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. The conference was formed in 2023 by the merger of the men-only Atlantic Hockey Association and the women-only College Hockey America (CHA).
History In 2010, the men's division of CHA collapsed and two of the remaining teams joined the Atlantic Hockey Association. At that time, the two leagues began working together by sharing a commissioner and administrative staff in order to streamline their operating costs. 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 began with the 2024–25 season and welcomed a new women's member, Delaware, in 2025. However, the number of men's members was reduced by one in the same year as AIC dropped its program to the Division II level, opting to place its hockey program in its all-sports conference of the NE-10. A little over a year later, Mercyhurst announced that it was discontinuing its men's program but would continue to support its women's team.
Membership Two schools, 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 genders, but only one is a member of AHA. Mercyhurst, Niagara and Syracuse only have one varsity program active as of 2026 but each previously supported the other gender.
Current United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, Colorado Falcons 1954 Public/Federal 4,400 2024 Mountain West United States Military Academy West Point, New York Black Knights 1802 Public/Federal 4,400 2024 Patriot League Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts Falcons 1917 Private/Secular 3,958 2024 Northeast-10 (D-II) Canisius University Buffalo, New York Golden Griffins 1870 Private/Catholic 3,490 2024 Metro University of Delaware Newark, Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 1743 Public 23,281 2025 CUSA College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts Crusaders 1843 Private/Catholic 2,897 2024 Patriot League Lindenwood University Lions 1827 Private/Presbyterian 12,213 2024 OVC Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania Lakers 1926 Private/Catholic 4,055 2024 NEC Niagara University Lewiston, New York Purple Eagles 1856 Private/Catholic 3,853 2024 Metro Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Nittany Lions 1855 Public/State-related 44,817 2024 Big Ten Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania Colonials 1921 Private/Secular 4,005 2024 Horizon Rochester Institute of Technology Henrietta, New York Tigers 1829 Private/Secular 16,842 2024 Liberty League (D-III) Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut Pioneers 1963 Private/Catholic 5,428 2024 Metro Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Orange 1870 Private/Secular 19,082 2024 ACC
Former American International College Springfield, Massachusetts Yellow Jackets 1885 Private/Secular 1,700 2024 2025 Northeast-10 Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania Lakers 1926 Private/Catholic 4,055 2024 2026 None
Timeline
Champions Men's
Season Tournament Regular Season Champion Tournament Champion Notes 2024–25 2025 Holy Cross (1) Bentley (1) Atlantic Hockey America men's division founded by Air Force, American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris, RIT, and Sacred Heart.Final AHA season for American International (left for the NE-10). 2025–26 2026 Bentley (1) Bentley (2) Final AHA season for Mercyhurst (discontinued).
Women's Season Tournament Regular Season Champion Tournament Champion Notes 2024–25 2025 Penn State (1) Penn State (1) Atlantic Hockey America women's division founded by Lindenwood, Mercyhurst, Penn State, Robert Morris, RIT, and Syracuse.2025–262026Penn State (2)Penn State (2)First season for Delaware
Atlantic Hockey America tournament champions by school Men's +SchoolChampionship yearsBentley2025, 2026
Women's +SchoolChampionship yearsPenn State2025, 2026
National tournament history
Men's + NCAA tournament2025BentleyBoston CollegeL 1–32026BentleyMichiganL 1–5
Women's + NCAA tournament2025Penn StateSt. LawrenceL 1–4 2026 Penn State UConn W 3–0 Wisconsin L 4–3 (OT)
Conference arenas
Men's Cadet Ice ArenaUSAF Academy, CO2,502Tate RinkWest Point, NY2,648Bentley ArenaWaltham, MA1,917LECOM HarborcenterBuffalo, NY1,800Hart CenterWorcester, MA1,600Dwyer ArenaLewiston, NY1,400Gene Polisseni CenterBlue Cross Arena (alternate)Henrietta, NYRochester, NY4,30010,556Clearview ArenaNeville Township, PA1,200Martire Family ArenaFairfield, CT3,600
Women's Fred Rust Ice Arena Newark, DE 2,500 Centene Community Ice Center Maryland Heights, MO 2,500 Mercyhurst Ice Center Erie, PA 1,500 Pegula Ice Arena University Park, PA 6,000 Gene Polisseni CenterHenrietta, NY 4,300 Clearview ArenaNeville Township, PA 1,200 Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion Syracuse, NY 350
Awards Men's
All-Conference teams First Team2024–25Second Team2024–25Third Team2024–25Rookie Team2024–25
Individual awards Player of the Year2024–25Forward of the Year2024–25Goaltender of the Year2024–25Rookie of the Year2024–25Coach of the Year2024–25Best Defenseman2024–25Best Defensive Forward2024–25Individual Sportsmanship Award2024–25Most Outstanding Player in Tournament2024–25
See also Atlantic Hockey College Hockey America MAAC Awards
References
External links Atlantic Hockey Online