NCAA Division III women's ice hockey tournament

The annual NCAA Division III women's ice hockey tournament is the college ice hockey tournament which is held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the top women's team in the NCAA. The 2020 and 2021 championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Origins The NCAA Division III championship of women's ice hockey began in 2002.

NCAA Division III women's ice hockey

Seventy-eight schools in the United States, ranging from the Midwest to the East Coast, sponsor varsity women's hockey at the Division III level. Ten conferences are currently recognized by the NCAA—Conference of New England, Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, Middle Atlantic Conferences, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, New England Hockey Conference, New England Small College Athletic Conference, Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, State University of New York Athletic Conference, United Collegiate Hockey Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. As of 2025, eight of the conferences receive automatic bids into the tournament. There are currently two independent teams as of the 2024—2025 season.

Format This tournament is a single elimination competition of twelve teams. The first round and quarterfinals are hosted at the campuses of the higher seeds. The semi-finals and finals are called the "Women's Frozen Four." The winners of the semi-finals move on to the championship.

History Year Champion Coach Score Runner-up Coach City Arena2002 Jamie Wood 2–1 Nicole Kirnan Elmira, New York First Arena2003 Jamie Wood 5–1 Nicole Kirnan Elmira, New York First Arena2004 Bill Mandigo 2–1 Brian Idalski Middlebury, Vermont Chip Kenyon Arena2005 Bill Mandigo 4–3 Paul Nemetz-Carlson Elmira, New York First Arena2006 Bill Mandigo 3–1 Kevin Houle Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena2007 Kevin Houle 3–1 Bill Mandigo Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena2008 Kevin Houle 3–2 Lauren McAuliffe Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena2009 Jim Plumer 4–3 Greg Fargo Middlebury, Vermont Chip Kenyon Arena2010 Jim Plumer 7–2 Mark Bolding St. Peter, Minnesota Lund Arena2011 Mark Bolding 5–2 Scott McDonald Rochester, New York Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena2012 Scott McDonald 4–1 Mark Bolding Rochester, New York Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena2013 Dean Jackson 4–1 Bill Mandigo Superior, Wisconsin Superior Ice Arena2014 Kevin Houle 9–2 Mark Bolding Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena2015 Kevin Houle 3–2 Dean Jackson Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena2016 Kevin Houle 5–1 Joe Cranston Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena2017 Kevin Houle 4–3 Chad Davis Adrian, Michigan Arrington Ice Arena2018 Mark Bolding 2–1 Tim Crowley Northfield, Vermont Kreitzberg Arena2019 Kevin Houle 4–0 Natalie Darwitz Mendota Heights, Minnesota St. Thomas Ice Arena2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic20212022 Bill Mandigo 3–2 Mike Carroll Middlebury, Vermont Chip Kenyon Arena2023 Mike Carroll 2–1 Jeff Matthews Amherst, Massachusetts Orr Rink2024 Joe Cranston 4–1 Greg Haney River Falls, Wisconsin Hunt Arena2025 Joe Cranston 3–1 Jeff Matthews River Falls, Wisconsin Hunt Arena2026 Joe Cranston4–0Chris BaudoRiver Falls, WisconsinHunt Arena2027Plattsburgh, New YorkRonald B. Stafford Ice Arena2028TBD

Team titles

Team#Years72007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 201942004, 2005, 2006, 202232002, 2003, 20132024, 2025, 202622009, 20102011, 2018120232012

Coaching titles Coach#YearsKevin Houle72007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019Bill Mandigo42004, 2005, 2006, 2022Joe Cranston32024, 2025, 2026Mark Bolding22011, 2018Jim Plumer2009, 2010Jamie Wood2002, 2003Mike Carroll12023Dean Jackson2013Scott McDonald2012

Result by school and year 35 teams have appeared in the NCAA DIII Tournament in at least one year starting with 2002. The results for all years are shown in this table below.

The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament: Not fielding a division III team First round (did not exist until 2018) 2 teams who lost in the 2020 first round before the tournament was canceled. Quarterfinals 8 teams selected in 2020 who were in the quarterfinals before the tournament was canceled. Frozen Four Teams who won in the third place game before its discontinuation in 2023. National Runner-up National Champion

School Conferenceas of 2026 # QF F4 CG CH SUNYAC 21 19 4 8 7 NESCAC20201164 UCHC20201283 WIAC1716843 NESCAC1110642 LEC1310852 MIAC18151021 moved to NC33221 UCHC88430 WIAC55310 NCHA98310 MIAC33210 UCHC52110 NESCAC55200 moved to NC66200 WIAC22100 NESCAC22100 MIAC21100 WIAC44000 CNE52000 NESCAC43000 NESCAC33000 NESCAC22000 NCHA22000 NCHA22000 MAC21000 MIAC11000 MIAC11000 LEC11000 SUNYAC11000 NCHA10000 CNE10000 SUNYAC10000 CNE10000 MIAC10000

No appearances The following is a list of current Division III teams that have yet to make a tournament appearance. School Conference First season UCHC2023–24 MAC2019–20 MASCAC2018–19 MAC2021–22 WIAC2025–26 MIAC1999–00 SUNYAC1999–00 SUNYAC2012–13 LEC2004–05 UCHC1998–99 NCHA2007–08 CNE2021–22 NESCAC1997–98 NCHA2023–24 MASCAC2024–25 UCHC2022–23 MAC2024–25 CNE2015–16 LEC2024–25 MAC2017–18 NCHA2020–21 MAC2016–17 NCHA2009–10 MASCAC2023–24 NCHA2024–25 MAC2001–02 LEC2002–23 CNE2008–09 SUNYAC2006–07 LEC2006–07 SUNYAC2008–09 MASCAC2021–22 Independent1992–93 MASCAC2015–16 LEC1998–99 MIAC2007–08 UCHC2025–26 MIAC2000–01 MIAC2010–11 MAC2012–13 NCHA2017–18 CNE2012–13 UCHC2001–02 NESCAC1977–78 SUNYAC2014–15 MASCAC2021–22

See also Laura Hurd Award NCAA women's ice hockey tournament Title IX NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament

References