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