ECAC West was a college athletic conference which operated in the northeastern United States until 2017. It participated in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference. The conference ceased to exist after the end of the 2016–17 season when most joined the newly formed United Collegiate Hockey Conference or Northeast Women's Hockey League.
History ECAC West was officially formed in 1984 when ECAC 2 was split in two and both new conferences dropped down to Division III. The conference consisted entirely of schools from upstate New York until 1988 when Mercyhurst joined. In 1992 all universities that were members SUNYAC and a few other schools left when Mercyhurst took part in the effort that was made to restart the Division II Championship, leaving just seven teams in the ECAC West. After two more schools dropped their programs the conference was down to five teams in 1994 but it began to recover when Niagara joined in 1996. In 1998 the conference lost two programs when the MAAC began sponsoring a Division I ice hockey conference followed by a third just one year later. When the Division II Tournament ended in 1999 the conference returned to D-III and was left with only four schools but in 2001 it began to sponsor women's hockey as well and its ranks immediately swelled to nine universities. The conference roster continued to grow, reaching 15 in 2016–17 but after that season all but one league member left to join either the United Collegiate Hockey Conference or Northeast Women's Hockey League with the lone remaining school (Hobart) joining the New England Hockey Conference.
ECAC West Tournaments
Members LocationAthletic nicknameColorsFoundedJoined (M)Left (M)Current Conference (M)†Joined (W)Left (W)Current Conference (W)†Binghamton, New YorkBearcats 194619871992Dropped Program–––Brockport, New YorkGolden Eagles186719841992SUNYAC–––Buffalo, New YorkBulls184619841987Dropped Program––– Buffalo, New York Bengals 1871–––20012017NEWHLBuffalo, New YorkGolden Griffins187019871998Atlantic Hockey––– Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cougars 1869–––20022017UCHC Cortland, New York Red Dragons 186819841992SUNYAC20012017NEWHL Elmira, New York Soaring Eagles 185519842017UCHC20012017UCHCFredonia, New YorkBlue Devils182619871992SUNYAC–––Geneseo, New YorkKnights187119841992SUNYAC–––Clinton, New YorkContinentals179319841992NESCAC–––Geneva, New YorkStatesmen182219852017NEHC–––Annville, PennsylvaniaFlying Dutchmen186620042017UCHC–––Purchase, New YorkValiants181519992017UCHC–––Erie, PennsylvaniaLakers192619881999Atlantic Hockey–––Pittsford, New YorkGolden Flyers192420122017UCHC–––Aston, PennsylvaniaKnights196520012017UCHC20012017UCHCLewiston, New YorkPurple Eagles185619961998Atlantic Hockey––– Oswego, New York Lakers 189119841992SUNYAC20062017NEWHLPlattsburgh, New YorkCardinals 188919841992SUNYAC20012017NEWHLPotsdam, New YorkBears181619841992SUNYAC20082017NEWHLHenrietta, New YorkTigers182919842005Atlantic Hockey20072012CHAScranton, PennsylvaniaRoyals 188819911994Dropped Program–––Allegany, New YorkBonnies185819861993Dropped Program–––Stevenson, MarylandMustangs194720162017UCHC–––Schenectady, New YorkDutchmen179519841991ECAC Hockey–––Utica, New YorkPioneers194620012017UCHC20012017UCHCGeneva, New YorkHerons 1908–––20142017UCHC † as of 2018
Membership timeline
References
External links Men's official web site Women's official web site