NCAA Division III women's ice hockey

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NCAA Division III women's ice hockey is a college ice hockey competition governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as part of the NCAA Division III (DIII or D3). Sixty-seven teams competed in NCAA Division III women’s hockey across eight conferences in the 2019–20 season.

Conferences[]

Conference affiliations and the conferences themselves experienced numerous changes in the later part of the 2010s. The most substantial alterations occurred with the founding of the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) in 2015 and the folding of ECAC West in 2017, which precipitated the creation of the Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) in the same year. The conferences and affiliations presented below are accurate through the 2019–20 season.[1]

A conference with seven or more affiliated programs automatically qualifies for the NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey Tournament.[2] In practice, the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) are the only conferences that do not receive automatic bids for the tournament.

The Anna Maria Amcats women's ice hockey program of Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts has participated in the NCAA Division III as an independent team (ie. without conference affiliation) since the 2018–19 season.[3]

Colonial Hockey Conference[]

The Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC; previously ECAC North Atlantic) is a women's ice hockey-only conference which operates in New England. As of the 2019–20 season, there are five member programs:

  • Becker College (Hawks) – Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Endicott College (Gulls) – Beverly, Massachusetts
  • Nichols College (Bison) – Dudley, Massachusetts
  • Salve Regina University (Seahawks) – Newport, Rhode Island
  • University of New England (Nor'easters) – Biddeford, Maine

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[]

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) is a college athletic conference located in Minnesota. The women's ice hockey programs that compete in the MIAC include:[4]

  • Augsburg University (Auggies) – Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Bethel University (Royals) – St. Paul, Minnesota
  • College of Saint Benedict (Bennies) – St. Joseph, Minnesota
  • Concordia College (Cobbers) – Moorhead, Minnesota
  • Gustavus Adolphus College (Gusties) – St. Peter, Minnesota
  • Hamline University (Pipers) – St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Saint Mary’s University (Cardinals) – Winona, Minnesota
  • St. Catherine University (Wildcats) – St. Paul, Minnesota
  • St. Olaf College (Oles) – Northfield, Minnesota
  • College of St. Scholastica (Saints) – Duluth, Minnesota

The most recent change to the MIAC membership came after the 2020–21 season, when St. Thomas was expelled from the league and moved to NCAA Division I, joining the Summit League for most sports and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WHCA) in women's ice hockey.[5] St. Thomas was replaced by St. Scholastica.

New England Hockey Conference[]

The New England Hockey Conference (NEHC; previously ECAC East) is an ice hockey-only conference which operates in New England. As of the 2019–20 season, there are nine member programs in the women's division:

  • Castleton University (Spartans) – Castleton, Vermont
  • Johnson & Wales University (Wildcats) – Providence, Rhode Island
  • New England College (Pilgrims) – Henniker, New Hampshire
  • Norwich University (Cadets) – Northfield, Vermont
  • Plymouth State University (Panthers) – Plymouth, New Hampshire
  • Salem State University (Vikings) – Salem, Massachusetts
  • Suffolk University (Rams) – Boston, Massachusetts
  • University of Massachusetts Boston (Beacons) – Boston, Massachusetts
  • University of Southern Maine (Huskies) – Gorham, Maine

New England Small College Athletic Conference[]

The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is a college athletic conference of liberal arts colleges and universities located in New England and New York. The member schools of the NESCAC are often referred to as the “Little Ivies.” The women's ice hockey programs competing in the NESCAC are:[6]

  • Amherst College (Mammoths) – Amherst, Massachusetts
  • Bowdoin College (Polar Bears) – Brunswick, Maine
  • Colby College (Mules) – Waterville, Maine
  • Connecticut College (Camels) – New London, Connecticut
  • Hamilton College (Continentals) – Clinton, New York
  • Middlebury College (Panthers) – Middlebury, Vermont
  • Trinity College (Bantams) – Hartford, Connecticut
  • Wesleyan University (Cardinals) – Middletown, Connecticut
  • Williams College (Ephs) – Williamstown, Massachusetts

Northeast Women's Hockey League[]

The Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL; successor of ECAC West) is a women's ice hockey-only conference comprising seven member schools in New York. It was founded in 2017 by the women's ice hockey teams of five schools in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC); its membership was increased to seven programs in 2019–20. The programs competing in the NEWHL are:

  • Buffalo State College (Bengals) – Buffalo, New York
  • Morrisville State College (Mustangs) – Morrisville, New York
  • State University of New York at Canton (Roos) – Canton, New York
  • State University of New York College at Cortland (Red Dragons) – Cortland, New York
  • State University of New York at Oswego (Lakers) – Oswego, New York
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh (Cardinals) – Plattsburgh, New York
  • State University of New York at Potsdam (Bears) – Potsdam, New York

Northern Collegiate Hockey Association[]

The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) is a hockey-only conference, which operates in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.[7] The women's programs competing in the NCHA are:

  • Adrian College (Bulldogs) – Adrian, Michigan
  • Aurora University (Spartans) – Aurora, Illinois
  • Concordia University Wisconsin (Falcons) – Mequon, Wisconsin
  • Finlandia University (Lions) – Hancock, Michigan
  • Lake Forest College (Foresters) – Lake Forest, Illinois
  • Marian University (Sabres) – Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
  • St. Norbert College (Green Knights) – De Pere, Wisconsin
  • Trine University (Thunder) – Angola, Indiana

United Collegiate Hockey Conference[]

The United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) is a hockey-only conference which operates in the Mid-Atlantic region. The women's programs competing in the UCHC are:

  • Alvernia University (Golden Wolves) – Reading, Pennsylvania
  • Chatham University (Cougars) – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Elmira College (Soaring Eagles) – Elmira, New York
  • King's College (Monarchs) – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
  • Lebanon Valley College (Flying Dutchman) – Annville, Pennsylvania
  • Manhattanville College (Valiants) – Purchase, New York
  • Nazareth College (Golden Flyers) – Rochester, New York
  • Neumann University (Knights) – Aston, Pennsylvania
  • Stevenson University (Mustangs) – Stevenson, Maryland
  • Utica College (Pioneers) – Utica, New York
  • Wilkes University (Colonels) – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
  • William Smith College (Herons) – Geneva, New York

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[]

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is a collegiate athletics conference in Wisconsin, primarily comprising institutions in the University of Wisconsin System. The women's ice hockey programs participating in the WIAC are:

List of champions[]

Year Champion Score Runner-up
2002 Elmira 2–1 Manhattanville
2003 Elmira 5–1 Manhattanville
2004 Middlebury 2–1 UW-Stevens Point
2005 Middlebury 4–3 Elmira
2006 Middlebury 3–1 Plattsburgh
2007 Plattsburgh 2–1 Middlebury
2008 Plattsburgh 3–2 Manhattanville
2009 Amherst 4–3 (OT) Elmira
2010 Amherst 7–2 Norwich
2011 Norwich 5–2 RIT
2012 RIT 4–1 Norwich
2013 Elmira 1–0 Middlebury
2014 Plattsburgh 9–2 Norwich
2015 Plattsburgh 3–2 Elmira
2016 Plattsburgh 5–1 UW–River Falls
2017 Plattsburgh 4–3 (OT) Adrian
2018 Norwich 2–1 Elmira
2019 Plattsburgh 4–0 Hamline
Since 2020 Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2022 Middlebury 3–2 (OT) Gustavus Adolphus

Laura Hurd Award[]

Main article: Laura Hurd Award

The Laura Hurd Award is an annual award given to the top player in NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey as awarded by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Since 2007, it has been named after Laura Hurd, a stand-out player for Elmira College who was killed in a car accident. Previously, it was known as the Division III Women’s Player of the Year Award.[8]

Award winners[]

Year Winner Pos. School
2000 F Middlebury College
2001 F Middlebury College
2002 F Gustavus Adolphus College
2003 F/D Middlebury College
2004 F Williams College
2005 F Elmira College
2006 F Middlebury College
2007 D Gustavus Adolphus College
2008 [9] F SUNY Plattsburgh
2009 F Elmira College
2010 G Trinity College
2011 [10] F Rochester Institute of Technology
2012 [11] F Norwich University
2013 [12] F SUNY Plattsburgh
2014 [13] G SUNY Plattsburgh
2015 [14] F Elmira College
2016 F Lake Forest College
2017 F UW-River Falls
2018 F SUNY Plattsburgh
2019 [15] F Hamline University
2020 Amanda Conway[16] F Norwich University
2021

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Women's Division III Hockey Standings: 2019-2020". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Morrisville, Canton will join NEWHL in 2019-20". Northeast Women's Hockey League (Press release). 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2021-02-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Anna Maria Women's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Women's Ice Hockey Team Pages". Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. Retrieved 2021-02-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Jay, Michelle (2020-07-15). "University of St. Thomas joins the WCHA for 2021-22 season". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ^ "2019-20 Women's Ice Hockey Standings". New England Small College Athletic Conference. Retrieved 2021-02-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "A History of Women's Hockey and the NCHA". Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ^ "AHCA Awards – Laura Hurd Award". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2021-02-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "American Hockey Coaches Association". American Hockey Coaches Association (Press release). Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link]
  10. ^ "Tiger hockey – women and men – set national records at season's end". RIT News. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link]
  11. ^ Dunning, Derek (2012-03-15). "Julie Fortier wins Laura Hurd Award". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Teal Gove of Plattsburgh State is D-III Women's Player of the Year". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link]
  13. ^ "Sydney Aveson wins Laura Hurd Award; Women's All-Americans announced". D3Hockey.com. Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link]
  14. ^ "Ashley Ryan of Elmira is D-III Women's Hockey Player of the Year". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link]
  15. ^ "Hamline's Bre Simon is 2019 Laura Hurd Award Winner as AHCA Division III Women's Player of the Year". American Hockey Coaches Association (Press release). 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2016-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Norwich's Amanda Conway is 2020 Laura Hurd Award Winner As AHCA Division III Women's Player of the Year". American Hockey Coaches Association. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-10-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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