The Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) is a college ice hockey league based in the central region of the United States. The conference is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 and is made up of eleven teams from universities and colleges based in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
History
The 2014–2015 season was the inaugural season for the NCHL, formed of ACHA D2 teams from Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Regular-season format Each conference member is required to play all the other members, for a 16-game conference season. Teams earn two point for a win (regulation or overtime), one point for a tie or an overtime loss, and zero points for a regulation loss.
At the end of the season the top six teams qualify for the conference tournament, with the top two teams receiving a first round bye.
Member teams Member Location Joined league Nickname Home arena Head coach Aurora UniversityAurora, IL2017SpartansAll SeasonsBill AndrewsConcordia University WisconsinMequon, WI2018FalconsOzaukee Ice CenterShea KlitzkeDePaul UniversityChicago, IL2017Blue DemonsJohnny's Ice House WestSean HammondLewis UniversityRomeoville, IL2015FlyersCanLan Ice SportsJim SwoyerMarian UniversityFond du Lac, WI2016SabresBlue Line Family Ice CenterBlake ZabinskiMarquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI2017Golden EaglesThe Ponds of BrookfieldPaul WajgelMilwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI2023RaidersKern CenterGeorge SullivanPurdue University NorthwestHammond, IN2021PrideKube Sports ComplexTom PaulyRoosevelt UniversityBensenville, IL2014LakersThe Edge Ice ArenaVito BrunoSt. Norbert CollegeDe Pere, WI2021Green KnightsResch Olympic PavilionDan WoodUniversity of Wisconsin MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI2022PanthersThe Ponds of BrookfieldGavin NickersonUniversity of Wisconsin OshkoshOshkosh, WI2014Titans20th St. YMCAKyle Jansen
Conference tournament format Playoffs 2026
Playoffs 2025
Playoffs 2024
Playoffs 2023
Playoffs 2022
Black Division
Orange Division
Playoffs 2020
Playoffs 2019
Playoffs 2018
Playoffs 2017
Playoffs 2016
Playoffs 2015
Conference champions (Hap Cup) Season Champion Runner-Up Championship Location Host 2026-27 TBD TBD Brookfield, WI Marquette University 2025-26 Marian University Purdue University Northwest Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2024-25 Marian University Purdue University Northwest Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2023-24 Concordia University DePaul University Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2022-23 DePaul University Concordia University Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2021-22 Marian University Marquette University Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2020-21 Season Cancelled Due to COVID 2019-20 Marian University Concordia University Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2018-19 Marian University Aurora University Fond du Lac, WI Marian University 2017-18 Aurora University Marian University Beaver Dam, WI University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 2016-17 Marian University Robert Morris University Albert Lea, MN Waldorf University 2015-16 Robert Morris University University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Marquette, MI Northern Michigan University 2014-15 Waldorf University Robert Morris University Albert Lea, MN Waldorf University
Championship totals Team Titles YearsMarian University 6 2026, 2025, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2017Concordia University 1 2024DePaul University 1 2023Aurora University 1 2018Robert Morris University 1 2016Waldorf University 1 2015
Season awards Season Player of the Year School Rookie of the Year School Coach of the Year School 2025-26 Charlie Emme Concordia University Wisconsin Will Mullooly St. Norbert College Tom Pauly Purdue University Northwest 2024-25 Tommy Cassel Concordia University Wisconsin Jackson Sweeney Marian University Blake Zabinski Marian University 2023-24 Ian Malcolmson Concordia University Wisconsin Charlie Emme Concordia University Wisconsin Shea Klitzke Concordia University Wisconsin 2022-23 Michael Helf DePaul University Chris Lee DePaul University Dan Wood DePaul University 2021-22 Patrick Sweeney Marquette University Garrett Wilderman Concordia University Wisconsin Chris Fredrickson & Dan Wood Marian University & Concordia University Wisconsin 2019-20 Jonathan Grodzki Concordia University Wisconsin Mack Willy Concordia University Wisconsin Chris Fredrickson Marian University 2018-19 Conor Coyne & Justin Davidson Marquette University & Marian University Zach Tykocki Aurora University Will Jurgensen Marquette University 2017-18 Tommy Feldman DePaul University Matt Ernsting Lewis University Don Cada St. Mary's University of MN 2016-17 Joey Daniels Robert Morris University - Maroon Miles Giorgione Marian University Billy Karr Robert Morris University - Maroon 2015-16 Tony Francois University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Jason Johnson University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Chris Huebel University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 2014-15 Ronald Paulson Waldorf University Ronald Paulson Waldorf University Brett Shelanski Waldorf University
National championship qualifiers Concordia University WI (2024, 2023) Marian University (2019) Aurora University (2018)
National Player of the Year Charles Emme, Concordia University WI (2024)
Previous members University of Minnesota Duluth (2014–16) Michigan Tech University (2014–16) Waldorf University (2014–17) St. Mary's University of MN (2014–18) St. Norbert College (2021–23) Purdue University Northwest (2021–22, 2024-26) Northern Michigan University (2014–2023)
References