NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)

Location of Division I
hockey independents

NCAA Division I independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA ice hockey but are not members of a conference. There are several current schools who, at one time or another, competed as Division I independents.

Current independent programs

Men

InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentYearsPrimary Conference
Arizona State UniversitySun Devils[1]Tempe, Arizona1885Public50,2462015–presentPac-12 Conference

The Sun Devils moved up from club hockey in the ACHA to full varsity status. Arizona State began playing a full Division I schedule in 2016–17.

Women

One of the current five women's independent programs, Sacred Heart, has competed as such since the 2003–04 season, when the Pioneers moved up from Division III (where they were a member of the ECAC East) in 2003. Its men's team plays in Atlantic Hockey, which does not sponsor women's hockey.

The other four current women's independents all began play at the National Collegiate level in the 2017–18 season. All except Post, which did not launch its program until 2016–17, had been members of the ECAC East before becoming founding members of the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) in 2015.

Franklin Pierce played its first varsity season in 2012–13. The Ravens played their first two seasons as an independent before joining ECAC East in 2014 and moving to the NEHC in 2015.[2]

Post played its first varsity season in 2016–17, competing as a de facto Division III independent (though not eligible for postseason play).[3]

Saint Anselm has played varsity women's hockey since 2004–05. It began as an ECAC East member, also moving to the NEHC in 2015.[4]

Saint Michael's launched its women's program in 2001–02 as an ECAC East member, also moving to the NEHC in 2015.[5]

All of the current women's independents participate in a scheduling agreement known as the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA), which was established in advance of the 2017–18 season. The NEWHA also initially included Holy Cross, but that school joined the Hockey East women's league for 2018–19 and beyond. With LIU Brooklyn launching a varsity women's hockey program in 2019–20 and joining the NEWHA, the alliance has announced its intent to become an official NCAA conference at that time.[6]

InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentYearsPrimary Conference
Sacred Heart UniversityPioneers[7]Fairfield, Connecticut1963Private7,4652003–presentNortheast Conference
Franklin Pierce UniversityRavensRindge, New Hampshire1962Private2,3812017–presentNortheast-10 Conference (Div. II)
Post UniversityEaglesWaterbury, Connecticut1890Private7,0592017–presentCentral Atlantic Collegiate Conference (Div. II)
Saint Anselm CollegeHawksManchester, New Hampshire1889Private1,9682017–presentNortheast-10 Conference (Div. II)
Saint Michael's CollegePurple KnightsColchester, Vermont1904Private2,3162017–presentNortheast-10 Conference (Div. II)

Current programs which were at one point independent

Men

SchoolYearsSubsequent conferenceNotes
Air Force Falcons[8]1968–1999CHAJoined Atlantic Hockey in 2006
Alabama–Huntsville Chargers[9]1987–1992
1998–1999
2010–2013
Division II
CHA
WCHA
The Chargers first competed as a Division I independent between stints in Division II. After winning 2 championships and finishing as runners-up twice more, UAH returned to Division I in 1998, spending one season as an independent before becoming a charter member of College Hockey America. Following the demise of the men's side of CHA, and being denied entry to the CCHA,[10] the Chargers were independent for three seasons (2010–11 to 2012–13)[11] until joining the Western Collegiate Hockey Association beginning in the 2013–14 season.[12]
Alaska–Anchorage Seawolves[13]1984–1985
1988–1993
GWHC
WCHA
The Seawolves competed as an independent following the demise of the Great West Hockey Conference. The school joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1993. UAA received NCAA tournament bids in 1990, 1991, and 1992 while an independent.
Alaska–Fairbanks Nanooks[14]1925–1926
1932–1973
1988–1994
dropped program
Division II
CCHA
The Nanooks re-joined Division I in 1985 in the Great West Hockey Conference, and went independent following the conference's demise. They joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 1994. Joined the WCHA in 2013.
Army Black Knights[15]1903–1961
1991–1999
ECAC
CHA
Joined Atlantic Hockey in 2000
Bemidji State Beavers[16]1947–1950dropped programBemidji returned to Division I in 1999 as a charter member of College Hockey America, and moved to the WCHA for 2010–11.
Boston College Eagles[17]1917–1961ECACCurrently competes in Hockey East
Boston University Terriers[18]1917–1943
1945–1961
suspended program
ECAC
Currently competes in Hockey East
Brown Bears[19]1897–1961ECAC
Clarkson Golden Knights[20]1920–1950Tri-State LeagueClarkson was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
Colgate Raiders[21]1915–1917
1920–1950
1957–1961
dropped program
Tri-State League
ECAC
Colgate dropped their program in 1951 due to the lack of an indoor facility but returned to the ice in 1957.
Colorado College Tigers[22]1937–1951
1958–1959
MCHL
WCHA
Joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in 2013
Cornell Big Red[23]1900–1901
1902–1903
1906–1916
1920–1931
1933–1948
1957–1961
dropped program
dropped program
suspended program
dropped program
dropped program
ECAC
Dartmouth Big Green[24]1905–1918
1919–1961
suspended program
ECAC
Denver Pioneers[25]1949–1951
1958–1959
MCHL
WCHA
Joined the NCHC in 2013
Harvard Crimson[26]1897–1917
1918–1943
1945–1961
suspended program
suspended program
ECAC
UMass Minutemen[27]1908–1939
1947–1951
1953–1961
1993–1994
dropped program
dropped program
Division II
Hockey East
Dropped program from 1979 until 1993
Merrimack Warriors[28]1984–1989Hockey EastMoved up from Division II in 1984. Merrimack received an NCAA tournament invitation in 1988 while an independent.
Miami RedHawks[29]1978–1980CCHAJoined the NCHC in 2013
Michigan Wolverines[30]1922–1951MCHLWas also a member of the Big Ten from 1958 through 1981. Moved to CCHA in 1981. Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Michigan State Spartans[31]1921–1930
1949–1951
dropped program
MCHL
Was also a member of the Big Ten from 1958 through 1981. Moved to CCHA in 1981. Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Michigan Tech Huskies[32]1919–1951
1958–1959
MCHL
WCHA
Played in the CCHA from 1981–84. Re-joined the WCHA in 1984
Minnesota Golden Gophers[33]1921–1951MCHLWas also a member of the Big Ten from 1958 through 1981. Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013
Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs[34]1930–1932
1946–1965
dropped program
WCHA
Joined the NCHC in 2013
Minnesota State Mavericks[35]1996–1999WCHAafter moving up from Division II and before joining the WCHA.
New Hampshire Wildcats[36]1924–1961ECACCurrently competes in Hockey East
Niagara Purple Eagles[37]1997–1999CHANiagara began varsity hockey in 1997, and became a charter member of the CHA in 1999. They moved to Atlantic Hockey for 2010–11.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks[38]1929–1936
1946–1951
1958–1959
dropped program
MCHL
WCHA
Joined the NCHC in 2013
Northeastern Huskies[39]1929–1961ECACCurrently competes in Hockey East
Northern Michigan Wildcats[40]1976–1977CCHAJoined the WCHA in 2013
Notre Dame Fighting Irish[41]1912–1927
1968–1971
1984–1991
dropped program
WCHA
CCHA
Left the CCHA in 2013 for Hockey East.
Ohio State Buckeyes[42]1963–1971
1973–1975
CCHA
CCHA
Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013
Penn State Nittany Lions2012–2013Big TenIn September 2010, Penn State announced they would add men's and women's NCAA Division I hockey programs in 2012, competing in their first season as an independent.[43] In March 2011, the Big Ten Conference announced that Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State would leave the CCHA, and Minnesota and Wisconsin announced that they would leave the WCHA to form a Big Ten hockey conference to begin play in the 2013–14 season.[44]
Princeton Tigers[45]1900–1961ECAC
Providence Friars[46]1926–1927
1952–1954
1955–1961
dropped program
Northeast League
ECAC
Currently competes in Hockey East
RPI Engineers[47]1901–1950Tri-State LeagueRensselaer was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
RIT Tigers[48]2005–2006Atlantic HockeyPlayed first year of its probation period after joining Division I as an independent.
Sacred Heart Pioneers[49]1993–1998MAAC
St. Cloud State Huskies[50]1931–1942
1987–1990
dropped program
WCHA
Dropped their program during World War II, resumed in 1946 in Division II. Joined the NCHC in 2013.
St. Lawrence Saints[51]1925–1930
1938–1950
dropped program
Tri-State League

St. Lawrence was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.

Union Dutchmen[52]1903–1949dropped programSuspended their program from 1949–1975, resumed in Division III, before moving back to Division I in the ECAC in 1991.
Wisconsin Badgers[53]1921–1935
1963–1969
dropped program
WCHA
Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013
Yale Bulldogs[54]1895–1961ECACYale is the oldest active NCAA program.

Women

SchoolYearsSubsequent conferenceNotes
Clarkson Golden Knights[55]2003–2004ECACPlayed the first year of their program as an independent before joining the ECAC
Connecticut Huskies[56]2000–2001ECACPlayed the first year of their program as an independent before joining the ECAC, and moving to Hockey East in 2002.
Holy Cross Crusaders[57]2017–2018Hockey EastAfter playing as a de facto Division III program from the varsity program's creation in 1999–2000, joined the New England Women's Hockey Alliance at its formation in 2017–18 before moving to Hockey East the following season.
Lindenwood Lady Lions2011–2012CHAThe university competed as an independent for the 2011–12 season during the transition process of joining the NCAA from NAIA, during which, the team was reclassifying from ACHA Division I to NCAA Division I. Lindenwood placed an application in Fall 2011 and was accepted as a member of CHA starting in the 2012–13 season.[58]
Quinnipiac Bobcats[59]2002–2004CHALeft the ECAC after 2002 and spent two years playing as an independent before joining the CHA. They returned to the ECAC after one season in the CHA.
RPI Engineers[60]2005–2006ECACMoved up from Division III (where they were a member of the ECAC East) in 2005.

Defunct teams

Men

SchoolYearsSubsequent conferenceNotes
Carnegie Tech Tartans[61]1905–1910
1920–1921
dropped program
dropped program
Kent State Golden Flashes [62]1985–1992CCHAProgram folded in 1994.
Illinois Fighting Illini[63]1937–1943dropped program
UIC Flames[64]1981–1982CCHAMoved up from Division II in 1981. Program folded in 1996.
MIT Engineers[65]1906–1961ECACThe program joined the lower-tier division in 1964 and was dropped in 1975.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks[66][67]1980–1985GWHCFolded their program after one season in the GWHC.
Penn Quakers[68]1898–1901
1908–1911
1919–1924
1928–1929
1939–1942
1958–1967
dropped program
dropped program
dropped program
dropped program
dropped program
ECAC
Program ended after the 1977-78 season.
Pittsburgh Panthers[69]1896–1909Intercollegiate Leaguevarsity hockey was played intermittently from at least 1896, varsity program dropped presumably around 1916, if not earlier.
Saint Louis Billikens[70]1970–1971CCHASt. Louis was a founding member of the CCHA and continued with the conference until the program was demoted to club status in 1979.
They currently play as an unrecognized Division II team.
Syracuse Orange[71]1911–1913
1923–1928
1939–1940
dropped program
dropped program
dropped program
U.S. International Gulls[67][72]1979–1985GWHCDropped their program in 1988.
Villanova Wildcats[73][74]1929–1932dropped programReturned as a Division III team and later dropped their program again after the 1997–1998 season for Title IX reasons.

Women

SchoolYearsSubsequent conferenceNotes
North Dakota Fighting Hawks[75]2002–2004WCHAPlayed the first years of their program as an independent before joining the WCHA. Dropped women's ice hockey after the 2016–17 season.[76]

See also

References

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  2. "Women's Ice Hockey Archives". Franklin Pierce Ravens. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  3. "Post University Women's Ice Hockey Announces Schedule For Inaugural 2016-17 Season" (Press release). Post Eagles. June 6, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  4. "Saint Anselm College Women's Ice Hockey Record Book, 2004–05 — 2016–17" (PDF). Saint Anselm Hawks. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  5. "Saint Michael's College Women's Ice Hockey Record Book" (PDF). Saint Michael's Purple Knights. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
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