.jpg){kind=link}
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference was founded July 13, 2011. The founding six members are Colorado College, University of Denver Miami University (Ohio), University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Nebraska-Omaha, and University of North Dakota. St. Cloud State and Western Michigan University accepted invitations to join the new conference.
The formation of the league was motivated by the decision of Penn State University to start a varsity hockey program in the spring of 2011. This gave the Big Ten Conference enough members to start a Division I hockey league for the 2013-14 academic year. The fall out also led to the demise of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The league is based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jim Scherr was named the league's first commisioner in January 2012. He was replaced by Josh Fenton on July 1, 2013.
On May 12, 2022, Heather Weems was named third commissioner of the NCHC.
Membership Changes[]
- On July 5, 2023 the National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced the addition of the Arizona State Sun Devils Men's Ice Hockey team to the conference for the 2024-25 playing season. Arizona State previously played as an independent.[1]
- On May 15, 2024 University of St. Thomas announced they would leave the CCHA to become the tenth member of the conference for the 2026-27 season.
Arenas[]
| School | Hockey arena | Year opened | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State | Mullett Arena | 2022 | 5,000 |
| Colorado College | Ed Robson Arena | 2021 | 3,407 |
| Denver | Magness Arena | 1999 | 6,026 |
| Miami | Goggin Ice Center | 2006 | 3,200 |
| Minnesota Duluth | AMSOIL Arena | 2010 | 6,732 |
| North Dakota | Ralph Engelstad Arena | 2001 | 11,640 |
| Omaha | Baxter Arena | 2015 | 7,898 |
| St. Cloud State | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center | 1989 | 5,763 |
| St. Thomas | Lee and Penny Anderson Arena | 2025 | 4,000 |
| Western Michigan | Lawson Arena | 1974 | 3,667 |
First season[]
The league took to the ice for the 2013-14 season with the eight teams being grouped into a single table. The first league games were held on October 18, 2013. The regular season ended on March 8, 2014. The regular season champions, the St. Cloud State Huskies, were awarded the Penrose Cup.
Penrose Cup
The league's inaugural post season tournament was NCHC Frozen Faceoff. All eight members participated in the tournament wiith the first round being a best-of-three held on campus sites (at the higher seed) involving teams paired off as 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5. The semifinals and final were held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 21 and 22, 2014. There was also a consolation game involving the semifinal losing teams. The tournament winner, Denver Pioneers received an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey tournament.
Second Season[]
The league released a schedule involving the same eight teams as the previous season. The conference championship will be held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota April 20-21, 2015.
Penrose Cup[]
The Penrose Cup trophy has been awarded to the NCHC's regular-season champion since the conference's beginning in autumn 2013. The award honors Julie and Spencer Penrose, who created the El Pomar Foundation that played a major role in the establishment of the NCHC.
| Team | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 6 | 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24 |
| St. Cloud State | 3 | 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19 |
| Denver | 3 | 2016–17, 2021–22, 2022–23 |
Regular Season Champions (Penrose Cup)[]
- 2013-14 St. Cloud State Huskies
- 2014-15 University of North Dakota
- 2015-16 University of North Dakota
- 2016-17 Denver Pioneers
- 2017-18 St. Cloud State Huskies
- 2018-19 St. Cloud State Huskies
- 2019-20 University of North Dakota
- 2020-21 University of North Dakota
- 2021-22 Denver Pioneers/North Dakota Fighting Hawks
- 2022-23 Denver Pioneers
- 2023-2024 University of North Dakota
Frozen Faceoff Champions[]
- 2014 Denver Pioneers
- 2015 Miami RedHawks
- 2016 St. Cloud State Huskies
- 2017 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
- 2018 Denver Pioneers
- 2019 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
- 2021 University of North Dakota
- 2022 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
- 2023 St. Cloud State Huskies
- 2024 Denver Pioneers
Seasons[]
- 2013-14 NCHC Season
- 2014-15 NCHC Season
- 2015-16 NCHC Season
- 2016-17 NCHC Season
- 2017-18 NCHC Season
- 2018-19 NCHC Season
- 2019-20 NCHC season
- 2020-21 NCHC Season
- 2021-22 NCHC Season
- 2022-23 NCHC Season
- 2023-24 NCHC Season
Sources[]
| NCAA Division I hockey conferences | |
|---|---|
| Current | Atlantic Hockey - Big Ten Conference - Central Collegiate Hockey Association - College Hockey America (women's) - ECAC Hockey - Hockey East - National Collegiate Hockey Conference - New England Women's Hockey Alliance - Western Collegiate Hockey Association (women's) - Independents |
| Former | College Hockey America (men's) - Great West Hockey Conference - Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference - Tri-State League - Western Collegiate Hockey Association (men's) |
| Championships: Men / Women | |