Northern Collegiate Hockey Association

Association| NCAA
Founded| 1980
Commissioner| G. Steven Larson (since 2013)
Sports fielded|

* Ice hockey

Division| Division III
No. of teams| 10
Headquarters| Duluth, Minnesota
Region| Midwestern United States
Official website| www.nchahockey.org
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 number 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

[edit]

### Current

[edit]

School  | Location
(Population)  | Nickname  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Colors  | Year Joined  | Primary Conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Adrian College | Adrian, Michigan
(20,645)  | Bulldogs  | 1859  | Private  | 1,400  |  | Men: 2013
Women: 2009  | Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Aurora University | Aurora, Illinois
(180,542)  | Spartans  | 1893  | Private  | 4,400  |  | Men: 2015
Women: 2017  | Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Concordia University Wisconsin | Mequon, Wisconsin
(25,142)  | Falcons  | 1880  | Private/Lutheran (LCMS)  | 1,600  |  | Men: 2013
Women: 2007  | Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
University of Dubuque | Dubuque, Iowa
(59,667)  | Spartans  | 1852  | Private/Presbyterian (PC USA)  | 2,190  |  | Men: 2023
Women: 2023  | American Rivers Conference
Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, Illinois
(19,367)  | Foresters  | 1857  | Private  | 1,417  |  | Men: 1992–2009, 2013
Women: 2000  | Midwest Conference
Lawrence University | Appleton, Wisconsin
(75,644)  | Vikings  | 1847  | Private  | 1,469  |  | Men: 2013  | Midwest Conference
Marian University | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
(44,678)  | Sabres  | 1936  | Private/Catholic  | 1,411  |  | Men: 2013
Women: 2009  | Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(577,222)  | Raiders  | 1903  | Private  | 2,300  |  | Men: 2013
Women: 2024  | Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
St. Norbert College | De Pere, Wisconsin
(25,410)  | Green Knights  | 1898  | Private/Catholic  | 2,015  |  | Men: 1994
Women: 2010  | Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Trine University | Angola, Indiana
(9,340)  | Thunder  | 1884  | Private  | 2,000  |  | Men: 2017
Women: 2017  | Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

### Former

[edit]

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

### Membership timeline

[edit]

## Champions

[edit]

Main article: NCHA Men's Tournament

### Men

[edit]

Season  | Regular Season  | Tournament

|
|

1980–81[a] | 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

### Women

[edit]

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

## Arenas

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

* Harris Cup

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* Official web site

* v
* t
* e

Northern Collegiate Hockey Association

Teams|

* Adrian
* Aurora
* Concordia (WI)
* Dubuque
* Lake Forest
* Lawrence
* Marian
* Milwaukee School of Engineering
* St. Norbert
* Trine

Arenas|

* Arrington Ice Arena (Adrian)
* Fox Valley Ice Arena (Aurora)
* Ozaukee Ice Center (Concordia)
* Mystique Ice Center (Dubuque)
* Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse (Lake Forest)
* Appleton Family Ice Center (Lawrence)
* Blue Line Family Ice Center (Marian)
* Kern Center (MSOE)
* Cornerstone Community Center (St. Norbert)
* Thunder Ice Arena (Trine)

Championships and Awards|

* NCHA Men's Tournament

* Harris Cup

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division III ice hockey conferences

Men|

* Conference of New England
* Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Middle Atlantic Conferences
* Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* New England Hockey Conference
* New England Small College Athletic Conference
* Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
* State University of New York Athletic Conference
* United Collegiate Hockey Conference
* Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* Independents

Women|

* Conference of New England
* Middle Atlantic Conferences
* Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* New England Hockey Conference
* New England Small College Athletic Conference
* Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
* State University of New York Athletic Conference
* United Collegiate Hockey Conference
* Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

NCAA|

* College ice hockey
* NCAA Division III
* Championships: Men / Women

Former|

* Colonial Hockey Conference
* ECAC West
* ECAC Northeast
* Northeast Women's Hockey League

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