Upstate New York Club Hockey League

American collegiate hockey league

Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League (UNYCHL)

Conference| CHF
Founded| 2006
Commissioner| Jon Marchese (since 2017)
Sports fielded|

* Men's ice hockey

Division| Division II
No. of teams| 26
Headquarters| Syracuse, New York
Region| Northeast
Most recent
champion(s)| Tier 1: Buffalo Bulls (2nd title)
Tier 2: NCCC ThunderWolves (2nd title)
Most titles| LeMoyne College
(4 titles)
Official website| Official website
Tier 2 website

The Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League is a college ice hockey league comprising teams from smaller colleges and universities in and near Upstate New York that is affiliated with the Collegiate Hockey Federation (CHF). The league is based in New York State and has a majority of teams competing in-state along with some from neighboring Pennsylvania and Vermont.

## History[edit]

The league was founded by Andrew Musto in 2006 with the purpose of creating a league that is a low-cost alternative to higher cost leagues. As of 2017 the league fee per team is $300. League fees are used for playoff ice time, referee fees, scorekeepers, and awards.

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Musto stepped down as commissioner and appointed Jon Marchese the new commissioner. The UNYCHL opened its 11th season with the biggest expansion in its history. The league grew to 23 teams with the additions of SUNY Albany, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, Clarkson University, Niagara County Community College, Binghamton University and Syracuse University as well as the return of Alfred State College, Hilbert College and SUNY Canton. In addition the league was organized into three divisions based on geography to cut down travel.

Before the 2019–20 season, the league left the ACHA and has joined the Collegiate Hockey Federation.

The league also organizes a second-tier league called UNYCHL Tier 2, which launched with the 2018–19 season. This tier is for new programs in an effort to "provide local area teams an avenue to play competitive hockey while minimizing budgetary impacts and reducing travel costs."[1] UNYCHL T2 holds ten teams which compete among one another for a separate league championship.

## Members[edit]

### Tier 1[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Year
Joined  | Nickname  | Championships  | Home Rink

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

East Division
Hamilton College | Clinton, New York | 1793  | Private  | 1,872  | 2010  | Continentals | 2010, 2018  | Sage Rink-Delaney Team Center
Le Moyne College | Syracuse, New York | 1946  | Private  | 2,761  | 2006  | Dolphins | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012  | Meachem Ice Rink
SUNY Albany | Albany, New York | 1844  | Public  | 19,000  | 2017  | Great Danes |  | Albany County Hockey Facility
Union College | Schenectady, New York | 1795  | Private  | 2,194  | 2012  | Dutchmen |  | The Frank L. Messa Rink at Achilles Center
Central Division
Clarkson University | Potsdam, New York | 1896  | Private  | 4,300  | 2017  | Golden Knights |  | Cheel Arena
Binghamton University | Vestal, New York | 1946  | Public Research University  | 17,292  | 2017  | Bearcats |  | SUNY Broome Ice Center
Ithaca College | Ithaca, New York | 1892  | Private  | 6,969  | 2015  | Bombers |  | The Rink
SUNY Cortland | Cortland, New York | 1868  | Public  | 6,858  |  | Red Dragons |  |
Metro Division
Erie Community College | Williamsville, New York | 1946  | Community College  | 13,649  | 2018  | Kats  | 2019  | Cheektowaga Recreation Ice Arena
Niagara University | Lewiston, New York | 1856  | Private  | 3,763  | 2020  | Purple Eagles |  | Dwyer Arena
St. John Fisher University | Pittsford, New York | 1948  | Private  | 2,871  | 2013  | Cardinals | 2007  | Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex
SUNY Brockport | Brockport, New York | 1867  | Public  | 8,742  | 2013  | Golden Eagles |  | The Tuttle North Ice Arena
University at Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | 1846  | Public  | 19,951  | 2014  | Bulls | 2015, 2020  | Northtown Center
University of Rochester | Rochester, New York | 1850  | Private  | 6,304  | 2014  | Yellowjackets | 2014, 2016  | Genesee Valley Sports Complex
West Division
Alfred State College | Alfred, New York | 1908  | Public  | 3,500  | 2017  | Pioneers  | 2019  | Olean Recreation Center
Buffalo State College | Buffalo, New York | 1871  | Public  | 11,000  | 2018  | Bengals |  | Buffalo State Ice Arena
Canisius College | Buffalo, New York | 1870  | Private  | 3,464  |  | Golden Griffins |  |
Penn State Behrend | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1948  | Public  | 5,050  | 2018  | Lions  |  | Mercyhurst Ice Center
St. Bonaventure | Allegany, New York | 1858  | Private  | 1,627  | 2018  | Bonnies  |  | William O. Smith Recreation Center
SUNY Fredonia | Fredonia, New York | 1826  | Public  | 5,100  | 2018  | Blue Devils |  | Steele Hall Ice Arena

### Tier 2[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Year
Joined  | Nickname  | Championships  | Home Rink

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

East Division
ACPHS | Albany, New York | 1881  | Private  | 1,392  | 2015  | Panthers  |  | Albany Academy Field House
SUNY Canton | Canton, New York | 1906  | Public  | 3,550  | 2017  | Roos |  | SUNY Canton Roos House
SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta, New York | 1889  | Public  | 8,000  | 2006  | Red Dragons |  | Alumni Field House
Paul Smith's College | Paul Smiths, New York | 1946  | Private  | 1,000  | 2018  | Bobcat  |  | Saranac Lake Civic Center
West Division
Alfred State College | Alfred, New York | 1908  | Public  | 3,500  | 2017  | Pioneers  | 2019  | Olean Recreation Center
Geneseo | Geneseo, New York | 1871  | Public  | 5,240  | 2021  | Knights |  | Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena (Merritt Athletic Center)
Medaille College | Buffalo, New York | 1937  | Private  | 2,600  | 2018  | Mavericks |  | Dann Memorial Rink at Nichols School
Niagara County Community College | Sanborn, New York | 1962  | Community College  | 5,892  | 2017  | Thunder Wolves  | 2020, 2022  | Hyde Park Ice Pavilion
St. John Fisher University | Pittsford, New York | 1948  | Private  | 2,871  | 2013  | Cardinals | 2007  | Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex
Gannon University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1925  | Public  | 3,432  | 2017  | Golden Knights |  | Erie Insurance Arena
Mercyhurst University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1926  | Public  | 4,363  | 2021  | Lakers |  | Mercyhurst Ice Center
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford | Bradford, Pennsylvania | 1963  | Public  | 1,564  | 2021  | Panthers |  | Callahan Ice Rink

### Former Members[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Year(s)
Played  | Nickname  | Championships

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Cazenovia College | Cazenovia, New York | 1824  | Private  | 1,000  | 2007-2012  | Wildcats |
D'Youville University | Buffalo, New York | 1908  | Private  | 3,000  | 2011-2015  | Spartans |
Hilbert College | Hamburg, New York | 1957  | Private/Catholic  | 1,089  | 2011-2015  | Hawks |
Utica College | Utica, New York | 1946  | Private  | 3,084  |  | Pioneers |
St. Lawrence University | Canton, New York | 1856  | Private  | 2,398  |  | Saints |
Hobart College | Geneva, New York | 1822  | Private  | 1,928  | 2013-2017  | Statesmen | 2017
Onondaga Community College | Syracuse, New York | 1961  | Community  | 12,000  | 2013-2019  | Lazers  |
Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, New York | 1903  | Private  | 2,500  | 2013-2019  | Thoroughbreds |
SUNY Geneseo | Geneseo, New York | 1871  | Public  | 4,950  | 2013-2019  | Knights |
Gannon University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1925  | Private Non-Profit  | 4,412  | 2017-2019  | Golden Knights  |
Mercyhurst University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1926  | Private University  | 4,400  | 2017-2019  | Lakers |
Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | 1870  | Private research university  | 21,970  | 2017-2019  | Orange |
Colgate University | Hamilton, New York | 1819  | Private  | 3,000  | 2018-2019  | Raiders |
Castleton University | Castleton, Vermont | 1789  | Public  | 2,100  | 2018-2019  | Spartans |

### Timeline[edit]

## Seasons[edit]

Season  | No. of
teams  | Top regular season record  | Playoff Champion

|
|
|

2006–07 |  |  | St. John Fisher Cardinals
2007–08 |  |  | Le Moyne Dolphins
2008–09 |  |  | Le Moyne Dolphins
2009–10 | 6 | Hamilton Continentals (8–1–1) | Hamilton Continentals
2010–11 | 6 | Le Moyne Dolphins (9–1–0) | Le Moyne Dolphins
2011–12 | 7 | Le Moyne Dolphins (12–0–0) | Le Moyne Dolphins
2012–13 | 14 | Le Moyne Dolphins (10–1–1) | Canton Kangaroos
2013-14 |  |  | University of Rochester/Nazareth College
2014-15 | 16 | Le Moyne and St. John Fisher College (12-2-0) | University at Buffalo
2015-16 | 14  |  | University of Rochester/Nazareth College
2016-17 | 14 | Skidmore (10-2-0) | Hobart College
2017-18 | 23 | SUNY Geneseo and University of Rochester (10-2-0) | Hamilton Continentals
2018-19  | Tier 1: 21

Tier 2: 10

| Tier 1: Clarkson University (8-0-0)

Tier 2: Alfred State (7-0-0-1)

| Tier 1: Erie Community College

Tier 2: Alfred State

2019-20  | Tier 1: 21

Tier 2: 10

| Tier 1: St Bonaventure (11-0-0)

Tier 2: ACPHS (8-0-0)

| Tier 1: University at Buffalo

Tier 2: Niagara County Community College

### 2015 Playoffs[edit]

The 2015 UNYCHL Playoffs were played February 20–22 at the home rink of each #1 and #2 seeds and 27th and 28th at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga, New York.

| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | Finals |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 1 | St. John Fisher College | 4 | | |
| 4 | SUNY Brockport | 3 |
| | 1 | LeMoyne College | 1 |
|  |
| | | 2 | University at Buffalo | 6 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo | 7 |

| 3 | University of Rochester | 6 |
| | 1 | St. John Fisher College | 3 |
|  |
| | | 2 | University at Buffalo | 4 (OT) |
| 1 | LeMoyne College | 6 | |

| 4 | Skidmore College | 4 |
| | 1 | St. John Fisher College | 4 |
|  |
| | | 2 | Hamilton College | 2 |
| 2 | Hamilton College | 5 |

| 3 | Union College | 3 |

### 2016 Playoffs[edit]

| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | Finals |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 1 | University of Rochester | 9 | | |
| 4 | SUNY Geneseo | 2 |
| | 1 | University of Rochester | 10 |
|  |
| | | 3 | Union College | 6 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo | 3 |

| 3 | St. John Fisher College | 1 |
| | 1 | University of Rochester | 7 (OT) |
|  |
| | | 2 | Hamilton College | 6 |
| 1 | Hamilton College | 6 | |

| 4 | Onondaga Community College | 3 |
| | 1 | Hamilton College | 4 |
|  |
| | | 2 | University at Buffalo | 0 |
| 2 | LeMoyne College | 2 |

| 3 | Union College | 5 |

### 2017 Playoffs[edit]

| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | Finals |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 1 | University at Buffalo | 5 | | |
| 4 | SUNY Geneseo | 1 |
| | 1 | Skidmore College | 4 |
|  |
| | | 3 | Hobart College | 9 |
| 2 | University of Rochester | 5 |

| 3 | Hobart College | 9 |
| | 1 | University at Buffalo | 2 |
|  |
| | | 3 | Hobart College | 3 |
| 1 | Skidmore College | 8 | |

| 4 | LeMoyne College | 5 |
| | 1 | University at Buffalo | 5 |
|  |
| | | 2 | Union College | 4 |
| 2 | Union College | 9 |

| 3 | St. Lawrence University | 3 |

## Awards[edit]

### Coach of the Year[edit]

Year  | Coach  | Team  | Division  | Coach  | Team  | Division

|
|
|
|
|
|

2007  | Andrew Musto  | LeMoyne College
2008  | Henry Gaspe  | Cazenvovia College
2009  | Andrew Musto  | LeMoyne College
2010  | Andrew Musto  | LeMoyne College
2011  | April Harper  | SUNY Oneonta
2012  | Bob Shattell  | LeMoyne College
2013  | Zachary Schwann  | Skidmore College
2014  | Jim Doersam  | University at Buffalo  | West  | Matt McDermott  | Union College  | East
2015  | Randy Smallridge  | St. John Fisher College  | West  | Bob Shattell  | LeMoyne College  | East
2016  | Justin Niebel  | University of Rochester  | West  | Charlie Boynton  | Onondaga Community College  | East
2017  | Edd Kirchberger  | University at Buffalo  | West  | Matt McDermott  | Union College  | East

### League MVP[edit]

Year  | Player  | Team  | Division  | Player  | Team  | Division

|
|
|
|
|
|

2007  | Matt Selover  | St. John Fisher College
2008  | Dan Deacon  | LeMoyne College
2009  | Dan Deacon  | LeMoyne College
2010  | Bob Shattell  | LeMoyne College
2011  | Leif Catania & Aaron Srebnik  | Skidmore College
2012  | Eric Manley  | LeMoyne College
2013  | Justin Cunningham  | LeMoyne College
2014  | Brett Barton  | University of Rochester  | West  | Charlie Gawne  | Union College  | East
2015  | Andrew Simonelli  | St. John Fisher College  | West  | Garrett Ordway  | LeMoyne College  | East
2016  | Steve Sachman  | SUNY Brockport  | West  | Matt Morgia  | ACPHS  | East
2017  | Ryan Peterson  | University of Rochester  | West  | Luc Chatelin  | Skidmore College  | East

### Playoff MVP[edit]

Year  | Player  | Team  | Division

|
|
|

2014  | Brett Barton  | University of Rochester  | West
2015  | Adam Oetinger  | University at Buffalo  | West
2016  | Kyle Schwartz  | University of Rochester  | West
2017  | Zach McCloskey  | Hobart College  | West
2019  | Sean Kross  | Erie Community College  | Metro
2020  | Ryan O'Donnell  | University at Buffalo  | Metro

## Records[edit]

### Team Records[edit]

Least Penalty Minutes in a Season
60 - Skidmore College - 2015-2016
Team Goals Against Average in a Season
2.50 - LeMoyne College - 2014-2015
Team Goals For in a Season
123 - Hamilton College - 2014-2015

* These records began tracking at the beginning of the 2014 - 2015 season.

### Individual Records[edit]

Most points in a Season
42 - Matt Morgia - ACPHS - 2015-2016
Most Goals in a Season
25 - Andrew Tullo - Union College - 2015-2016
Most Assists in a Season
20 - Matt Morgia - ACPHS - 2015-2016

* These records began tracking at the beginning of the 2014 - 2015 season.

## See also[edit]

* National Collegiate Hockey Association
* National Association of Intercollegiate Hockey
* List of ice hockey leagues

## References[edit]

1. ^ "About Us". unychlt2.com. Retrieved 2019-02-25.

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American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2

* Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL)
* Big Mountain Hockey Conference (BMHC)
* Colonial States College Hockey Conference (CSCHC)
* Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA)
* Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACH)
* Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League (MWCHL)
* Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA)
* Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL)
* Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (PAC-8)
* Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association (PCHA)
* Super East Collegiate Hockey League (SECHL)
* Texas Collegiate Hockey Conference (TCHC)
* Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL)
* West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC)
* Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA)

* ACHA
* List of champions

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