Women's Hockey East Association

The Hockey East Association, more often referred to simply as Hockey East, is one of the five conferences in NCAA Women's Division I.

History
The Women's Division of Hockey East began in the 2002-2003 season. It consisted of Providence, New Hampshire, Boston College, Northeastern, and Maine, all of whom were already members of the Men's League. Connecticut was also admitted as the 6th charter member of the Women's League, with a full compliment of scholarships, despite it's men's program not being in Hockey East. All six schools were members of the ECAC Women's League, and split off to be charter members of Women's Hockey East.

The first two years of the league were dominated by Providence and New Hampshire, each of which already had successful programs established. The other four schools were building largely from the club level and struggled over the first two seasons, especially against Providence and New Hampshire.

Providence won the first three conference tournament championships, the first two against New Hampshire. 2005 was the first sign that parity was coming to the league, as Connecticut defeated New Hampshire in the semis to move on to the championship game, falling in the final minutes to Providence, who captured it's third consecutive championship.

2005 also saw the expansion of the NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship to an 8-team format, and Hockey East for the first received an automatic bid, to be awarded to it's tournament champion.

2005-2006 saw the addition of two teams. Boston University moved it's team to Division I from the club level. Vermont moved both it's men's and women's Division I programs from the ECACHL to Hockey East.

The Merrimack Warriors women's ice hockey joined the women's league for the 2015-16 season when the sport is elevated to varsity status.

On May 2, 2017 it was announced that the Holy Cross Crusaders women's ice hockey team would be joining the conference for the 2018-19 season. The team would play an independent schedule for the 2017-18 season as it elevates its' program from playing at the Division III level.

Championships (as of end of 2019-20 season)

 * Boston College
 * 3-time Hockey East women's champions (2011, 2015, 2016)
 * 5-time Hockey East women's regular season champions (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)


 * Boston University
 * 2-time Hockey East women's regular season champions (2011, 2013)
 * 4-time Hockey East women's champions (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)


 * New Hampshire
 * 4-time Hockey East women's champions (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
 * 6-time Hockey East women's regular season champions (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
 * 5-time ECAC women's champions (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1996)
 * 1-time women's national champions (1998) *crowned by AWCHA, pre-dated NCAA Women's Frozen Four)


 * Northeastern University
 * 3-time ECAC women's champions (1988, 1989, 1997)
 * 1-time Hockey East women's regular season champions (2012, 2019, 2020)
 * 3-time Hockey East women's champions (2018, 2019, 2020)


 * Providence College
 * 3-time Hockey East women's champions (2003, 2004, 2005)
 * 2-time Hockey East women's regular season champions (2003, 2010)
 * 5-time ECAC women's champions (1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)