The ECAC Hockey Tournament is the conference tournament for ECAC Hockey. The winner of the tournament received an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament which has occurred every year the NCAA has allowed automatic berths into the tournament. The ECAC tournament champion has only once not received an invitation to the NCAA tournament, that coming in 1963 when Harvard won its first conference championship (the second year in existence for the ECAC).

Quick Facts Sport, Conference ...
ECAC Hockey Tournament
Conference hockey championship
SportIce hockey
ConferenceECAC Hockey
FormatSingle-elimination, best two-of-three tournament
Current stadiumHerb Brooks Arena[1]
Current locationLake Placid, New York
Played1962–present
Last contest2024 ECAC Hockey Tournament
Current championCornell
Most championshipsCornell (13)[2]
Winner trophyWhitelaw Cup
TV partner(s)ESPN+
Official websiteThe Official Site of ECAC Hockey
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The tournament was first held in 1962, the first year of conference play. It was held at Boston Arena in Boston from 1962–66. It then moved to the much larger Boston Garden From 1967–92 (capacity for ice hockey games was 14,000+ in the Garden as opposed to the ~4,000 at the Arena). Because of a schism that occurred in the ECAC in 1984 that saw most Boston-area schools break away and form the Hockey East conference in 1984, the championship rounds moved to the Olympic Arena in Lake Placid, New York, for the next decade (1993–2002). From 2003–2010, along with a change to the tournament format, the semifinal and championship games were moved to the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York, which changed its name to the 'Times Union Center' in 2007. From 2011 thru 2013 the final four games were held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and afterwards it was announced that the 2014 championship would return to Lake Placid and play at the since renamed Herb Brooks Arena.

History

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The Boston Garden hosted the ECAC tournament final from 1967 to 1992.
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The Times Union Center hosted the ECAC tournament final from 2003 to 2010.

In 1960, two play-in games were held for the top four eastern teams that were up for two spots in the NCAA tournament. About a year and a half later, ECAC Hockey was founded and included nearly 30 programs. Despite the cumbersome arrangement, the league held its first conference tournament in 1962 and has crowned a champion every year since with the exception of 2020 (as of 2023).

In response to a threat from the Ivy League schools to split from the conference over scheduling disagreements, the six teams that comprised the East Division left the conference to form Hockey East in 1984. ECAC Hockey still contained eleven teams after the break and was able to retain its automatic bid to the tournament, a necessity for the stability of a conference.

The tournament was first hosted at the Boston Arena and was moved to the Boston Garden in 1967. The tournament remained there from 1967 through 1992 and was succeeded by the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York, from 1993 to 2002 and again from 2014 to the present. The Times Union Center and the Boardwalk Hall have also hosted ECAC tournament championships.

Cornell has won the most ECAC Hockey championships with 13 and also has the most championship game appearances with 24. Current Cornell coach Mike Schafer has won the most championships with six and also has coached in the most championship games with 12 appearances.

In 1989 the championship trophy was renamed in honor of retiring commissioner Robert Whitelaw.[3]

Formats

1962

The ECAC Hockey Tournament format begins as a single-game elimination three-round format featuring the top eight teams in the standings.

1983

The quarterfinal round is changed to a two-game format where if the two teams are tied afterwards a 'mini-game' is held to determine who advances. Overtime is not played in the quarterfinals outside the 'mini-games'

1990

Two preliminary games are added to determine the final two qualifiers in the tournament played between the teams that finished seventh thru tenth in the standings.

1992

The quarterfinal round was changed to a single-elimination format.

1993

The quarterfinal round was converted into a modified best-of-three series where the first team to receive three points would advance (2 points for a win 1 point for a tie) with only the third game permitted to continue past a 5-minute overtime if the score was still tied.

1998

The preliminary round was scrapped and the quarterfinal round expanded into 5 modified best-of-three series. The two lowest-seeded teams to advance out of the quarterfinals would then play in a single 'Four vs. Five' game to determine the final semifinalist.

2000

The quarterfinal round was altered to include standard best-of-three series with no ties allowed.

2003

ECAC Hockey adds a fourth round to the tournament (called the 'First Round') and includes all 12 conference teams in the tournament. The First round pits the fifth thru twelfth teams in the standings in four best-of-three series with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals. The top four teams in the standings automatically advance to the quarterfinal round and play the remaining four teams in reverse order of their finish in the standings in a second best-of-three round. The semifinal, third-place and championship games are all single-elimination.

2014

The third place game is eliminated.[4]

2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only four competing institutions will compete in a single-elimination championship over the course of one championship weekend.[5]

2023

After 20 years, the opening round of the tournament gets changed to single-elimination, replacing the best-of-three format prior; the quarterfinals remain best-of-three, however, along with the semifinals and final both being single games.

Champions

More information Year, Winning team ...
Year Winning team Coach Losing team Coach Score Location Venue Ref
1962St. LawrenceGeorge MenardClarksonLen Ceglarski5–2BostonBoston Arena[6]
1963HarvardCooney WeilandBoston CollegeJohn Kelley4–3 (OT)BostonBoston Arena
1964ProvidenceTom EcclestonSt. LawrenceGeorge Menard3–1BostonBoston Arena
1965Boston CollegeJohn KelleyBrownJames Fullerton6–2BostonBoston Arena
1966ClarksonLen CeglarskiCornellNed Harkness6–2BostonBoston Arena
1967CornellNed HarknessBoston UniversityJack Kelley4–3BostonBoston Garden
1968CornellNed HarknessBoston CollegeJohn Kelley6–3BostonBoston Garden
1969CornellNed HarknessHarvardCooney Weiland4–2BostonBoston Garden
1970CornellNed HarknessClarksonLen Ceglarski3–2BostonBoston Garden
1971HarvardCooney WeilandClarksonLen Ceglarski7–4BostonBoston Garden
1972Boston UniversityJack KelleyCornellDick Bertrand4–1BostonBoston Garden
1973CornellDick BertrandBoston CollegeLen Ceglarski3–2BostonBoston Garden
1974Boston UniversityJack ParkerHarvardBill Cleary4–2BostonBoston Garden
1975Boston UniversityJack ParkerHarvardBill Cleary7–3BostonBoston Garden
1976Boston UniversityJack ParkerBrownRichard Toomey9–2BostonBoston Garden
1977Boston UniversityJack ParkerNew HampshireCharlie Holt8–6BostonBoston Garden
1978Boston CollegeLen CeglarskiProvidenceLou Lamoriello4–2BostonBoston Garden
1979New HampshireCharlie HoltDartmouthGeorge Crowe3–2BostonBoston Garden
1980CornellDick BertrandDartmouthGeorge Crowe5–1BostonBoston Garden
1981ProvidenceLou LamorielloCornellDick Bertrand8–4BostonBoston Garden
1982NortheasternFern FlamanHarvardBill Cleary5–2BostonBoston Garden
1983HarvardBill ClearyProvidenceLou Lamoriello4–1 (OT)BostonBoston Garden
1984RensselaerMike AddesaBoston UniversityJack Parker5–2BostonBoston Garden
1985RensselaerMike AddesaHarvardBill Cleary5–1BostonBoston Garden
1986CornellLou ReycroftClarksonCap Raeder3–2 (OT)BostonBoston Garden
1987HarvardBill ClearySt. LawrenceJoe Marsh6–3BostonBoston Garden
1988St. LawrenceJoe MarshClarksonCap Raeder3–0BostonBoston Garden
1989St. LawrenceJoe MarshVermontMike Gilligan4–1BostonBoston Garden
1990ColgateTerry SlaterRensselaerBuddy Powers5–4BostonBoston Garden
1991ClarksonMark MorrisSt. LawrenceJoe Marsh5–4BostonBoston Garden
1992St. LawrenceJoe MarshCornellBrian McCutcheon4–2BostonBoston Garden
1993ClarksonMark MorrisBrownBob Gaudet3–1Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1994HarvardRonn TomassoniRensselaerBuddy Powers3–0Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1995RensselaerDan FridgenPrincetonDon Cahoon5–1Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1996CornellMike SchaferHarvardRonn Tomassoni2–1Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1997CornellMike SchaferClarksonMark Morris2–1Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1998PrincetonDon CahoonClarksonMark Morris5–4 (OT)Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
1999ClarksonMark MorrisSt. LawrenceJoe Marsh3–2Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
2000St. LawrenceJoe MarshRensselaerDan Fridgen2–0Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
2001St. LawrenceJoe MarshCornellMike Schafer3–1Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
2002HarvardMark MazzoleniCornellMike Schafer4–3 (2OT)Lake Placid, New YorkOlympic Arena
2003CornellMike SchaferHarvardMark Mazzoleni3–2 (OT)Albany, New YorkPepsi Arena
2004HarvardMark MazzoleniClarksonGeorge Roll4–2Albany, New YorkPepsi Arena
2005CornellMike SchaferHarvardTed Donato3–1Albany, New YorkPepsi Arena
2006HarvardTed DonatoCornellMike Schafer6–2Albany, New YorkPepsi Arena
2007ClarksonGeorge RollQuinnipiacRand Pecknold4–2Albany, New YorkTimes Union Center
2008PrincetonGuy GadowskyHarvardTed Donato4–1Albany, New YorkTimes Union Center
2009YaleKeith AllainCornellMike Schafer5–0Albany, New YorkTimes Union Center
2010CornellMike SchaferUnionNate Leaman3–0Albany, New YorkTimes Union Center
2011YaleKeith AllainCornellMike Schafer6–0Atlantic City, New JerseyBoardwalk Hall
2012UnionRick BennettHarvardTed Donato3–2Atlantic City, New JerseyBoardwalk Hall
2013UnionRick BennettBrownBrendan Whittet3–1Atlantic City, New JerseyBoardwalk Hall
2014UnionRick BennettColgateDon Vaughan5–2Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2015HarvardTed DonatoColgateDon Vaughan4–2Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2016QuinnipiacRand PecknoldHarvardTed Donato4–1Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2017HarvardTed DonatoCornellMike Schafer4–1Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2018PrincetonRon FogartyClarksonCasey Jones2–1 (OT)Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2019ClarksonCasey JonesCornellMike Schafer3–2 (OT)Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2020Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic[7]
2021St. LawrenceBrent BrekkeQuinnipiacRand Pecknold3–2 (OT)Hamden, ConnecticutPeople's United Center
2022HarvardTed DonatoQuinnipiacRand Pecknold3–2 (OT)Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2023ColgateDon VaughanHarvardTed Donato3–2Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
2024CornellMike SchaferSt. LawrenceBrent Brekke3–1Lake Placid, New YorkHerb Brooks Arena
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More information School, Championships ...
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Performance by team

The code in each cell represents the furthest the team made it in the respective tournament:

  •    Team not in ECAC Hockey
  •  FR  Preliminary / First round (4 teams from 1990 to 1997, 10 teams from 1998 to 2002, 8 teams afterwards)
  •  QF  Quarterfinals (2 teams from 1998 to 2002, no quarterfinals in 2021)
  •  SF  Semifinals (2 teams 2021)
  •  F  Finals
  •  CH  Champion

Note: the remainder of the 2020 tournament was cancelled prior to the start of the quarterfinal round.

More information School, # ...
School # QF SF F CH 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Cornell5349392312QFFCHCHCHCHSFFCHSFSFSFSFQFSFCHFSFCHQFSFSFSFFQFQFCHCHQFFRSFFFCHQFCHFQFSFFCHFSFQFSFFRQFFSFFQFQFSF
Harvard5345352311SFCHQFQFQFFSFCHSFQFFFSFFCHQFFSFCHSFSFQFSFQFSFCHQFFQFSFFRFRSFCHFCHFCHQFFFRQFQFFFRFRCHFCHSFSFQFCHF
St. Lawrence503519117CHSFFQFSFQFQFQFQFQFSFQFQFFCHCHQFFCHQFFRFRQFFRFRFCHCHFRFRQFQFQFSFFRSFSFQFFRQFQFSFSFQFFRFRFRCHQFQF
Clarkson604934156FSFSFSFCHQFSFSFFFQFSFQFQFSFQFQFSFSFSFQFSFSFFQFFQFSFCHSFCHSFSFSFFFCHQFFRSFFRFQFQFCHQFFRFRFRFRFRQFFRQFQFFCHQFSFQF
Boston University17171575SFSFFSFSFSFSFCHQFCHCHCHCHSFSFQFF
Rensselaer50341463QFSFQFQFQFQFSFQFQFQFQFCHCHQFSFQFQFFQFSFSFFCHQFSFFRSFFFRSFQFQFFRFRFRFRQFFRFRQFFRFRQFQFFRFRFRQFQFFR
Princeton3616743QFQFQFFRFRQFQFFRFFRSFCHSFFRFRFRFRFRFRFRQFCHSFFRFRFRFRFRFRFRQFCHFRQFFRQF
Union2514543QFFRQFFRFRFRFRFRFRFRQFQFFQFCHCHCHQFFRSFQFQFFRQFFR
Boston College1717752QFFQFCHQFSFFQFQFFQFQFCHQFQFQFSF
Colgate46351542QFQFQFQFQFSFQFQFQFQFQFQFQFCHQFFRQFQFSFQFFRFRQFSFFRQFSFSFSFQFSFFRQFSFSFFRFFFRFRQFFRQFSFSFCH
Providence1616542QFQFCHQFQFQFQFQFQFFQFSFCHQFFQF
Yale3727622QFQFQFQFSFSFQFQFQFQFQFQFSFFRFRFRFRQFFRFRQFFRQFCHQFCHQFSFQFQFQFQFFRQFQFFRQF
Quinnipiac1716841QFFQFQFQFQFQFSFSFSFCHSFQFQFQFFFSF
New Hampshire1414521QFQFSFQFQFQFQFFQFCHQFSFSFQF
Northeastern44111QFQFQFCH
Brown41241030QFFSFQFQFQFQFQFFQFSFQFQFFRQFFSFQFQFFRFRFRSFQFQFFRFRFRQFSFFRFRSFFRFRFRFRFRSFFRFRFR
Dartmouth3020920QFQFQFFFFRFRFRSFQFSFSFQFSFSFFRFRFRSFQFQFQFQFSFFRQFQFFRFRFR
Vermont2115510SFQFQFQFQFSFFFRQFFRFRQFQFSFQFFRFRQFQFFRSF
Pennsylvania33100QFQFSF
Colby11100SF
Army33000QFQFQF
Maine11000QF
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References

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