The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) is a NCAA Division III hockey conference that began playing men’s hockey in the 1971-72 season, and began playing women’s hockey in the 2024-25 season. The MASCAC is an all-sport NCAA Division III conference that was first established in 1971.
Current Membership
Men’s (8 schools)
- Anna Maria Amcats
- Fitchburg State Falcons
- Framingham State Rams
- MCLA Trailblazers
- Rivier Raiders
- Salem State Vikings
- Westfield State Owls
- Worcester State Lancers
Women’s (6 schools)
- Anna Maria Amcats
- Framingham State Rams
- MCLA Trailblazers
- Rivier Raiders
- Salem State Vikings
- Worcester State Lancers
History
Men’s
The conference sponsored men’s hockey when the conference was established in 1971. Their schools played within the ECAC at the time, and operated as a “conference within a conference” for years within the ECAC. A few other schools operated as independent schools, but the MASCAC still considered them part of the conference, and awarded a regular season champion based on the games amongst themselves. The first 30 years of men’s hockey in the MASCAC was a turbulent time for many, with several schools launching, dropping and re-launching their programs.
In 2003, the MASCAC stopped their “conference within a conference,” as it didn’t make feasible sense to keep it going. In 2008, however, the MASCAC returned, with enough schools coming in 2009 to earn an automatic bid. So for one final season, they used the old format for 2008-09, and in 2009-10, the MASCAC finally found stability and became independent.
Timeline
- 1971-72: (6) Boston State, Bridgewater State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Worcester State
- These seven all-sports members started played in various spots, such as the ECAC 2, ECAC 3, and as an Independent, while also competing for the MASCAC crown.
- 1973-74: (7) Boston State, Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Worcester State
- Fitchburg State revives their men’s hockey program in the ECAC 3 and MASCAC.
- 1974-75: (8) Boston State, Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Westfield State launches their men’s hockey program in the ECAC 3 and MASCAC.
- 1975-76: (9) Boston State, Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Massachusetts Maritime, North Adams State, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Massachusetts Maritime joins the MASCAC for all-sports, and launches a men’s hockey program in the ECAC 3 and MASCAC.
- 1978-79: (8) Boston State, Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- After just three seasons, Massachusetts Maritime folds their men’s hockey program.
- 1981-82: (7) Boston State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- After eleven seasons, Bridgewater State folds their men’s hockey program.
- 1982-83: (6) Fitchburg State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Boston State leaves the MASCAC after merging into UMass Boston.
- 1989-90: (5) Fitchburg State, Framingham State, North Adams State, Salem State, Worcester State
- After fifteen seasons, Westfield State folds their men’s hockey program.
- 1997-98: (5) Fitchburg State, Framingham State, MCLA, Salem State, Worcester State
- North Adams State was renamed as the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA).
- 2003-04 – 2007-08: The conference stopped sponsoring men’s hockey officially, with the changing landscape of conference realignment.
- The “conference within a conference” was more hassle than it was worth, particularly with no official MASCAC schedule ever being played.
- 2008-09: (5) Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Westfield State relaunched their men’s hockey program, bringing the number of hockey-playing MASCAC schools to seven, with two new affiliate members starting play the next season. Thus, the MASCAC announced their return to sponsor hockey for the 2009-10 season.
- For the 2008-09 season, they “officially” came back as a league and crowned a champion, but similar to the format from 1971-2003.
- 2009-10: (7) Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Plymouth State, Salem State, UMass Dartmouth, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Plymouth State and UMass Dartmouth join the MASCAC as associate members for men’s hockey, the first time the conference has done so.
- The MASCAC earns the conference’s first automatic bid.
- 2023-24: (8) Fitchburg State, Framingham State, MCLA, Plymouth State, Salem State, UMass Dartmouth, Westfield State, Worcester State
- After the conference’s longest period of stability, MCLA revives their men’s hockey program after being dormant for over 20 years. The Trailblazers rejoin the MASCAC.
- 2024-25: (10) Anna Maria, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, MCLA, Plymouth State, Rivier, Salem State, UMass Dartmouth, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Anna Maria and Rivier join the MASCAC as associate members for men’s hockey, and provisional members for women’s hockey.
- 2025-26: (8) Anna Maria, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, MCLA, Rivier, Salem State, Westfield State, Worcester State
- Affiliate members Plymouth State and UMass Dartmouth leave the MASCAC for their all-sports conference, the Little East Conference (LEC), which begins sponsoring men’s hockey.
- Anna Maria joins the MASCAC for all-sports.
Women’s
The history of MASCAC women’s hockey is very short-lived. Many of the women’s programs in this league are very new, and with enough schools beginning to sponsor women’s hockey, it was rumored for years that the MASCAC could begin sponsoring the sport.
A combination of affiliate schools, conference shuffling and a new program allowed the MASCAC to sponsor women’s hockey in the 2024-25 season.
Timeline
- 2024-25: (6) Anna Maria, Framingham State, MCLA, Plymouth State, Rivier, Worcester State
- All-Sports members MCLA and Worcester State join the MASCAC after previously playing as an independent.
- Fellow former independents Anna Maria and Rivier join the MASCAC as associate members, just like on the men’s side.
- Plymouth State, affiliate member on the men’s side, does the same for women’s hockey, joining the MASCAC from the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC).
- All-Sports member Framingham State launches a new women’s program, joining the newly-formed conference.
- The conference has to wait until 2027-28 to receive its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
- 2025-26: (6) Anna Maria, Framingham State, MCLA, Rivier, Salem State, Worcester State
- After playing non-conference games against MASCAC teams last year, all-sports member officially joins the league, coming over from the disbanding NEHC.
- Affiliate member Plymouth State leaves the MASCAC for its all-sports conference, the Little East Conference (LEC), which begins sponsoring women’s hockey.
Season by Season Results
Men’s
| Season | Regular Season Champions | Conference Tournament Champions | NCAA Tournament Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)- run within ECAC, etc. |
|||
| 1971-72 | Boston State | No Tournament | None |
| 1972-73 | Boston State | No Tournament | Boston State (NAIA) |
| 1973-74 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1974-75 | Boston State, Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1975-76 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1976-77 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1977-78 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1978-79 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State (D-II) |
| 1979-80 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1980-81 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1981-82 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1982-83 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1983-84 | North Adams State, Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1984-85 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State |
| 1985-86 | North Adams State | No Tournament | None |
| 1986-87 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State |
| 1987-88 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1988-89 | Fitchburg State, North Adams State, Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1989-90 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1990-91 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1991-92 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State |
| 1992-93 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State |
| 1993-94 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State |
| 1994-95 | Salem State | No Tournament | Salem State |
| 1995-96 | Fitchburg State, Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1996-97 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1997-98 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1998-99 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 1999-00 | MCLA | No Tournament | None |
| 2000-01 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
| 2001-02 | MCLA | No Tournament | None |
| 2002-03 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
Conference didn't sponsor hockey from 2003-04 through 2007-08 |
|||
| 2008-09 | Salem State | No Tournament | None |
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)- run independently |
|||
| 2009-10 | Fitchburg State | Salem State | None |
| 2010-11 | UMass Dartmouth | Fitchburg State | None |
| 2011-12 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2012-13 | Plymouth State | UMass Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth |
| 2013-14 | Salem State | Salem State | Salem State |
| 2014-15 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2015-16 | Salem State | Salem State | Salem State |
| 2016-17 | Plymouth State | Salem State | Salem State |
| 2017-18 | Plymouth State | Fitchburg State | Fitchburg State |
| 2018-19 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2019-20 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2020-21 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
||
| 2021-22 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2022-23 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2023-24 | Plymouth State | Plymouth State | Plymouth State |
| 2024-25 | Plymouth State | Fitchburg State | Fitchburg State |
| 2025-26 | Anna Maria | Anna Maria | Anna Maria |
Women’s
| Season | Regular Season Champions | Conference Tournament Champions | NCAA Tournament Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) |
|||
| 2024-25 | Plymouth State, Worcester State | Plymouth State | None |
| 2025-26 | Worcester State | Worcester State | None |
Championships by School
Men’s
| School | Regular Season Titles | Tournament Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Salem State | 30 (4 shared) | 4 |
| Plymouth State | 11 | 7 |
| MCLA (née North Adams St.) | 5 (2 shared) | 0 |
| Fitchburg State | 3 (2 shared) | 3 |
| Boston State | 3 (1 shared) | 0 |
| Anna Maria | 1 | 1 |
| UMass Dartmouth | 1 | 1 |
Women’s
| School | Regular Season Titles | Tournament Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester State | 2 (1 shared) | 1 |
| Plymouth State | 1 (1 shared) | 1 |
