SUNYAC, the State University of New York Athletic Conference, is a league in NCAA Men's Division III comprised solely of schools in the State University of New York system.
The conference has sponsored men's ice hockey since the 1977-78 season. However, the conference dates back to September 19, 1958. The conference was originally known as the New York State Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NYSIAC), which later was re-designated the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) in 1963.
Enough SUNYAC schools sponsored men's ice hockey as far back as 1986-87 for the conference to get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament however, the conference started play with the 1992-93 season as all seven founding men's ice hockey members joined from the ECAC West (an 8th team Binghamton Colonials (now Binghamton Bearcats), ended its program after the 1991-92 season and later elevated its whole athletic program to Division I in 2001). However, the conference tournament dates back to 1985 (the teams were matched up based upon ECAC West results). The Buffalo State College team joined for 1993-94. During these seasons, the teams also participated in the ECAC playoffs.
The Morrisville Mustangs joined the conference for the 2007-08 season.
The Canton Kangaroos are playing as a Division III Independent as they are in the process of elevating their program to varsity status from the club level ACHA. They are believed to be eventually joining the conference over the next few seasons as the school completed a state of the art athletic facility (the SUNY Canton Athletic and Recreation Center, called the CARC on campus) in 2011 which included a hockey rink.
Addition of Women's hockey[]
On May 12, 2023 the State University of New York Athletic Conference announced it would be adding women's ice hockey for the 2023-24 season. The league is being formed out of the current members of the Northeast Women's Hockey League plus the Canton Kangaroos women's ice hockey team. The change over to the new conference will take place at the change over of the academic year on July 1, 2023.[1]
Men's Membership[]
Women's Membership[]
Men's Seasons[]
Women's Seasons[]
| For previous seasons please see Northeast Women's Hockey League | |||||||||
| Season | Regular Season Champion | Conference Tournament Champion | NCAA Tournament Teams | ||||||
| 2024 | Plattsburgh Cardinals | Cortland Red Dragons | Cortland Red Dragons (First Round) Plattsburgh Cardinals (Quarterfinals) | ||||||