The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) is a NCAA Division III hockey conference that began playing men’s hockey in the 1980-81 season, and began playing women’s hockey in the 2000-01 season. The NCHA is a single-sport conference, only sponsoring hockey.
Current Membership
Men’s (10 schools)
- Adrian Bulldogs
- Aurora Spartans
- Concordia-Wisconsin Falcons
- Dubuque Spartans
- Lake Forest Foresters
- Lawrence Vikings
- Marian Sabres
- MSOE Raiders
- St. Norbert Green Knights
- Trine Thunder
Women’s (10 schools)
- Adrian Bulldogs
- Aurora Spartans
- Concordia-Wisconsin Falcons
- Dubuque Spartans
- Lake Forest Foresters
- Lawrence Vikings
- Marian Sabres
- MSOE Raiders
- St. Norbert Green Knights
- Trine Thunder
History
Men’s
The NCHA was founded and formally approved in 1980, as a hockey-only conference, meaning the league only sponsors hockey, as its members play sports as members of different leagues. The league initially was formed following the disbanding of the International Collegiate Hockey Association (ICHA).
The league’s makeup has changed dramatically over the years, with many members moving up to Division I and II, while other long-time members have moved on. The men’s league faced a turning point in 2013, when the University of Wisconsin system schools left to form the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) to play hockey there.
Alongside that move, the NCHA was close to losing almost all of its teams, so the NCHA merged with the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA), assuming the NCHA’s history and records. The conference has had relatively stable membership since then.
Timeline
- 1980-81: (6) Bemidji State, Mankato State, St. Cloud State, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior
- The NCHA is formed out of the demise of the ICHA when Bemidji State and Wisconsin-Superior leave the league, joining with the other four schools who were formerly independents.
- 1983-84: (7) Bemidji State, Mankato State, St. Cloud State, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior
- St. Scholastica joins the league from the independent ranks.
- 1986-87: (8) Bemidji State, Mankato State, St. Cloud State, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Former independent program Wisconsin-Stevens Point joins the conference.
- 1987-88: (7) Bemidji State, Mankato State, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- St. Cloud State jumps to Division I, leaving the NCHA with seven schools again.
- 1991-92: (6) Bemidji State, Mankato State, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- St. Scholastica leaves the NCHA, returning to the independent ranks for hockey, a long-term play to hopefully join the MIAC.
- 1992-93: (6) Bemidji State, Lake Forest, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Lake Forest College joins the league from the independent ranks, giving the league a southern outpost.
- Mankato State withdraws from the NCHA, becoming a Division II independent.
- 1994-95: (8) Bemidji State, Lake Forest, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Another former independent, St. Norbert College, joins the NCHA.
- St. Scholastica, re-joins the conference, after a three-season stint as an independent program.
- 1996-97: (9) Bemidji State, Lake Forest, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Wisconsin-Stout revives its men’s hockey program, joining their fellow UW schools in the NCHA.
- 1999-00: (8) Lake Forest, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Like their in-state rivals before them, Bemidji State exits the league, jumping to play hockey at the Division I level.
- 2009-10: (7) St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- After a long period of stability, Lake Forest leaves the NCHA to join the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA), playing teams with closer proximity.
- 2013-14: (10) Adrian, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, MSOE, Northland, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica
- Two major changes reshape the dynamic of this league:
- The University of Wisconsin system schools (Eau Claire, River Falls, Stout, Stevens Point, Superior) leave the NCHA, as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) begin sponsoring men’s hockey.
- Concurrently, the NCHA merges with the MCHA, absorbing the eight schools from their league (Adrian, Concordia-Wisconsin, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, MSOE, Northland).
- Two major changes reshape the dynamic of this league:
- 2015-16: (11) North- Finlandia, Lawrence, MSOE, Northland, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica; South- Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Lake Forest, Marian
- Aurora University joins the NCHA after one season as an independent.
- The league splits into two divisions to help travel and scheduling.
- 2016-17: (11) North- Finlandia, Lawrence, Northland, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica; South- Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Lake Forest, Marian, MSOE
- MSOE shifts to the South division, resulting for better travel for the program.
- 2017-18: (12) North- Finlandia, Lawrence, Marian, Northland, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica; South- Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Lake Forest, MSOE, Trine
- New start-up men’s hockey program Trine joins the NCHA, and the South division.
- With uneven divisions, Marian, rather than MSOE, gets shifted to the North division.
- 2019-20: (11) North- Finlandia, Lawrence, Marian, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica; South- Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Lake Forest, MSOE, Trine
- Northland leaves the NCHA, joining the WIAC as an affiliate member.
- 2020-21: (11)* North- Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lawrence, Marian, St. Norbert*, St. Scholastica; South- Adrian, Aurora, Lake Forest, MSOE, Trine
- Concordia-WI shifts to the North division for this season, as St. Norbert opted out of the partial conference schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021-22: (10) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, MSOE, St. Norbert, Trine
- St. Scholastica leaves the NCHA for the all-sports conference, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
- The NCHA abandons the divisional format after six seasons.
- 2023-24: (10) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Dubuque, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, MSOE, St. Norbert, Trine
- Sadly, Finlandia University closes its doors at the end of the prior school year.
- On the bright side, the University of Dubuque announces it will start a men’s hockey program, jumpstarted by members of the Finlandia program, joining the NCHA immediately.
Women’s
As women’s and girl’s hockey continued to grow, AD’s of many men’s hockey-playing NCHA schools met in Black River Falls, Wisconsin with intentions to start a women’s side to the conference. The plan was finalized and the league was born with five members for the upcoming season.
The league grew through its first decade, buoyed by many successful programs that qualified for the national tournament. Eventually with growth, the NCHA earned its own automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The league eventually ballooned to eleven teams before a big shakeup.
Just like the men’s side of the conference, the women’s conference make-up shifted when the University of Wisconsin system schools left to form the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) to play hockey there. Luckily, with no MCHA for women’s hockey, those hockey-playing schools were already in the NCHA, leaving enough teams to buoy the loss of the UW schools.
Since that shift, the league has become much more stable, with newer programs starting to grow and establish traditions for themselves, as a few power programs have emerged as well.
Timeline
- 2000-01: (5) Lake Forest, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Given the growing popularity of the women’s game, administrators in the NCHA for men’s hockey, worked on a plan to start a women’s hockey conference, with five charter members.
- Superior and River Falls had played as independents, Lake Forest started a program, and Eau Claire and Stevens Point elevated their club teams to varsity status.
- Given the growing popularity of the women’s game, administrators in the NCHA for men’s hockey, worked on a plan to start a women’s hockey conference, with five charter members.
- 2004-05: (6) Finlandia, Lake Forest, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Finlandia University starts a women’s hockey program, and joins the NCHA.
- 2007-08: (7) Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Concordia University-Wisconsin starts a women’s hockey program, and joins the NCHA.
- 2009-10: (9) Adrian, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Marian, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- Adrian and Marian join the NCHA, bringing membership to 9.
- Adrian comes over from the independent ranks, while Marian starts a brand-new program.
- Adrian and Marian join the NCHA, bringing membership to 9.
- 2010-11: (11) Adrian, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Marian, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior
- St. Norbert and St. Scholastica start women’s programs, and join the conference.
- 2013-14: (7) Adrian, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Marian, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica
- As stated in the men’s section, the University of Wisconsin system schools leave the league to join the WIAC, meaning Eau Claire, River Falls, Stevens Point, and Superior pull their women’s programs from the NCHA.
- 2017-18: (10) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Marian, Northland, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, Trine
- Aurora, Northland, and Trine join the league as full members, with Aurora and Trine starting new programs, and Northland spending one prior year as an independent.
- 2019-20: (9) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Marian, St. Norbert, St. Scholastica, Trine
- After just two short seasons, Northland leaves the NCHA to join the WIAC as an affiliate member.
- 2020-21: (10)* North- Concordia-WI, Lawrence, Marian, St. Scholastica; South- Adrian, Aurora, Lake Forest, Trine (Finlandia, St. Norbert)
- Lawrence University launches women’s hockey and joins the NCHA.
- For the pandemic-affected season, the NCHA temporarily mirrors the men’s side of the league, implementing divisions for tighter travel restrictions, with two schools opting out of the season.
- 2021-22: (9) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Finlandia, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, St. Norbert, Trine
- St. Scholastica leaves the NCHA for the all-sports conference, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
- The NCHA returns to its normal division-less format.
- 2023-24: (9) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Dubuque, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, St. Norbert, Trine
- As mentioned before, sadly, Finlandia University closes at the end of the prior school year.
- The University of Dubuque launches a women’s hockey program, jumpstarted by members of the Finlandia program, joining the NCHA immediately.
- 2024-25: (10) Adrian, Aurora, Concordia-WI, Dubuque, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Marian, MSOE, St. Norbert, Trine
- After a couple of setbacks, MSOE finally launches their women’s hockey program, joining the NCHA alongside the men’s team.
Season by Season Results
Men’s
| Season | Regular Season Champions | Conference Tournament Champions | NCAA Tournament Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
Northern Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHA) |
|||
| 1980-81* | Mankato State | No Tournament | Mankato State (D-II), Bemidji State, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior (NAIA) |
| 1981-82 | Bemidji State | No Tournament | Mankato State (D-II), Bemidji State, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior (NAIA) |
| 1982-83 | Bemidji State | No Tournament | Bemidji State, Mankato State (D-II), UW-River Falls, UW-Superior (NAIA) |
| 1983-84 | Bemidji State | No Tournament | Bemidji State (D-II), UW-Eau Claire, UW-Superior (NAIA) |
| 1984-85 | Bemidji State | No Tournament | Bemidji State, Mankato State |
| 1985-86 | Bemidji State, Mankato State | Bemidji State | Bemidji State, Mankato State |
| 1986-87 | Mankato State, St. Cloud State | St. Cloud State | Bemidji State, St. Cloud State |
| 1987-88 | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls | Bemidji State, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1988-89 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | Bemidji State, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1989-90 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | Mankato State, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1990-91 | Bemidji State, Mankato State | UW-Stevens Point | Mankato State, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1991-92 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | Mankato State, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior |
| 1992-93 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior |
| 1993-94 | UW-Superior | UW-Superior | UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior |
| 1994-95 | Bemidji State | Bemidji State | UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior |
| 1995-96 | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls, UW-Superior |
| 1996-97 | St. Norbert | UW-Superior | St. Norbert, UW-Superior |
| 1997-98 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1998-99 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-Superior |
| 1999-00 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Superior | UW-Superior |
| 2000-01 | UW-Superior | UW-Superior | UW-River Falls, UW-Superior |
| 2001-02 | St. Norbert | UW-Superior | St. Norbert, UW-Superior |
| 2002-03 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-River Falls |
| 2003-04 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-River Falls |
| 2004-05 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
| 2005-06 | St. Norbert | UW-Superior | St. Norbert, UW-Superior |
| 2006-07 | St. Norbert, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-River Falls |
| 2007-08 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-Stout |
| 2008-09 | UW-Superior | UW-Stout | St. Scholastica, UW-Stout, UW-Superior |
| 2009-10 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
| 2010-11 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-Superior |
| 2011-12 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
| 2012-13 | UW-Eau Claire | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-Eau Claire |
| 2013-14 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | Adrian, St. Norbert |
| 2014-15 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2015-16 | Adrian, St. Norbert | Adrian | Adrian, St. Norbert |
| 2016-17 | Adrian | St. Norbert | Adrian, St. Norbert |
| 2017-18 | Adrian | St. Norbert | Adrian, Marian, St. Norbert |
| 2018-19 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
| 2019-20 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian, Lake Forest |
| 2020-21 | Adrian | Marian | No Tournament |
| 2021-22 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian, St. Norbert |
| 2022-23 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2023-24 | Adrian | St. Norbert | Adrian, St. Norbert |
| 2024-25 | Aurora | St. Norbert | Aurora, St. Norbert, Trine |
| 2025-26 | Adrian | St. Norbert | Aurora, St. Norbert |
Women’s
| Season | Regular Season Champions | Conference Tournament Champions | NCAA Tournament Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
Northern Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHA) |
|||
| 2000-01 | UW-Superior | UW-River Falls | None |
| 2001-02 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | None |
| 2002-03 | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls |
| 2003-04 | UW-Superior | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point |
| 2004-05 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point |
| 2005-06 | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior |
| 2006-07 | UW-Superior | UW-Stevens Point | UW-Stevens Point |
| 2007-08 | UW-Superior | UW-Superior | UW-Superior |
| 2008-09 | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls |
| 2009-10 | Lake Forest | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls |
| 2010-11 | UW-River Falls | Adrian | Adrian, UW-River Falls |
| 2011-12 | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls | UW-River Falls |
| 2012-13 | UW-River Falls | St. Norbert | St. Norbert, UW-River Falls |
| 2013-14 | Lake Forest | Lake Forest | Lake Forest |
| 2014-15 | Adrian | Lake Forest | Lake Forest |
| 2015-16 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2016-17 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2017-18 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2018-19 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2019-20 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2020-21 | St. Scholastica | Adrian | No Tournament |
| 2021-22 | Adrian | Aurora | Aurora |
| 2022-23 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2023-24 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
| 2024-25 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | St. Norbert |
| 2025-26 | Adrian | Adrian | Adrian |
Championships by School
Men’s
| School | Regular Season Titles | Tournament Titles |
|---|---|---|
| St. Norbert | 16 (2 shared) | 18 |
| Adrian | 10 (1 shared) | 5 |
| Bemidji State | 7 (2 shared) | 2 |
| UW-Stevens Point | 5 | 5 |
| Mankato State | 4 (3 shared)* | 0 |
| UW-Superior | 3 | 6 |
| UW-River Falls | 3 (1 shared) | 2 |
| UW-Stout | 1 (1 shared) | 1 |
| St. Cloud State | 1 (1 shared) | 1 |
| Aurora | 1 | 0 |
| UW-Eau Claire | 1 | 0 |
| Marian | 0 | 1 |
Women’s
| School | Regular Season Titles | Tournament Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian | 10 | 10 |
| UW-River Falls | 5 | 5 |
| UW-Superior | 4 | 1 |
| UW-Stevens Point | 3 | 5 |
| Lake Forest | 2 | 2 |
| St. Norbert | 1 | 2 |
| St. Scholastica | 1 | 0 |
| Aurora | 0 | 1 |
