Atlantic Hockey America

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Atlantic Hockey America
FormerlyMAAC (Men) (1997–2003)
Atlantic Hockey (Men) (2003–24)
College Hockey America (Women) (2002–24)
AssociationNCAA
FoundedMen: 1997 (as MAAC)
Women: 2002 (as CHA)
First season2024–25
CommissionerMichelle Morgan (since 2024)
Sports fielded
DivisionDivision I
No. of teams11: Men's
6: Women's
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts
RegionNortheastern United States, Colorado and Missouri
Official websiteatlantichockeyonline.com
Locations
Location of teams in Atlantic Hockey America

Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) is a college ice hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in NCAA Division I as an ice hockey-only conference.[1] The conference was formed by the merger of the men-only Atlantic Hockey Association and the women-only College Hockey America (CHA).[2]

History[edit]

In 2010, the men's division of CHA collapsed and two of the remaining teams joined the Atlantic Hockey Association.[3] At that time, the two leagues began working together by sharing a commissioner and administrative staff in order to streamline their operating costs.[4] The arrangement worked well enough that by 2023, the two entities decided to formalize their relationship and announced that they were merging. The new league would begin in the 2024–25 season and would welcome a new member, Delaware, the following year.[5]

Membership[edit]

Three schools, Mercyhurst, RIT and Robert Morris, have programs in both the men's and women's divisions. Holy Cross, Lindenwood, Penn State and Sacred Heart each operate teams of both sexes, but only one is a member of AHA. Niagara and Syracuse only have one varsity program active as of 2024 but both previously supported the other gender.[6]

Current[edit]

Conference affiliations are current for the first season of the merged AHA in 2024–25.

Institution Location Nickname Founded Affiliation Enrollment Joined Men's Women's Primary Conference Colors
United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, Colorado[a] Falcons 1954 Public/Federal 4,400 2024 checkY ☒N Mountain West    
American International College Springfield, Massachusetts Yellow Jackets 1885 Private/Non-sectarian 1,700 2024 checkY ☒N Northeast-10 (D-II)      
United States Military Academy West Point, New York Black Knights 1802 Public/Federal 4,400 2024 checkY ☒N Patriot League      
Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts Falcons 1917 Private/Non-sectarian 3,958 2024 checkY ☒N Northeast-10 (D-II)    
Canisius University Buffalo, New York Golden Griffins 1870 Private/Catholic 3,490 2024 checkY ☒N MAAC    
College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts Crusaders 1843 Private/Catholic 2,897 2024 checkY Hockey East Patriot League  
Lindenwood University St. Charles, Missouri Lions 1827 Private/Presbyterian 12,213 2024 Independent checkY OVC    
Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania Lakers 1926 Private/Catholic 4,055 2024 checkY checkY NEC    
Niagara University Lewiston, New York[b] Purple Eagles 1856 Private/Catholic 3,853 2024 checkY ☒N MAAC    
Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania[c] Nittany Lions 1855 Public/State-related 44,817 2024 Big Ten checkY Big Ten    
Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania Colonials 1921 Private/Non-sectarian 4,005 2024 checkY checkY Horizon      
Rochester Institute of Technology Henrietta, New York[d] Tigers 1829 Private/Non-sectarian 16,842 2024 checkY checkY Liberty League (D-III)      
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut Pioneers 1963 Private/Catholic 5,428 2024 checkY NEWHA MAAC    
Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Orange 1870 Private/Non-sectarian 19,082 2024 ☒N checkY ACC  
  1. ^ The Academy grounds lie almost entirely outside the Colorado Springs city limits. The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Census Bureau respectively treat the Academy as "USAF Academy" and "Air Force Academy".
  2. ^ Mailing address is "Niagara University".
  3. ^ The entire Penn State campus is designated by the U.S. Postal Service as "University Park". It straddles the boundary between State College and College Township.
  4. ^ Mailing address is Rochester.

Future[edit]

Primary conference affiliation is current for the first season of AHA play.

Institution Location Nickname Founded Affiliation Enrollment Joining Men's Women's Primary Conference[a] Colors
University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 1743 Public[b] 23,281 2025 ☒N checkY CUSA    
  1. ^ As of the date of joining AHA.
  2. ^ Delaware is legally chartered as a "privately governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York's statutory colleges, mostly housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education.

Timeline[edit]

Atlantic Hockey America is located in USA Northeast
American International
American International
Army
Army
Bentley
Bentley
Canisius
Canisius
Holy Cross
Holy Cross
Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst
Niagara
Niagara
Penn State
Penn State
RIT
RIT
Robert Morris
Robert Morris
Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
Syracuse
Syracuse
Delaware
Delaware
Location of teams in the Northeast
full
future

  Men     Women     Both  

Champions[edit]

Conference arenas[edit]

Awards[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024". Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Atlantic Hockey, CHA women will combine as Atlantic Hockey America for 2024-25 season". USCHO. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Shaver, Wally. "News and notes from the 2008 NCAA Men's Frozen Four". Retrieved 2010-01-28.
  4. ^ "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024". Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "University of Delaware to Join College Hockey America for 2025-26 Season" (Press release). College Hockey America. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "Niagara University Announces Restructuring Of Athletics Programs". Niagara University. March 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-19.

External links[edit]