Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League

The Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League (ECWHL) is an American Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Division 1 club level hockey-only college athletic conference for women's hockey teams.[1] It is one of four ACHA Women's Division 1 conferences, along with the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association, the Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League, and Women's Midwest College Hockey. Primarily, the league has been concentrated in New England and Upstate and Western New York, with eleven of its thirteen members over fourteen seasons based in those areas.

Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League
ECWHL
Established2003
AssociationACHA
DivisionWomen's Division 1
Members3
Sports fielded
RegionNew England, Mid-Atlantic
CommissionerBill Wright
Locations

The University of Rhode Island has been the ECWHL's most successful program in conference play, winning nine playoff championships and nine regular season championships in 17 years. URI and Massachusetts are the only two founding members that have remained in the ECWHL throughout its entire existence, and both have frequently qualified for the ACHA's National Tournament - 12 and 15 times, respectively, while in the ECWHL. However, former member Northeastern University owns the league's sole ACHA National Championship, as the Huskies defeated the University of Minnesota in the final to win in 2011–12.

Current membership
Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Colors Primary Facility
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts Minutemen 1863 Public 30,593 Maroon and White
   		 William D. Mullins Memorial Center
Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Nittany Lions 1855 Public/State-Related 46,723 Blue and White
   		 Pegula Ice Arena
University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island Rams 1892 Public 17,064 Keaney Blue, Dark Blue and White
     		 Bradford R. Boss Arena

Former members

Notably, four ECWHL members have left the league in order to transition to NCAA varsity status. These alumni programs include Boston University and Penn State in NCAA Division I and Norwich and Canton in NCAA Division III. Penn State re-entered the ECWHL in 2014 with a separate ACHA Division 1 program. Buffalo, Connecticut, Navy, Vermont and Northeastern all departed while dropping to the ACHA's Division 2, where each remains today. Bates presently competes in the non-ACHA division of the Independent Women's Collegiate Hockey League. NCCC left for a non-ACHA conference, the Northeast Women's College Hockey Association, but has since ceased operations.

Membership timeline
United States Naval AcademyState University of New York at CantonUniversity of VermontNortheastern UniversityUniversity of ConnecticutNorth Country Community CollegeNorwich UniversityBates CollegeRhode Island Rams women's ice hockeyPenn State Women's Ice Hockey ClubUMass Minutemen women's ice hockeyUniversity at BuffaloBoston University

Playoff championship game results

Beginning with the 2006 playoffs, the previous season's champion serves as the host.

Year Champion Score Runner-Up Location
2004Rhode Island9–2[2]MassachusettsKingston, Rhode Island
2005Rhode Island5–4 (OT)MassachusettsAmherst, Massachusetts
2006Rhode Island4–2[3]MassachusettsKingston, Rhode Island
2007Rhode Island4–1[4]NorwichKingston, Rhode Island
2008Rhode Island5–4 (3OT)[5]MassachusettsKingston, Rhode Island
2009Rhode Island4–1[6]MassachusettsKingston, Rhode Island
2010Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode Island
2011Northeastern6–5[7]Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode Island
2012Rhode Island4–1[8]Penn StateBoston, Massachusetts
2013Massachusetts2–1[9]NortheasternKingston, Rhode Island
2014Rhode Island2–0[10]MassachusettsAmherst, Massachusetts
2015Massachusetts7–2Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode Island
2016Massachusetts4–3Rhode IslandAmherst, Massachusetts
2017Massachusetts3–0Rhode IslandAmherst, Massachusetts
2018Playoff not held †
2019Playoff not held †
2020Playoff not held †

† Due to the small number of teams in the conference, the ECWHL's regular season winner was named its sole champion, by mutual agreement of the membership and the commissioner

Regular season champions
  • 2003–04 Rhode Island
  • 2004–05 Rhode Island
  • 2005–06 Rhode Island
  • 2006–07 Rhode Island
  • 2007–08 Rhode Island
  • 2008–09 Massachusetts
  • 2009–10 Rhode Island
  • 2010–11 Northeastern
  • 2011–12 Penn State
  • 2012–13 Massachusetts
  • 2013–14 Rhode Island
  • 2014–15 Massachusetts
  • 2015–16 Rhode Island
  • 2016–17 Massachusetts
  • 2017–18 Rhode Island
  • 2018–19 Massachusetts
  • 2019–20 Massachusetts

ACHA National Tournament appearances

Appearances made while an ECWHL member. Former conference members are in italics.

School Appearances Years Championships
Massachusetts152005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020None
Rhode Island122004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016None
Penn State42004, 2007, 2010, 2015None
Northeastern32011, 2012, 20132012
Buffalo12005None
Connecticut12007None
Norwich12007None

World University Games selections

Since 2011, the American Collegiate Hockey Association has supplied players for the United States team at the World University Games women's hockey tournament, held biennially and as part of the multi-sport event for college and university student-athletes.

Year Location Player School Result
2011[11]Erzurum, TurkeyMo Stroemel (head coach)Penn StateFourth Place
Justine DucieRhode Island
Lindsay ReihlPenn State
Denise RohlikPenn State
Heather RossiPenn State
Katie VaughanPenn State
Megan WintersNortheastern
2013[12]Trentino, ItalyAmanda AbromsonMassachusettsBronze Medal
Cassie CatlowRhode Island
Chelsea CorellMassachusetts
Alisha DiFilippoRhode Island
Paige HarringtonMassachusetts
Lauren HillbergRhode Island
Caleigh LaBossiereMassachusetts
Sarah OteriMassachusetts
2015[13]Granada, SpainAmanda AbromsonMassachusettsFifth Place
Vicki BortolussiMassachusetts
Cassie CatlowRhode Island
Emily FordVermont
Paige HarringtonMassachusetts
Caleigh LaBossiereMassachusetts
Kristen LevesqueRhode Island
Madison SmiddyPenn State
2017[14]Almaty, KazakhstanCassie DunnePenn StateBronze Medal
Amber GreeneMassachusetts
Brittani LanzilliMassachusetts

Notable ACHA award winners
Year Winner School Award
2004–05Beth McCannRhode IslandCoach of the Year
2007–08Beth McCannRhode IslandCoach of the Year
2008–09Maura GraingerMassachusettsZoë M. Harris Player of the Year
2009–10Hayley KuhnMassachusettsOff-Ice Most Valuable Player
2010–11Nick CarpenitoNortheasternCoach of the Year
2010–11Danika KorpaczRhode IslandOff-Ice Most Valuable Player
2010–11Sara ChromanPenn StateCommunity Playmaker
2011–12Chelsea DietzNortheasternACHA Tournament MVP
2011–12Sam GouinMassachusettsOff-Ice Most Valuable Player
2012–13Cassie CatlowRhode IslandZoë M. Harris Player of the Year
2013–14Stephanie HydeCantonCommunity Playmaker
2013–14Sam GouinMassachusettsCommunity Playmaker
2015–16Brittani LanzilliMassachusettsZoë M. Harris Player of the Year
2016–17Kelly WatsonPenn StateCommunity Playmaker
2016–17Rhode IslandTeam Community Service Award
2019–20Bill WrightMassachusettsCoach of the Year

See also

References
  1. "Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League". Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
  2. "2003-2004 Schedule". University of Rhode Island Club Sports. Archived from the original on April 2, 2004. Retrieved April 13, 2016.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "Women's hockey: Team wins ECWHL Championship". The Good 5-Cent Cigar. March 2, 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. "Women's hockey wins fourth straight league title, ready for ACHA National Tournament". The Good 5-Cent Cigar. February 28, 2007. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. "Women's hockey wins fifth straight ECWHL championship". The Good 5-Cent Cigar. February 28, 2008. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  6. "URI women's hockey takes 6th-straight ECWHL crown". The Good 5-Cent Cigar. March 4, 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  7. "Women's hockey ends seven-year championship streak". The Good 5-Cent Cigar. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  8. "(W1) Penn State University 1 @ (W1) Rhode Island, University of 4". American Collegiate Hockey Association. February 26, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  9. "UMass Wins ECWHL Tournament". UMass Women's Hockey. February 18, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  10. "URI women's hockey team wins ECWHL title". Providence Journal. February 24, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  11. http://www.achahockey.org/files/roster_2011_us_women.pdf%5B%5D
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2014-08-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. http://www.usawomenshockey.com/news_article/show/456032?referrer_id=1362963
  14. http://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/740061?referrer_id=2890555
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