College hockey

College hockey most often refers to the American ice hockey competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, though leagues outside of the United States exist. In the NCAA there are 3 national divisions, I, II and III, each having many conferences, and supporting both men's and women's teams. Only divisions I and III have championships, the championship for Division II was suspended following 1999, due to a lack of sponsoring schools. Most of the schools in Division II hockey became members of newly formed hockey conferences such as College Hockey America, which plays in Division I. The Frozen Four is the trademarked name of the final two rounds of the NCAA Division I championship of ice hockey in the USA. Schools advance in a single-elimination tournament from four regional sites to a single site, where the national semifinals and final game are played. The NCAA started a Women's Frozen Four beginning in the 2000-01 season.

Each year, the Division I national champion is crowned through the NCAA Men's Division I Hockey Championship. The 2008 tournament was held in Denver, Colorado. Boston College was the champion.

NCAA Structure

The teams that play in NCAA college hockey are split into divisions and then conferences, though some teams play independently. Because of the limited number of D-I colleges sponsoring ice hockey, no universities play in their home conference. For example, Boston College, in which its other sports are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference, plays in the Hockey East Conference.

However, one D-I non-hockey conference, the Ivy League, crowns hockey champions for both men and women. Six of the eight Ivies sponsor intercollegiate hockey programs for both sexes, and all are members of ECAC Hockey. The Ivy League uses the results of its members in ECAC play to determine Ivy champions.

Men's

Division I

Division II

Northeast Ten Conference
Independent Colleges

Division III

Women's

Division I

Division II

ECAC East

Division III

ECAC East
ECAC Hockey
ECAC West
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
New England Small College Athletic Conference
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Independent Colleges

NCAA American Women's College Hockey Alliance champions

Prior to the NCAA establishing a women's ice hockey championship, the AWCHA held a championship from 1997-98 season to 1999-2000 season. Below are those champions.

1998 New Hampshire
1999 Harvard
2000 Minnesota

NCAA Awards

Hobey Baker Memorial Award

Named for a 1914 Princeton graduate, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award honors the top player in Men’s Division I hockey. Established in 1981, finalists are chosen based on strength of character both on and off the ice, contributions to the integrity of the team, outstanding skills in all phases of the game, and scholastic achievement and sportsmanship, with the winner being announced annually during the off-day between the semifinal and championship rounds at the Frozen Four. Past winners include Ryan Miller, Chris Drury, and Paul Kariya.

Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named after Patty Kazmaier, a standout defenseman from Princeton University from 1981 to 1986 who lost her life following a battle with a rare blood disease. First awarded in 1998, the Kazmaier award is given annually by USA Hockey to the top player in Women’s Division I program. As with the Hobey Baker Award, the Kazmaier Award is presented on the off-day between the semifinal and championship games at the Women’s Frozen Four. Nomination criteria include “Outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration will also be given to academic achievement and civic involvement.”