Northern Collegiate Hockey League

Northern Collegiate Hockey League
Conference	ACHA
Founded	2014
Commissioner	Dan Breunig
Sports fielded	Men's ice hockey;
Division	Division II
No. of teams	11
Region	Central
Most recent; champion(s)	Marian University; (5th title)
Most titles	Marian University; (5 titles)
Official website	Official website

The Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) is a college ice hockey league based in the central region of the United States. The conference is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 and is made up of eleven teams from universities and colleges based in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

History

The 2014–2015 season was the inaugural season for the NCHL, formed of ACHA D2 teams from Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan.^[1]

Regular-season format

Each conference member is required to play all the other members, for a 16-game conference season. Teams earn two point for a win (regulation or overtime), one point for a tie or an overtime loss, and zero points for a regulation loss.

At the end of the season the top six teams qualify for the conference tournament, with the top two teams receiving a first round bye.

Member teams

Member	Location	Joined league	Nickname	Home arena	Head coach
Aurora University	Aurora, IL	2017	Spartans	All Seasons	Bill Andrews
Concordia University Wisconsin	Mequon, WI	2018	Falcons	Ozaukee Ice Center	Shea Klitzke
DePaul University	Chicago, IL	2017	Blue Demons	Johnny's Ice House West	Sean Hammond
Lewis University	Romeoville, IL	2015	Flyers	CanLan Ice Sports	Jim Swoyer
Marian University	Fond du Lac, WI	2016	Sabres	Blue Line Family Ice Center	Blake Zabinski
Marquette University	Milwaukee, WI	2017	Golden Eagles	The Ponds of Brookfield	Paul Wajgel
Milwaukee School of Engineering	Milwaukee, WI	2023	Raiders	Kern Center	George Sullivan
Purdue University Northwest	Hammond, IN	2021	Pride	Kube Sports Complex	Tom Pauly
Roosevelt University	Bensenville, IL	2014	Lakers	The Edge Ice Arena	Vito Bruno
St. Norbert College	De Pere, WI	2021	Green Knights	Resch Olympic Pavilion	Dan Wood
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	Milwaukee, WI	2022	Panthers	The Ponds of Brookfield	Gavin Nickerson
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Oshkosh, WI	2014	Titans	20th St. YMCA	Kyle Jansen

Conference tournament format

Playoffs 2025

Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Championship

Purdue University NW	3

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	2
		Purdue University NW	4

		Concordia University WI	3
Concordia University WI	4

DePaul University	1
				Purdue University NW	4

				Marian University	5
Marian University	10

Roosevelt University	1
		Marian University	5

		Marquette University	1
Aurora University	1

Marquette University	4

Playoffs 2024

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

1	Concordia University WI	7

8	Roosevelt University	1
			1	Concordia University WI	6

			5	Marian University	3
4	Aurora University	2

5	Marian University	9
						1	Concordia University WI	9

						2	DePaul University	6
2	DePaul University	4 (OT)

7	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	3
			2	DePaul University	7

			3	Marquette University	0
3	Marquette University	6

6	University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	0

Playoffs 2023

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

1	Concordia University WI	6

8	Lewis University	3
			1	Concordia University WI	9

			5	Aurora University	1
4	Marquette University	4

5	Aurora University	5
						1	Concordia University WI	4

						2	DePaul University	6
2	DePaul University	9

7	Roosevelt University	1
			2	DePaul University	9

			3	Marian University	5
3	Marian University	4

6	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	1

Playoffs 2022

Black Division

Semifinals			Championship

1	Marquette University	6

4	DePaul University	3
			1	Marquette University	3

			2	Marian University	8
2	Marian University	5

3	Concordia University WI	2

Orange Division

Semifinals			Championship

1	Purdue University Northwest	6

4	St. Norbert College	1
			1	Purdue University Northwest	4

			2	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	5 (OT)
2	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	7

3	Northern Michigan University	4

Playoffs 2020

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

			1	Marian University	2
4	Marquette University	9	4	Marquette University	1
5	Lewis University	3				1	Marian University	4 (OT)
						3	Concordia University WI	3
			2	Aurora University	4
3	Concordia University WI	4	3	Concordia University WI	5 (OT)
6	DePaul University	1

Playoffs 2019

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

			1	Marian University	5
4	Robert Morris University	6	4	Robert Morris University	0
5	DePaul University	1				1	Marian University	3
						2	Aurora University	2
			2	Aurora University	3
3	Marquette University	7	3	Marquette University	2
6	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	4

Playoffs 2018

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

			1	Aurora University	4
4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	0	4	Robert Morris University	2
5	Robert Morris University	2				1	Aurora University	4
						2	Marian University	2
			2	Marian University	5
3	St. Mary's University of MN	4 (SO)	3	St. Mary's University of MN	3
6	DePaul University	4

Playoffs 2017

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

			1	Marian University	8
4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	5	4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	1
5	Lewis University	2				1	Marian University	5
						2	Waldorf University	2
			2	Waldorf University	7
3	Robert Morris University	8	3	Robert Morris University	3
6	St. Mary's University of MN	0

Playoffs 2016

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

			1	Lewis University	4
4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	6	4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	5 (2OT)
5	Northern Michigan University	3				4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	2
						2	Robert Morris University	4
			2	Robert Morris University	2
3	Waldorf University	3	3	Waldorf University	1
6	St. Mary's University of MN	0

Playoffs 2015

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Championship

			1	Waldorf University	7
4	Michigan Tech University	3	4	Michigan Tech University	0
5	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	1				1	Waldorf University	3
						2	Robert Morris University	1
			2	Robert Morris University	8
3	University of Minnesota Duluth	4	3	University of Minnesota Duluth	3
6	St. Mary's University of MN	2

Conference champions (Hap Cup)

Season	Champion	Runner-Up	Championship Location	Host
2014-15	Waldorf University	Robert Morris University	Albert Lea, MN	Waldorf University
2015-16	Robert Morris University	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Marquette, MI	Northern Michigan University
2016-17	Marian University	Robert Morris University	Albert Lea, MN	Waldorf University
2017-18	Aurora University	Marian University	Beaver Dam, WI	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
2018-19	Marian University	Aurora University	Fond du Lac, WI	Marian University
2019-20	Marian University	Concordia University	Fond du Lac, WI	Marian University
2020-21	Season Cancelled Due to COVID
2021-22	Marian University	Marquette University	Fond du Lac, WI	Marian University
2022-23	DePaul University	Concordia University	Fond du Lac, WI	Marian University
2023-24	Concordia University	DePaul University	Fond du Lac, WI	Marian University
2024-25	Marian University	Purdue University Northwest	Fond du Lac, WI	Marian University

Championship totals

Team	Titles	Years
Marian University	5	2025, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2017
Concordia University	1	2024
DePaul University	1	2023
Aurora University	1	2018
Robert Morris University	1	2016
Waldorf University	1	2015

Season awards

Season	Player of the Year	School	Rookie of the Year	School	Coach of the Year	School
2014-15	Ronald Paulson	Waldorf University	Ronald Paulson	Waldorf University	Brett Shelanski	Waldorf University
2015-16	Tony Francois	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Jason Johnson	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Chris Huebel	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
2016-17	Joey Daniels	Robert Morris University - Maroon	Miles Giorgione	Marian University	Billy Karr	Robert Morris University - Maroon
2017-18	Tommy Feldman	DePaul University	Matt Ernsting	Lewis University	Don Cada	St. Mary's University of MN
2018-19	Conor Coyne & Justin Davidson	Marquette University & Marian University	Zach Tykocki	Aurora University	Will Jurgensen	Marquette University
2019-20	Jonathan Grodzki	Concordia University Wisconsin	Mack Willy	Concordia University Wisconsin	Chris Fredrickson	Marian University
2021-22	Patrick Sweeney	Marquette University	Garrett Wilderman	Concordia University Wisconsin	Chris Fredrickson & Dan Wood	Marian University & Concordia University Wisconsin
2022-23	Michael Helf	DePaul University	Chris Lee	DePaul University	Dan Wood	DePaul University
2023-24	Ian Malcolmson	Concordia University Wisconsin	Charlie Emme	Concordia University Wisconsin	Shea Klitzke	Concordia University Wisconsin
2024-25	Tommy Cassel	Concordia University Wisconsin	Jackson Sweeney	Marian University	Blake Zabinski	Marian University

National championship qualifiers

Concordia University WI (2024, 2023)
Marian University (2019)
Aurora University (2018)

National Player of the Year

Charles Emme, Concordia University WI (2024)

Expansion member for 2025-26 season

St. Norbert College

Previous members

University of Minnesota Duluth (2014–16)
Michigan Tech University (2014–16)
Waldorf University (2014–17)
St. Mary's University of MN (2014–18)
St. Norbert College (2021–23)
Purdue University Northwest (2021–22)
Northern Michigan University (2014–2023)

References

^ "NCHL History". Northern Collegiate Hockey League.

[1] "NCHL History". Northern Collegiate Hockey League.

[1]

v t e American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2
Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) Big Mountain Hockey Conference (BMHC) Colonial States College Hockey Conference (CSCHC) Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League (MWCHL) Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA) Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (PAC-8) Super East Collegiate Hockey League (SECHL) Texas Collegiate Hockey Conference (TCHC) Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL) West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC) Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA)
Former conferences Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Conference (GNCHC) Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACH) Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association (PCHA)
ACHA List of champions