The Birth of a Conference

College ice hockey’s continuing development and expansion received another boost during the summer of 1999 with the formation of College Hockey America. The seven charter members of College Hockey America were the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado), University of Alabama-Huntsville, United States Military Academy (New York), Bemidji State University (Minnesota), University of Findlay (Ohio), Niagara University (New York), and Wayne State University (Michigan). 

“Hockey at all levels is experiencing unprecedented growth and popularity,” said CHA Commissioner R.H. “Bob” Peters. “The advent of College Hockey America is a monumental and historic event evidencing this growth at the collegiate level. To quote the late Bob Johnson, legendary college, Olympic and National Hockey League coach, ‘It’s a great day for hockey’.”

Leadership

In its inaugural season, the CHA coaches brought a collective 95 years of coaching experience, 1,754 wins and 33 postseason appearances to the conference. R.H. “Bob” Peters, who accepted the role of CHA Commissioner after retiring from coaching, was the dean of CHA coaches with more than 740 wins. The CHA was fortunate to have the guidance and leadership of WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod for its first two years. McLeod worked with the seven league coaches and was instrumental in establishing the conference in 1999.

Something Old, Something New

The CHA encompasses programs steeped in tradition, such as Bemidji State and Air Force and former Division II power Alabama-Huntsville, to up and coming programs Niagara and Wayne State, to college hockey newcomers Robert Morris.  

Bemidji State and Alabama-Huntsville competed for the Division II national championship six times in the 1990’s with the Beavers winning four and the Chargers winning two, and the two teams have now carried that rivalry to Division I. Bemidji State, which began playing hockey in 1948, had won a total of 13 national championships at the small college level before making the jump to Division I.

Bemidji State (.678) and Alabama-Huntsville (.677) have the two highest all-time winning percentages amongst the 58 teams which currently comprise Division I hockey.

Air Force began its program in 1968 and under the direction of fifth-year head coach Frank Serratore, the Falcons have experienced a new level of success, earning three consecutive trips to the postseason.

Niagara began its Division I hockey program in 1996 and posted a winning season each of its first four years, culminating in NCAA Tournament berths in 2000 and 2004. 

Wayne State’s program was started in 1999-2000. The Warriors won three consecutive CHA Tournaments from 2001-03, and in 2003 made the NCAA Tournament field in just their fourth season of existence.

Robert Morris enters its second season of college hockey competition and posted eight wins during its inaugural 2004-05 campaign.

CHA Championship

In addition to a challenging non-conference schedule and 56-game conference slate, College Hockey America will conduct a postseason championship tournament for the seventh consecutive year. This year’s tournament will take place March 10-12, 2006 in Detroit, Mich. The CHA Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

NCAA Tournament History

Niagara earned an at-large bid to the 2000 NCAA Championship after the CHA’s inaugural season. Niagara stunned New Hampshire 4-1 in Minneapolis, Minn, then fell to eventual national champion North Dakota, 4-1.

Wayne State fell to Colorado College, 4-2, in the first round of the 2003 Midwest Regional.

Niagara made its second NCAA trip in 2004, falling in the first round, 5-2, to Boston College.

Bemidji State took eventual national champion Denver to overtime before falling, 4-3, in the 2005 Northeast Regional.

Bemidji State repeated as the CHA Tournament Champion in 2006.  The Beavers fell to the eventual national champion Wisconsin Badgers 4-0 in the first round of the Midwest Regional.