Northern Collegiate Hockey League

Not to be confused with Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association.

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.

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)	Concordia University (1st title)
Most titles	Marian University (4 titles)
Official website	http://pointstreaksites.com/view/nchl_hockey Official website

History

Former logo of the NCHL. Used until the end of the 2018–19 season.

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	Dan Wood
Lewis University	Romeoville, IL	2015	Flyers	CanLan Ice Sports	Mark Marfise
Marian University	Fond du Lac, WI	2016	Sabres	Blue Line Family Ice Center	Chris Frederickson
Marquette University	Milwaukee, WI	2017	Golden Eagles	The Ponds of Brookfield	Troy Riddle
Milwaukee School of Engineering	Milwaukee, WI	2023	Raiders	Kern Center	Noah Shellans
UW Milwaukee	Milwaukee, WI	2022	Panthers	The Ponds of Brookfield	Paul Wajgel
Roosevelt University	Bensenville, IL	2014	Lakers	The Edge Ice Arena	Dylan Martin
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Oshkosh, WI	2014	Titans	20th St. YMCA	Sam Hinnendael

Conference tournament format

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

Championship totals

Team	Titles	Years
Marian University	4	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

National championship qualifiers

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

Expansion member for 2023-24 season

• Milwaukee School of Engineering

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

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