 | |
| Formerly | MAAC (1997–2003) |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Founded | 1997 (as MAAC Hockey) 2003 (as Atlantic Hockey) |
| Commissioner | Michelle Morgan (since 2023) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division I |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Region | Northeastern United States and Colorado |
| Most recent champion(s) | RIT (4th title) |
| Most titles | Air Force (7) |
| Official website | http://www.atlantichockeyonline.com/ |
| Locations | |
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The Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) was an NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey had no women's division, though it shared some organizational and administrative roles (and three universities) with the women's-only College Hockey America (CHA).
It was formed in 1997 and began play in the 1998–1999 season as the hockey division of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Within three years, it was granted an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. However, in 2003, Iona and Fairfield dropped hockey, leaving Canisius as the only full MAAC member that sponsored hockey. This proved somewhat problematic for MAAC Hockey, since conference bylaws only allowed full members to vote. On June 30, 2003, MAAC Hockey broke off from the MAAC and reorganized as Atlantic Hockey.[1]
On June 6, 2023, it was announced that Atlantic Hockey would be merging all operations with CHA, effective in 2024. Details regarding this merger, including whether the new league would carry the Atlantic or College Hockey name, were to be announced at a later date.[2] Shortly after the 2024 season, the new conference was announced as Atlantic Hockey America.[3]
- ^ "History of the MAAC". augenblick.org.
- ^ "Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America to Merge Operations in 2024" (Press release). 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.