Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association
Established in 1991, the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association is a hockey-only college athletic conference whose members are East Coast schools. The ECHA is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1.
League Format
ECHA members play each conference opponent twice, once at home and once away. In addition teams play non-league games against other ACHA member schools. At the conclusion of the regular season in February the league holds a championship tournament. At the conclusion of the ECHA championship tournament, the ECHA regular season champions receive an automatic bid to the ACHA Men's Division I National Tournament.
League History
The ECHA currently comprises 6 member institutions Drexel, Villanova, Penn State Berks, The United States Naval Academy, Towson, and Lehigh. The 2012 and 2013 regular season titles were won by Navy, they also won the postseason tournament in 2013. In 2015 Drexel won its fifth ECHA tournament championship 10-3 against Towson, while Villanova won the regular season title.
In the 2014/2015 season the University of Scranton folded their hockey program bringing the current number of members to 6. Other previous members include Lebanon Valley College who ended ECHA competition with the 2012 season. In attempt to maintain the ECHA's automatic bid to nationals the conference will welcome Temple University starting with the 2015/2016 season.
The ECHA tournament champion is awarded the A.J. Ruth Memorial Cup.
2015 ECHA tournament MVP was Drexel goalie Zach Kanter.
ECHA Championship History
Year |
Regular Season Champion |
Tournament Champion |
2000-2001 |
Drexel |
|
2001-2002 |
Rhode Island |
|
2004-2005 |
Drexel |
|
2011-12 |
Drexel |
Drexel |
2012-13 |
Navy |
Towson |
2013-14 |
Navy |
Navy |
2014-15 |
Villanova |
Drexel |
2015-16 |
|
|
Member Institutions
School |
Location |
Founded |
Affiliation |
Enrollment |
Nickname |
Primary conference |
Drexel University |
Philadelphia, PA |
1891 |
Private/Non-sectarian |
17,000 |
Dragons |
Colonial Athletic Association (D-I) |
Lehigh University |
Bethlehem, PA |
1865 |
Private/Non-sectarian |
6,956 |
Mountain Hawks |
Patriot League (D-I) |
Penn State-Berks |
Reading, PA |
1958 |
Public |
3,216 |
Nittany Lions |
North Eastern Athletic Conference (D-III) |
Towson University |
Towson, MD |
1866 |
Public |
19,758 |
Tigers |
Colonial Athletic Association (D-I) |
Villanova University |
Villanova, PA |
1842 |
Private/Catholic |
9,535 |
Wildcats |
Big East Conference (D-I) |
United States Naval Academy |
Annapolis, MD |
1845 |
Public/Federal |
4,000 |
Midshipmen |
Patriot League (D-I) |
Conference arenas
School |
Hockey Arena |
Location |
Capacity |
Drexel |
Class of 1923 Arena |
Philadelphia, PA |
2,900 |
Lehigh |
Steel Ice Center |
Bethlehem, PA |
1,000 |
Navy |
McMullen Hockey Arena |
Annapolis, MD |
1,000 (expandable to 3,000) |
Penn State-Berks |
Bodyzone Sports & Wellness Complex |
Wyomissing, PA |
1,000 |
Towson |
Ice World |
Abington, MD |
1,000 |
Villanova |
Hatfield Ice World |
Hatfield PA |
N/A |
Future Members
Former Members
School |
Location |
Founded |
Affiliation |
Enrollment |
Nickname |
Last year competed in ECHA |
Current Conference |
University of Scranton |
Scranton, PA |
1888 |
Private |
6,034 |
Royals |
2013 |
N/A |
Lebanon Valley College |
Annville, PA |
1866 |
Private |
1,600 |
Flying Dutchmen |
2012 |
ESCHL |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
West Chester, PA |
1880 |
Public |
12,834 |
Golden Rams |
2008 |
ESCHL |
University of Rhode Island |
Kingston, RI |
1892 |
Public |
15,800 |
Rams |
|
ESCHL |
Rutgers University |
West Chester, PA |
1766 |
Public |
65,000 |
Scarlet Kinghts |
|
ESCHL |
West Virginia University |
Morgantown, WV |
1867 |
Public |
29,466 |
Mountaineers |
2006 |
CHMA |
Duquesne University |
Pittsburgh, PA |
1878 |
Public |
10,364 |
Dukes |
2006 |
CHMA |
External links
See also