The Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) was an NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operated primarily in the northeastern United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey had no women's division, though it shared some organizational and administrative roles (and three universities) with the women's-only College Hockey America (CHA).

It was formed in 1997 and began play in the 1998–1999 season as the hockey division of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC; now known as the Metro Conference). Within three years, it was granted an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. However, in 2003, Iona and Fairfield dropped hockey, leaving Canisius as the only full MAAC member that sponsored hockey. This proved somewhat problematic for MAAC Hockey, since conference bylaws only allowed full members to vote. On June 30, 2003, MAAC Hockey broke off from the MAAC and reorganized as Atlantic Hockey.

On June 6, 2023, it was announced that Atlantic Hockey would be merging all operations with CHA, effective in 2024. Details regarding this merger, including whether the new league would carry the Atlantic or College Hockey name, were to be announced at a later date. Shortly after the 2024 season, the new conference was announced as Atlantic Hockey America.

Membership

Final United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, Colorado Falcons 1954 Public/Federal 4,400 2006 N/A Mountain West American International College Springfield, Massachusetts Yellow Jackets 1885 Private/Non-sectarian 1,700 1998 N/A Northeast-10 (D-II) United States Military Academy West Point, New York Black Knights 1802 Public/Federal 4,400 2000 N/A Patriot League Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts Falcons 1917 Private/Non-sectarian 3,958 1999 N/A Northeast-10 (D-II) Canisius University Buffalo, New York Golden Griffins 1870 Private/Catholic 3,490 1998 N/A MAAC College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts Crusaders 1843 Private/Catholic 2,897 1998 HEA Patriot League Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania Lakers 1926 Private/Catholic 4,055 1999 CHA NEC Niagara University Niagara Men's Hockey To Join Atlantic Hockey Lewiston, New York Purple Eagles 1856 Private/Catholic 3,853 2010 N/A MAAC Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania Colonials 1921 Private/Non-sectarian 4,005 20102023 CHA Horizon Rochester Institute of Technology Henrietta, New York Tigers 1829 Private/Non-sectarian 16,842 2006 CHA Liberty League (D-III) Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut Pioneers 1963 Private/Catholic 5,428 1998 NEWHA MAAC

Previous Iona University (dropped hockey), 2003; then known as Iona College Fairfield University (dropped hockey), 2003 Quinnipiac University (ECAC Hockey), 2005 University of Connecticut (Hockey East), 2014

Timeline

Atlantic Hockey champions

Season Tournament Regular Season Champion Tournament Champion Notes 2003–04 2004 Holy Cross (1) Holy Cross (1) Atlantic Hockey Association founded by American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Connecticut, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart 2004–05 2005 Quinnipiac (1) Mercyhurst (1) Final AHA season for Quinnipiac, (leaving for the ECAC) 2005–06 2006 Holy Cross (2) Holy Cross (2) 2006–07 2007 RIT (1) Air Force (1) Air Force and RIT join the AHA 2007–08 2008 Army (1) Air Force (2) 2008–09 2009 RIT(2) / Air Force (1) Air Force (3) 2009–10 2010 RIT (3) RIT (1) 2010–11 2011 RIT (4) Air Force (4) Niagara and Robert Morris join the AHA 2011–12 2012 Air Force (2) Air Force (5) 2012–13 2013 Niagara (1) Canisius (1) 2013–14 2014 Mercyhurst (1) Robert Morris (1) Final AHA season for Connecticut, (leaving for Hockey East) 2014–15 2015 Robert Morris (1) RIT (2) 2015–16 2016 Robert Morris (2) RIT (3) 2016–17 2017 Canisius (1) Air Force (6) 2017–18 2018 Mercyhurst (2) Air Force (7) 2018–19 2019 American International (1) American International (1) 2019–20 2020 American International (2) Cancelled Tournament cancelled after quarterfinals due to COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21 2021 American International (3) American International (2) 2021–22 2022 American International (4) American International (3) Robert Morris suspended its program prior to the start of the season 2022–23 2023 RIT (5) Canisius (2) 2023–24 2024 RIT (6) RIT (4) Robert Morris reinstated to Atlantic Hockey for this season after restarting its hockey programs 2024–25 2025 Holy Cross (3) Bentley (1)

Atlantic Hockey tournament champions by school +SchoolChampionship yearsAir Force2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018RIT2010, 2015, 2016, 2024American International2019, 2021, 2022Canisius2013, 2023Holy Cross2004, 2006Mercyhurst2005Robert Morris2014Bentley2025 No tournament was held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

National tournament history + NCAA tournament 2004 Holy Cross North Dakota L 0–3 2005 Mercyhurst Boston College L 4–5 2006 Holy Cross Minnesota W 4–3 (OT) North Dakota L 2–5 2007 Air Force Minnesota L 3–4 2008 Air Force Miami (OH) L 2–3 (OT) 2009 Air Force Michigan W 2–0 Vermont L 2–3 (2OT) 2010 RIT Denver W 2–1 New Hampshire W 6–2 Wisconsin L 1–8 2011 Air Force Yale L 1–2 (OT) 2012 Air Force Boston College L 0–2 2013 Niagara * North Dakota L 1–2 Canisius Quinnipiac L 3–4 2014 Robert Morris Minnesota L 3–7 2015 RIT Minnesota State W 2–1 Omaha L 0–4 2016 RIT Quinnipiac L 0–42017Air ForceWestern MichiganW 5–4HarvardL 2–32018Air ForceSt. Cloud StateW 4–1Minnesota-DuluthL 1–22019AICSt. Cloud StateW 2–1DenverL 0–32020None†N/AN/A2021AICNorth DakotaL 1–52022AICMichiganL 3–52023CanisiusMinnesotaL 2–92024RITBoston UniversityL 3–6 * – at-large selection.

† – Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Conference arenas Air ForceCadet Ice ArenaColorado Springs, CO2,502American InternationalMassMutual CenterSpringfield, MA6,866ArmyTate RinkWest Point, NY2,648BentleyBentley ArenaWaltham, MA1,917CanisiusLECOM HarborcenterBuffalo, NY1,800Holy CrossHart CenterWorcester, MA1,600MercyhurstMercyhurst Ice CenterErie Insurance Arena (alternate)Erie, PA1,5006,833NiagaraDwyer ArenaLewiston, NY1,400RITGene Polisseni CenterBlue Cross Arena (alternate)Henrietta, NYRochester, NY4,30010,556Robert MorrisClearview ArenaNeville Township, PA1,200Sacred HeartMartire Family ArenaFairfield, CT3,600

Awards At the conclusion of each regular season schedule the coaches of each Atlantic Hockey team vote which players they choose to be on the three or four All-Conference teams: first team, second team and rookie team (third team beginning in 2007). Additionally they vote to award 7 of the 10 individual trophies to an eligible player (or coach) and 1 team award at the same time. Atlantic Hockey also awards a regular season goaltending award and regular season scoring title that are not voted on, as well as a Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, which is voted on at the conclusion of the conference tournament. All individual and team awards except Goaltender of the Year have been awarded since Atlantic Hockey's inaugural season in 2003–04.

All-Conference teams First Team2003–04Second Team2003–04Third Team2006–07Rookie Team2003–04

Individual awards Player of the Year2003–04Goaltender of the Year2023–24Rookie of the Year2003–04Coach of the Year2003–04Best Defensive Forward2003–04Best Defenseman2003–04Individual Sportsmanship2003–04Regular Season Goaltending Award2003–04Regular Season Scoring Trophy2003–04Most Valuable Player in Tournament2003–04

Team awards Team Sportsmanship Award2003–04

Atlantic Hockey Hall of Honor In 2023, in honor of its 20th anniversary, the conference selected the top 20 players from its history:

See also MAAC Awards

References

External links Atlantic Hockey Online