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Map - College Hockey - Independents states

Location of D-I hockey independents

NCAA Division I independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA college 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[]

Institution Team Location Founded Type Enrollment Years Primary Conference
Arizona State University Sun Devils[1] Tempe, Arizona 1885 Public 50,246 2015–present Pac-12 Conference
Long Island University Sharks[2] Brooklyn and Brookville, New York 1926 Private 15,197 2020–present Northeast 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. ASU had expected to join a hockey conference by 2017–18, but no conference move has yet materialized. LIU, which had launched a women's hockey program in 2019–20, added men's hockey for 2020–21. With the 2020–21 season dramatically affected by COVID-19, both teams became scheduling partners of existing Division I hockey conferences for that season. ASU will partner with the Big Ten Conference, playing a road-only schedule of seven games against each of the conference's seven hockey members.[3] LIU will partner with Atlantic Hockey.[4]

Women[]

As of the 2019–20 season, no programs compete as independents in the National Collegiate division of NCAA women's hockey, the de facto equivalent of Division I in that sport.

Five schools competed as independents in the 2018–19 season, all participating in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance, which had been established in 2017 as a scheduling alliance between the then-current National Collegiate independents. The NEWHA had been founded with six members, but Holy Cross left after the alliance's first season to join Hockey East. It formally organized as a conference in 2018–19 with the remaining five members, but was not officially recognized by the NCAA until 2019–20, by which time the newly established LIU women's team had returned the NEWHA membership to six.

Current programs which were at one point independent[]

Men[]

School Years Subsequent conference Notes
Air Force Falcons[5] 1968–1999 CHA Joined Atlantic Hockey in 2006
Alabama–Huntsville Chargers[6] 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,[7] the Chargers were independent for three seasons (2010–11 to 2012–13)[8] until joining the Western Collegiate Hockey Association beginning in the 2013–14 season.[9] UAH dropped the sport in May 2020, but after a successful fundraising drive reinstated the team later that month..
Alaska–Anchorage Seawolves[10] 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[11] 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[12] 1903–1961
1991–1999
ECAC
CHA
Joined Atlantic Hockey in 2000.
Bemidji State Beavers[13] 1947–1950 dropped program Bemidji returned to Division I in 1999 as a charter member of College Hockey America, and moved to the WCHA for 2010–11. Will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
Boston College Eagles[14] 1917–1961 ECAC Currently competes in Hockey East.
Boston University Terriers[15] 1917–1943
1945–1961
suspended program
ECAC
Currently competes in Hockey East.
Brown Bears[16] 1897–1961 ECAC
Clarkson Golden Knights[17] 1920–1950 Tri-State League Clarkson was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
Colgate Raiders[18] 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[19] 1937–1951
1958–1959
MCHL
WCHA
Joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in 2013.
Cornell Big Red[20] 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[21] 1905–1918
1919–1961
suspended program
ECAC
Denver Pioneers[22] 1949–1951
1958–1959
MCHL
WCHA
Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Harvard Crimson[23] 1897–1917
1918–1943
1945–1961
suspended program
suspended program
ECAC
UMass Minutemen[24] 1908–1939
1947–1951
1953–1961
1993–1994
dropped program
dropped program
Division II
Hockey East
Dropped program from 1979 until 1993.
Merrimack Warriors[25] 1984–1989 Hockey East Moved up from Division II in 1984. Merrimack received an NCAA tournament invitation in 1988 while an independent.
Miami RedHawks[26] 1978–1980 CCHA Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Michigan Wolverines[27] 1922–1951 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 State Spartans[28] 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[29] 1919–1951
1958–1959
MCHL
WCHA
Played in the CCHA from 1981–84. Rejoined the WCHA in 1984; will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
Minnesota Golden Gophers[30] 1921–1951 MCHL Was 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[31] 1930–1932
1946–1965
dropped program
WCHA
Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Minnesota State Mavericks[32] 1996–1999 WCHA after moving up from Division II and before joining the WCHA. Will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
New Hampshire Wildcats[33] 1924–1961 ECAC Currently competes in Hockey East.
Niagara Purple Eagles[34] 1997–1999 CHA Niagara 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[35] 1929–1936
1946–1951
1958–1959
dropped program
MCHL
WCHA
Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Northeastern Huskies[36] 1929–1961 ECAC Currently competes in Hockey East.
Northern Michigan Wildcats[37] 1976–1977 CCHA Joined the WCHA in 2013, and will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish[38] 1912–1927
1968–1971
1984–1991
dropped program
WCHA
CCHA
Left the CCHA in 2013 for Hockey East, and joined Big Ten hockey in 2017.
Ohio State Buckeyes[39] 1963–1971
1973–1975
CCHA
CCHA
Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Penn State Nittany Lions 2012–2013 Big Ten In 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.[40] 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.[41]
Princeton Tigers[42] 1900–1961 ECAC
Providence Friars[43] 1926–1927
1952–1954
1955–1961
dropped program
Northeast League
ECAC
Currently competes in Hockey East.
RIT Tigers[44] 2005–2006 Atlantic Hockey Played first year of its probation period after joining Division I as an independent.
RPI Engineers[45] 1901–1950 Tri-State League Rensselaer was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
Sacred Heart Pioneers[46] 1993–1998 MAAC
St. Cloud State Huskies[47] 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[48] 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[49] 1903–1949 dropped program Suspended their program from 1949–1975, resumed in Division III, before moving back to Division I in the ECAC in 1991.
Wisconsin Badgers[50] 1921–1935
1963–1969
dropped program
WCHA
Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Yale Bulldogs[51] 1895–1961 ECAC Yale is the oldest active NCAA program.

Women[]

School Years Subsequent conference Notes
Clarkson Golden Knights[52] 2003–2004 ECAC Played the first year of their program as an independent before joining the ECAC
Franklin Pierce Ravens 2017–2019 NEWHA Moved from the Division III NEHC in 2017, joining the NEWHA. Left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
Holy Cross Crusaders 2017–2018 Hockey East After playing as a de facto Division III program from the varsity program's creation in 1999–2000, joined the NEWHA at its formation in 2017–18 before moving to Hockey East the following season.
Lindenwood Lady Lions 2011–2012 CHA The 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.[53]
Post Eagles 2017–2019 NEWHA Played inaugural women's hockey season of 2016–17 as a Division III independent ineligible for postseason play. Joined the NEWHA at its formation in 2017 and left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
Quinnipiac Bobcats[54] 2002–2004 CHA Left 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[55] 2005–2006 ECAC Moved up from Division III (where they were a member of the ECAC East) in 2005.
Sacred Heart Pioneers 2003–2019 NEWHA Moved from Division III, where they had been a member of ECAC East, in 2003. Left independent status when the NCAA recognized the NEWHA.
Saint Anselm Hawks 2017–2019 NEWHA Moved from the Division III NEHC in 2017, joining the NEWHA. Left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
Saint Michael's Purple Knights 2017–2019 NEWHA Moved from the Division III NEHC in 2017, joining the NEWHA. Left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
UConn Huskies[56] 2000–2001 ECAC Played the first year of their program as an independent before joining the ECAC, and moving to Hockey East in 2002.

Defunct teams[]

Men[]

School Years Subsequent conference Notes
Carnegie Tech Tartans[57] 1905–1910
1920–1921
dropped program
dropped program
Program folded both times. Carnegie Tech merged into Carnegie Mellon University, which has never fielded varsity hockey, in 1967.
Kent State Golden Flashes [58] 1985–1992 CCHA Program folded in 1994.
Illinois Fighting Illini[59] 1937–1943 dropped program
UIC Flames[60] 1981–1982 CCHA Moved up from Division II in 1981. Program folded in 1996.
MIT Engineers[61] 1906–1961 ECAC The program joined the lower-tier division in 1964 and was dropped in 1975.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks[62][63] 1980–1985 GWHC Folded their program after one season in the GWHC.
Penn Quakers[64] 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[65] 1896–1909 Intercollegiate League varsity hockey was played intermittently from at least 1896, varsity program dropped presumably around 1916, if not earlier.
Saint Louis Billikens[66] 1970–1971 CCHA St. 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 Orangemen[67] 1911–1913
1923–1928
1939–1940
dropped program
dropped program
dropped program
School nickname changed to "Orange" in 2004.
U.S. International Gulls[63][68] 1979–1985 GWHC Dropped their program in 1988.
Villanova Wildcats[69][70] 1929–1932 dropped program Returned as a Division III team and later dropped their program again after the 1997–1998 season for Title IX reasons.

Women[]

School Years Subsequent conference Notes
North Dakota Fighting Hawks[71] 2002–2004 WCHA Played the first years of their program as an independent before joining the WCHA. Dropped women's ice hockey after the 2016–17 season.

See also[]

References[]

  1. Sun Devil Athletics Announces Addition of Men’s Ice Hockey as NCAA Sport. Arizona State Athletics (November 18, 2014). Retrieved on February 3, 2015.
  2. LIU Announces Addition of Men's Ice Hockey. LIU Sharks (April 30, 2020). Retrieved on May 12, 2020.
  3. ASU/Big Ten Agree to Schedule Arrangement for 2020-21. Arizona State Sun Devils (October 6, 2020). Retrieved on November 9, 2020.
  4. Men's Hockey Announced as Atlantic Hockey Scheduling Partner. LIU Sharks (October 15, 2020). Retrieved on October 19, 2020.
  5. Statistics :: History :: Air Force :: Men's Hockey :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online. USCHO.com. Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
  6. Statistics :: History :: Alabama-Huntsville :: Men's Hockey :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online. USCHO.com. Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
  7. McLaughlin, Budd. "UAH denied admission to Central Collegiate Hockey Association", The Huntsville Times, August 11, 2009. 
  8. McLaughlin, Budd. "UAH program standing alone", The Huntsville Times, September 23, 2009. 
  9. WCHA accepts Alabama-Huntsville for 2013–14 season. USCHO.com (January 17, 2013). Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved on January 17, 2013.
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  12. Statistics :: History :: Army :: Men's Hockey :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online. USCHO.com. Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
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  40. Giger, Cory (August 6, 2010). Penn State 'close' to adding arena, Division I hockey. Altoona Mirror. Retrieved on September 13, 2010.
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  43. Statistics :: History :: Providence :: Men's Hockey :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online. USCHO.com. Retrieved on April 18, 2010.
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