NCAA Division I Independents (men's hockey)

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NCAA Division I independents are four-year institutions that do not participate in a conference in a given sport. This does not mean that Division I independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. Many independent schools later join established conferences. As of 2006, there are no schools competing as a D-I independent in men's hockey.

In men's ice hockey, there are several current schools who, at one time or another, competed as D-I independents. Among the more noteworthy independent teams from the past are:

• The University of Alaska Anchorage (1988-1993). The Seawolves competed as an independent following the demise of the Great West Hockey Conference. The school joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1993. UAA received NCAA tournament bids in 1990, 1991, and 1992 while an independent.

• Merrimack College (1984-1989). The Warriors joined Hockey East in 1989. Merrimack received an NCAA tournament invitation in 1988 while an independent.

• The United States Military Academy (Army) (1903-1961, 1972-1984, 1991-1999). Army's Cadets were members of the ECAC from 1961-1972 and 1984-1991. In 1999, they joined the MAAC, a precursor to today's Atlantic Hockey.

• The United States Air Force Academy (Air Force) (1968-1999). The Falcons were independent from the program's inception until 1999, when the school became a charter member of College Hockey America.

• The University of Notre Dame (1984-1992). The Irish competed as a D-I independent in between stints in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

• The University of Alabama in Huntsville (1987-1992, 1998-1999). The Chargers competed as a D-I independent between stints in Division II. After winning 2 championships and finishing as runners-up twice more, UAH returned to D-I in 1998, spending one season as an independent before becoming a charter member of College Hockey America.

• The University of Alaska Fairbanks (1988-1994). The Nanooks went independent following the demise of the Great West Hockey Conference, and then joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

• Sacred Heart University (1993-1998). The Pioneers competed as a D-I independent from their inaugural season until 1998, when they joined the MAAC.

The Rochester Institute of Technology was the most recent team to change divisions, in 2005-06. After the collapse of Division II hockey following the 1997-98 season, several teams briefly became D-I independents, before joining regular conferences.