Big Four

The Big Four Men's Division I conferences are the four leagues with the longest histories, powerhouse programs, and star players. Before the major D-I hockey realignment of the early 2010s, the conferences were:


 * Central Collegiate Hockey Association
 * ECAC Hockey League
 * Hockey East
 * Western Collegiate Hockey Association

The realignment caused the CCHA to fold (although it is now set to be revived in 2021), and led to major membership turnover in the WCHA. Two new conferences began play in 2013—the Big Ten Conference, an all-sports league that added men's hockey to its sports roster, and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Due to major membership turnover in the WCHA, it is unclear whether it belongs in a notional "Big Five". The modern "Big Four" or "Big Five" are: Teams from these leagues dominate the national title chase each year. To compete in these leagues, teams need to put significant resources towards college hockey, in terms of facilities, scholarships, and tradition.
 * Big Ten
 * ECAC
 * Hockey East
 * NCHC
 * WCHA (arguably)