nationals". Lindenwood University Athletics. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
49. ^ Monesi, Maria (11 March 2022). "Hockey: Numbers to know from Ohio's 7-3 tournament win against Niagara". The Post. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
50. ^ "American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)". www.achahockey.org. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
51. ^ "American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)".
52. ^ "American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)".
53. ^ "American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) - Game Center - Oswego vs Indiana Tech". www.achahockey.org. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
54. ^ "American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Game Center - Oswego vs Liberty". www.achahockey.org. Retrieved 18 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* NECHL site

## See also

[edit]

* American Collegiate Hockey Association
* List of ice hockey leagues

* v
* t
* e

American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1

* College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA)
* Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA)
* Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL)
* Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL)
* Midwest College Hockey (MCH)
* Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL)
* Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHL)
* Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC)

* Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL)

* ACHA
* List of champions

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template