National Collegiate Hockey Conference
Encyclopedia
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) is an NCAA
men's division I hockey conference, announced on July 9, 2011, by six schools. Formed by a combination of WCHA
teams and two CCHA
teams, the league will begin conference play for the 2013–2014 season, the same season that the Big Ten Conference
will begin competition. At a July 13, 2011 press conference at the Penrose House, the name of the conference was announced. On August 23, 2011 the league announced that it would be headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado
. The league is still working on naming a commissioner and courting other teams.
teams to six – the college hockey landscape was shaken. Some of the remaining teams of the soon to be diminished WCHA
(having lost the Minnesota Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers
in the future) and the CCHA
(having lost the Michigan Wolverines
, the Michigan State Spartans
, and Ohio State Buckeyes
in the future) began talks to form a league that would ensure their survival as financially strong and successful programs.
These talks were first revealed by Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald
on July 1, 2011, leading to speculation over what teams would be considered and what the impact of this league was on the rest of the college hockey landscape. On July 9, 2011, the athletic directors of the six founding schools, Colorado College
, the University of Denver
, Miami University
(Ohio), the University of Minnesota Duluth
, the University of Nebraska Omaha
, and the University of North Dakota
, confirmed these reports by announcing the conference officially and giving the date for a press conference for further information on July 13, 2011.
At the July 13, 2011 press conference, Brian Faison, athletic director of the University of North Dakota
, and one of the main speakers said that the motivation for this conference was to put teams together that "have displayed a high level of competitiveness on the ice, [have] an institutional commitment to compete at the highest level within Division I, provide a national platform for exposure, and have wonderful history and tradition within their institution and hockey programs."
On September 22, 2011, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan
accepted invitations to join the NCHC.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
men's division I hockey conference, announced on July 9, 2011, by six schools. Formed by a combination of WCHA
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
teams and two CCHA
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
teams, the league will begin conference play for the 2013–2014 season, the same season that the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
will begin competition. At a July 13, 2011 press conference at the Penrose House, the name of the conference was announced. On August 23, 2011 the league announced that it would be headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
. The league is still working on naming a commissioner and courting other teams.
History
When the Big Ten Hockey Conference was announced on March 21, 2011 – Penn State having added a hockey team to bring the total Big TenBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
teams to six – the college hockey landscape was shaken. Some of the remaining teams of the soon to be diminished WCHA
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
(having lost the Minnesota Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
in the future) and the CCHA
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
(having lost the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
, the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
, and Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
in the future) began talks to form a league that would ensure their survival as financially strong and successful programs.
These talks were first revealed by Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald
Grand Forks Herald
The Grand Forks Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper, begun in 1879, published in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is the primary daily paper for northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Its average daily circulation is 34,763 on Sundays and 31,524 on weekdays...
on July 1, 2011, leading to speculation over what teams would be considered and what the impact of this league was on the rest of the college hockey landscape. On July 9, 2011, the athletic directors of the six founding schools, Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
, the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(Ohio), the University of Minnesota Duluth
University of Minnesota Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth is a regional branch of the University of Minnesota system located in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. As Duluth's public research university, UMD offers 13 bachelor's degrees in 74 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a two-year program at the School of...
, the University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
, and the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, confirmed these reports by announcing the conference officially and giving the date for a press conference for further information on July 13, 2011.
At the July 13, 2011 press conference, Brian Faison, athletic director of the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, and one of the main speakers said that the motivation for this conference was to put teams together that "have displayed a high level of competitiveness on the ice, [have] an institutional commitment to compete at the highest level within Division I, provide a national platform for exposure, and have wonderful history and tradition within their institution and hockey programs."
On September 22, 2011, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
accepted invitations to join the NCHC.
Future members
The league will have eight member schools in it.Institution | Location | Founded | Will join | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | NCAA championships |
Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado College Colorado College The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell... |
Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado... |
1874 | 2013 | Private | 1,950 | Tigers Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey The Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Colorado College. The Tigers are a member of Western Collegiate Hockey Association... |
2 | SCAC Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference , founded in 1962, is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas... (D-III) |
University of Denver University of Denver The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings.... |
Denver, Colorado | 1864 | 2013 | Private | 5,455 | Pioneers Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey The University of Denver Men's Hockey Program has been playing NCAA Division I hockey since 1949. Pioneer Hockey is one of the most successful hockey programs in the history of collegiate hockey. The Pioneers rank second in all-time NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championships with 7. Only the University... |
7 | Sun Belt Conference Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions... (WAC Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... in 2012) |
Miami University Miami University Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S... |
Oxford, Ohio Oxford, Ohio Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford... |
1809 | 2013 | Public | 15,726 | Redhawks Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey The Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Miami University. The RedHawks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association... |
0 | MAC Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members... |
University of Minnesota Duluth University of Minnesota Duluth The University of Minnesota Duluth is a regional branch of the University of Minnesota system located in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. As Duluth's public research university, UMD offers 13 bachelor's degrees in 74 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a two-year program at the School of... |
Duluth, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1947 | 2013 | Public | 10,500 | Bulldogs | 1 | Northern Sun Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. Nine of its members are in Minnesota, with two members in South Dakota and one member each in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. It participates in the NCAA's... (D-II) |
University of Nebraska-Omaha University of Nebraska at Omaha The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University... |
Omaha, Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... |
1908 | 2013 | Public | 14,903 | Mavericks Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey The Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents University of Nebraska-Omaha. The Mavericks are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association . They play home games at the CenturyLink... |
0 | The Summit (in 2012) |
University of North Dakota University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ... |
Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461... |
1883 | 2013 | Public | 14,000 | Fighting Sioux | 7 | Big Sky Big Sky Conference The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,... |
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud State University St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher... |
St. Cloud, Minnesota St. Cloud, Minnesota St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County... |
1869 | 2013 | Public | 17,073 | Huskies St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey The St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents St. Cloud State University. The Huskies are a member of Western Collegiate Hockey Association. They play at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud,... |
0 | Northern Sun Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. Nine of its members are in Minnesota, with two members in South Dakota and one member each in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. It participates in the NCAA's... (D-II) |
Western Michigan University Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
Kalamazoo, Michigan Kalamazoo, Michigan The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to... |
1903 | 2013 | Public | 25,045 | Broncos Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association... |
0 | MAC Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members... |
Conference arenas
When the National Collegiate Hockey Conference begins play in 2013–2014, it will boast some of the largest and most modern arenas in college hockey.School | Hockey arena | Year built | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Colorado College Tigers | World Arena | 1998 | 7,343 |
Denver Pioneers | Magness Arena Magness Arena Magness Arena is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose collegiate sports arena in Denver, Colorado. It was built from 1997 to 1999 as part of the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness, a $84 million, sports complex at the University of Denver. It is home to the University of Denver Pioneers ice... |
1999 | 6,026 |
Miami University RedHawks | Goggin Ice Center Goggin Ice Center Goggin Ice Center is a multi-purpose sports facility in Oxford, Ohio serving the Miami University community. It replaces the Goggin Ice Arena. Like its predecessor, it is named for Lloyd Goggin, former school vice president who was instrumental in building the original ice arena."The Goggin"... |
2006 | 3,842 |
Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs | AMSOIL Arena | 2010 | 6,732 |
Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks | CenturyLink Center Omaha | 2003 | 16,500 |
North Dakota Fighing Sioux | Ralph Engelstad Arena Ralph Engelstad Arena For the arena with the same name in Thief River Falls, Minnesota see Ralph Engelstad Arena .For the pre-2001 arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota see Ralph Engelstad Arena .... |
2001 | 11,640 |
St Cloud State Huskies | National Hockey Center National Hockey Center The National Hockey Center is a 5,763-seat hockey arena in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is home to the St. Cloud State University Huskies men's & women's ice hockey teams, and the Saint John's University Johnnies ice hockey team. The main rink is now named for former SCSU President Brendan J.... |
1989 | 5,763 |
Western Michigan Broncos | Lawson Arena Lawson Arena Harry W. Lawson Ice Arena is a 3,667-seat multi-purpose arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The arena's first game was on November 15, 1974 against Algoma University College of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. It is home to the Western Michigan University Broncos ice hockey team.The building is... |
1974 | 3,667 |
See also
- Western Collegiate Hockey AssociationWestern Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
- Central Collegiate Hockey AssociationCentral Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
- Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...