Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) is a college ice hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in NCAA Division I as an ice hockey-only conference.[1] The conference was formed in 2023 by the merger of the men-only Atlantic Hockey Association and the women-only College Hockey America (CHA).[2]
History
In 2010, the men's division of CHA collapsed and two of the remaining teams joined the Atlantic Hockey Association.[3] At that time, the two leagues began working together by sharing a commissioner and administrative staff in order to streamline their operating costs.[4] The arrangement worked well enough that by 2023, the two entities decided to formalize their relationship and announced that they were merging. The new league began with the 2024–25 season and is scheduled to welcome a new women's member, Delaware, in 2025.[5] However, the number of men's members will be reduced by one in the same year as AIC plans to drop its program to the Division II level, opting to place its hockey program in its all-sports conference of the NE-10.[6][7]
Membership
Three schools, Mercyhurst, RIT and Robert Morris, have programs in both the men's and women's divisions. Holy Cross, Lindenwood, Penn State and Sacred Heart each operate teams of both genders, but only one is a member of AHA. Niagara and Syracuse only have one varsity program active as of 2024 but both previously supported the other gender.[8]
Current
| Institution
|
Location
|
Nickname
|
Founded
|
Affiliation
|
Enrollment
|
Joined
|
Men's
|
Women's
|
Primary Conference
|
Colors
|
| United States Air Force Academy |
USAF Academy, Colorado[a] |
Falcons |
1954 |
Public/Federal |
4,400 |
2024 |
Y |
N |
Mountain West |
|
| United States Military Academy |
West Point, New York |
Black Knights |
1802 |
Public/Federal |
4,400 |
2024 |
Y |
N |
Patriot League |
|
| Bentley University |
Waltham, Massachusetts |
Falcons |
1917 |
Private/Secular |
3,958 |
2024 |
Y |
N |
Northeast-10 (D-II) |
|
| Canisius University |
Buffalo, New York |
Golden Griffins |
1870 |
Private/Catholic |
3,490 |
2024 |
Y |
N |
MAAC |
|
| University of Delaware |
Newark, Delaware |
Fightin' Blue Hens |
1743 |
Public[b] |
23,281 |
2025 |
N |
Y |
CUSA |
|
| College of the Holy Cross |
Worcester, Massachusetts |
Crusaders |
1843 |
Private/Catholic |
2,897 |
2024 |
Y |
|
Patriot League |
|
| Lindenwood University |
St. Charles, Missouri |
Lions |
1827 |
Private/Presbyterian |
12,213 |
2024 |
|
Y |
OVC |
|
| Mercyhurst University |
Erie, Pennsylvania |
Lakers |
1926 |
Private/Catholic |
4,055 |
2024 |
Y |
Y |
NEC |
|
| Niagara University |
Lewiston, New York[c] |
Purple Eagles |
1856 |
Private/Catholic |
3,853 |
2024 |
Y |
N |
MAAC |
|
| Pennsylvania State University |
University Park, Pennsylvania[d] |
Nittany Lions |
1855 |
Public/State-related |
44,817 |
2024 |
|
Y |
Big Ten |
|
| Robert Morris University |
Moon Township, Pennsylvania |
Colonials |
1921 |
Private/Secular |
4,005 |
2024 |
Y |
Y |
Horizon |
|
| Rochester Institute of Technology |
Henrietta, New York |
Tigers |
1829 |
Private/Secular |
16,842 |
2024 |
Y |
Y |
Liberty League (D-III) |
|
| Sacred Heart University |
Fairfield, Connecticut |
Pioneers |
1963 |
Private/Catholic |
5,428 |
2024 |
Y |
|
MAAC |
|
| Syracuse University |
Syracuse, New York |
Orange |
1870 |
Private/Secular |
19,082 |
2024 |
N |
Y |
ACC |
|
- ^ The Academy grounds lie almost entirely outside the Colorado Springs city limits. The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Census Bureau respectively treat the Academy as "USAF Academy" and "Air Force Academy".
- ^ Delaware is legally chartered as a "privately governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York's statutory colleges, mostly housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education.
- ^ The campus mailing address is "Niagara University".
- ^ The entire Penn State campus is designated by the U.S. Postal Service as "University Park". It straddles the boundary between State College and College Township.
Atlantic Hockey America
220km
137miles
Air Force
Delaware
Syracuse
Sacred Heart
Robert Morris
RIT
Penn State
Niagara
Mercyhurst
Lindenwood
Holy Cross
Canisius
Bentley
Army
Current AHA members: Men's only, Men's and Women's, Women's only
Timeline
Men Women Both
Champions
Men's
| Season |
Tournament |
Regular Season Champion |
Tournament Champion |
Notes
|
| 2024–25 |
2025
|
Holy Cross (1) |
Bentley (1)
|
Atlantic Hockey America men's division founded by Air Force, American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris, RIT, and Sacred Heart. Final AHA season for American International, (leaving for the NE-10).
|
Women's
Atlantic Hockey America tournament champions by school
Men's
| School
|
Championship Years
|
| Bentley
|
2025
|
Women's
| School
|
Championship Years
|
| Penn State
|
2025
|
National tournament history
Men's
Women's
NCAA tournament
| Year
|
AHA Rep.
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
| 2025
|
Penn State
|
St. Lawrence
|
L 1–4
|
Conference arenas
Men's
| School
|
Hockey Arena
|
Location
|
Capacity
|
| Air Force
|
Cadet Ice Arena
|
USAF Academy, CO
|
2,502
|
| Army
|
Tate Rink
|
West Point, NY
|
2,648
|
| Bentley
|
Bentley Arena
|
Waltham, MA
|
1,917
|
| Canisius
|
LECOM Harborcenter
|
Buffalo, NY
|
1,800
|
| Holy Cross
|
Hart Center
|
Worcester, MA
|
1,600
|
| Mercyhurst
|
Mercyhurst Ice Center
Erie Insurance Arena (alternate)
|
Erie, PA
|
1,500
6,833
|
| Niagara
|
Dwyer Arena
|
Lewiston, NY
|
1,400
|
| RIT
|
Gene Polisseni Center
Blue Cross Arena (alternate)
|
Henrietta, NY
Rochester, NY
|
4,300
10,556
|
| Robert Morris
|
Clearview Arena
|
Neville Township, PA
|
1,200
|
| Sacred Heart
|
Martire Family Arena
|
Fairfield, CT
|
3,600
|
|
Women's
Future member
| School
|
Hockey Arena
|
Location
|
Capacity
|
| Delaware
|
Fred Rust Ice Arena
|
Newark, DE
|
2,500
|
| Lindenwood
|
Centene Community Ice Center
|
Maryland Heights, MO
|
2,500
|
| Mercyhurst
|
Mercyhurst Ice Center
|
Erie, PA
|
1,500
|
| Penn State
|
Pegula Ice Arena
|
University Park, PA
|
6,000
|
| RIT
|
Gene Polisseni Center
|
Henrietta, NY
|
4,300
|
| Robert Morris
|
Clearview Arena
|
Neville Township, PA
|
1,200
|
| Syracuse
|
Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion
|
Syracuse, NY
|
350
|
|
Awards
Men's
All-Conference teams
|
Individual awards
|
See also
References
- ^ "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024". Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Atlantic Hockey, CHA women will combine as Atlantic Hockey America for 2024-25 season". USCHO. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Shaver, Wally. "News and notes from the 2008 NCAA Men's Frozen Four". Retrieved 2010-01-28.
- ^ "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024". Atlantic Hockey Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "University of Delaware to Join College Hockey America for 2025-26 Season" (Press release). College Hockey America. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "AIC Dropping Program Back to Division II". College Hockey News. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "AIC Moving to Division II at Conclusion of 2024-2025 Season" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ "Niagara University Announces Restructuring Of Athletics Programs". Niagara University. March 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
External links
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