National Collegiate Hockey Conference

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) is an NCAA men's Division I hockey conference. The league was formed on July 9, 2011, and began playing for the 2013–14 season, the same season that the Big Ten Conference began competition, as a combination of six previous members of the WCHA and two of the CCHA. The league is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

History

The men's college ice hockey landscape was shaken on March 21, 2011, when the Big Ten Conference announced it would sponsor the sport following Penn State having fielding a team, bringing the number of Big Ten members with teams to six. The WCHA faced the loss of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers in the future, whereas the CCHA faced the loss of the Michigan Wolverines, the Michigan State Spartans, and Ohio State Buckeyes. Some of the remaining teams of the WCHA and CCHA began talks to form a league that would ensure their survival as financially strong and successful programs.

On July 9, 2011, the athletic directors of the six founding schools, Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, and the University of North Dakota, confirmed these reports by announcing the conference officially and giving the date for a press conference for further information on July 13, 2011.

At the July 13, 2011 press conference, Brian Faison, athletic director of the University of North Dakota, and one of the main speakers said that the motivation for this conference was to put teams together that "have displayed a high level of competitiveness on the ice, [have] an institutional commitment to compete at the highest level within Division I, provide a national platform for exposure, and have wonderful history and tradition within their institution and hockey programs."

On September 22, 2011, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University accepted invitations to join the NCHC.

On March 7, 2013, the NCHC unveiled the logo for the inaugural season. It features a shield design with the colors red, white, and blue. Inside the shield are eight stars, presumably representing the eight inaugural members, and a hockey stick on the bottom left.

On May 12, 2022, Heather Weems was named third commissioner of the NCHC.

On July 5, 2023, a report came out that announced that Arizona State University would join the conference beginning in the 2024–25 season. The NCHC officially announced Arizona State's entry later that day.

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.

Arizona State University officially became a member of the NCHC on July 1, 2024.

The University of St. Thomas officially joined the conference on July 1, 2026.

Members Tempe, Arizona1885IndependentPublic79,818Sun Devils0Independent (ACHA)Big 12Colorado Springs, Colorado1874WCHA Private2,056Tigers2N/ASCAC (D-III)Denver, Colorado1864WCHA12,894Pioneers11N/AWCCOxford, Ohio1809CCHA Public18,838RedHawks0N/AMACDuluth, Minnesota1902WCHA9,253Bulldogs3WCHANorthern Sun (D-II)Omaha, Nebraska1908WCHA14,972Mavericks0N/ASummit LeagueGrand Forks, North Dakota1883WCHA15,019Fighting Hawks8N/ASummit LeagueSt. Cloud, Minnesota1869WCHA10,164Huskies0WCHANorthern Sun (D-II) University of St. Thomas Saint Paul, Minnesota 1885CCHA Private/Catholic (diocesan) 9,445 Tommies0 WCHA Summit LeagueKalamazoo, Michigan1903CCHAPublic17,605Broncos1N/AMAC

Championships, Frozen Fours, and NCAA Tournament Appearances Arizona State––– 1–– Colorado College 2 3 10 20 9 1 Denver 11 3 21 35 16 19 Miami– 1 2 12 4 2 Minnesota Duluth 3 2 8 16 3 6 Omaha–– 1 5–– North Dakota 8 5 23 36 22 12 St. Cloud State– 1 2 17 4 3 St. Thomas–––––– Western Michigan1 – 1 111 3

Conference Champions 2013–14St. Cloud StateDenver Frozen Four (North Dakota) 2014–15 North DakotaMiami Frozen Four (North Dakota, Omaha) 2015–16 North DakotaSt. Cloud StateChampion (North Dakota) 2016–17 DenverMinnesota DuluthChampion (Denver) 2017–18 St. Cloud State Denver Champion (Minnesota Duluth) 2018–19 St. Cloud State Minnesota Duluth Champion (Minnesota Duluth) 2019–20 North DakotaCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020–21 North Dakota North DakotaRunner-Up (St. Cloud State) 2021–22 Denver/North Dakota* Minnesota DuluthChampion (Denver) 2022–23DenverSt. Cloud StateRegional Final (St. Cloud State) 2023–24North DakotaDenverChampion (Denver) 2024–25Western MichiganWestern MichiganChampion (Western Michigan) 2025–26North DakotaDenverChampion (Denver) (*) Both teams tied in total points resulting in co-champions.

Penrose Cup The Penrose Cup trophy has been awarded to the NCHC's regular-season champion since the conference's inaugural season in 2013–14. The award honors Julie and Spencer Penrose, who created the El Pomar Foundation that played a major role in the establishment of the NCHC. +Wins by SchoolNorth Dakota72014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2025–26St. Cloud State32013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19Denver32016–17, 2021–22, 2022–23Western Michigan12024–25

National Cup Champions The NCHC named its previously unnamed conference tournament trophy the National Cup in September 2025.

Conference arenas

Mullett Arena 2022 5,000 Ed Robson Arena 2021 3,407Magness Arena19996,026Goggin Ice Center20063,200AMSOIL Arena20106,756Ralph Engelstad Arena200111,568Baxter Arena20157,898Herb Brooks National Hockey Center19895,159 Lee & Penny Anderson Arena 2025 4,000Lawson Arena19743,667

Membership timeline

Awards At the conclusion of each regular season schedule the coaches of each NCHC team vote which players they choose to be on the three All-Conference teams: first team, second team and rookie team. Additionally they vote to award the 10 individual trophies to an eligible player at the same time. The CCHA also awards Most Valuable Player in Tournament which is voted on at the conclusion of the conference tournament. All of the awards were created for the inaugural season (2013–14).

All-Conference teams First Team2013–14Second Team2013–14Rookie Team2013–14All-Tournament Team2014

Individual awards Player of the Year2013–14Rookie of the Year2013–14Goaltender of the Year 2013–14Herb Brooks Coach of the Year2013–14Forward of the Year2013–14Defensive Forward of the Year2013–14Defensive Defenseman of the Year2013–14Offensive Defenseman of the Year2013–14Scholar-Athlete of the Year2013–14Sportsmanship Award2013–14Frozen Faceoff MVP2014 The 'Defensive Defenseman of the Year' award was known as the 'Defenseman of the Year' award prior to 2017.

National Collegiate Hockey Conference

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