The conference was announced in 2016 as an association of ten schools and league play began for the 2017-18 academic year, with nine each playing in the men's and women's divisions. The majority of the member schools were previously members of the now-defunct ECAC West hockey conference. Wilkes University was also announced as a future member for both the men's and women's divisions for the start of the 2018–19 academic year.[1] Currently, Nazareth College competes only in the men's division and William Smith College competes only in the women's division. Nazareth announced plans to begin a women's hockey program that will begin UCHC competition for the 2018–19 season.[2]