NCAA Division III independent schools (ice hockey)
Appearance
NCAA Division III independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA ice hockey but are not members of a conference. There are also several current and former schools that previously competed as Division III independents.
Current independent programs
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Years | Primary Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albertus Magnus College[a] | Falcons[1] |
New Haven, Connecticut | 1925 | Private | 2019–present | GNAC |
Anna Maria College[b] | Amcats[2] | Paxton, Massachusetts | 1946 | Private | 2018–present | GNAC (MASCAC in 2025) |
Rivier University[b] | Raiders[3] |
Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Private | 2021–present | GNAC |
State University of New York at Canton[c] | Kangaroos[4] |
Canton, New York | 1906 | Public | 2012–present | NAC (SUNYAC in 2024) |
- Notes
Women
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Years | Primary Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albertus Magnus College[a] | Falcons[5] |
New Haven, Connecticut | 1925 | Private | 2023–present | GNAC |
Anna Maria College[b] | Amcats[6] | Paxton, Massachusetts | 1946 | Private | 2018–present | GNAC (MASCAC in 2025) |
Hilbert College[c] | Hawks |
Hamburg, New York | 1957 | Private (Catholic) |
2022–present | AMCC |
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts[b] | Trailblazers[7] |
North Adams, Massachusetts | 1894 | Public | 2023–present | MASCAC |
Rivier University[b] | Raiders[8] |
Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Private | 2021–present | GNAC |
Worcester State University[b] | Lancers[9] |
Worcester, Massachusetts | 1874 | Public | 2021–present | MASCAC |
- Notes
Current programs which were previously independent
The NCAA did not start numerical classification until 1973. Prior to that teams played either in the University Division, which became Division I, or the College Division, which was split into Divisions II and III. Independent teams prior to 1973 are outlined on the Division II page.
Men
School | Team | Location | Years | Subsequent conference(s) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canisius College | Ice Griffs[10] | Buffalo, Pennsylvania | 1986–1987 | ECAC West | Left Division III in 1998 to found the ice hockey division of the MAAC. Currently plays in the successor conference, Atlantic Hockey. |
Castleton State College | Spartans[11] | Castleton, Vermont | 2003–2004 | ECAC East | Merged into Vermont State University in 2023. |
Curry College | Colonels[12] |
Milton, Massachusetts | 1974–1983 | ECAC Northeast | Joined CCC in 2016. |
Finlandia University | Lions[13] |
Hancock, Michigan | 2002–2004 | MCHA | Joined NCHA in 2013. Closed in 2023. |
Lake Forest College | Foresters[14] |
Lake Forest, Illinois | 1984–1986 1989–1992 |
ACHA NCHA |
Joined the MCHA in 2009 then returned to the NCHA in 2013. |
Lawrence University | Vikings[15] |
Appleton, Wisconsin | 1986–1999 | MCHA | Joined NCHA in 2013. |
Morrisville State College | Mustangs[16] |
Morrisville, New York | 2006–2007 | SUNYAC | |
Mercyhurst College | Lakers[17] | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1987–1988 | ECAC West | Left Division III in 1999 to join the ice hockey division of the MAAC. Currently plays in the successor conference, Atlantic Hockey. |
Neumann University | Knights[18] |
Aston, Pennsylvania | 1998–2001 | ECAC West | Joined UCHC in 2017. |
New Hampshire College | Penmen[19] |
Manchester, New Hampshire | 1975–1976 | ECAC 3 |
Founded ice hockey division of Northeast-10 in 2009, raising to the Division II level. |
Quinnipiac College | Braves[20] | Hamden, Connecticut | 1975–1976 | ECAC 3 |
Left Division III in 1998 to found the ice hockey division of the MAAC. Later played in the successor conference, Atlantic Hockey, before joining ECAC Hockey. |
St. Norbert College | Green Knights[21] | De Pere, Wisconsin | 1988–1994 | NCHA | |
College of St. Scholastica | Saints[22] |
Duluth, Minnesota | 1982–1983 1992–1994 |
NCHA NCHA |
Briefly left the NCHA in the early 1990s, current member of the MIAC |
Skidmore College | Thoroughbreds[23] |
Saratoga Springs, New York | 1982–1983 | ECAC 3 |
Joined ECAC East in 1998. |
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | Pointers[24] | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | 1984–1986 | NCHA | Founded ice hockey division of WIAC in 2013. |
Women
Defunct teams
Men
School | Team | Location | Years | Subsequent conference(s) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Becker College | Hawks[25] | Worcester, Massachusetts | 2006–2007 | ECAC Northeast | Joined CCC in 2016. College closed in 2021. |
Bryn Athyn College | Lions[26] |
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania | 2017–2021 | None | Dropped program to club status. |
Daniel Webster College | Eagles[27] | Nashua, New Hampshire | 2015–2017 | None | Daniel Webster College was closed in 2017 after its parent institution, ITT Technical Institute, declared bankruptcy in 2016.[28] |
Iona College |
Gaels[29] | New Rochelle, New York | 1967–1977† | ECAC 3 |
Left Division III in 1998 to found the ice hockey division of the MAAC. Suspended program in 2003. |
University of Scranton | Royals[30] |
Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1985–1991 1994–2004 |
ECAC West None |
Scranton dramatically reduced the number of games its team played after 1998 until deciding to stop all support in 2004. |
St. Bonaventure University | Brown Indians | St. Bonaventure, New York | 1982–1986 | ECAC West | St. Bonaventure downgraded the program to club status in 1993. |
† Prior to 1973 Division III did not exist. Teams played in the College Division which was divided into the second- and third-tier during reclassification.
Women
See also
- List of NCAA Division III ice hockey programs
- NCAA Division III independent schools
- List of NCAA ice hockey programs
- NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)
- NCAA Division II independent schools (ice hockey)
References
- ^ "Albertus Magnus Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Anna Maria Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Rivier Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Canton Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Albertus Magnus Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Anna Maria Women's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Women's Hockey set to Kick-off Inaugural Season". MCLA Trailblazers. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "Rivier Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Worcester State Women's Hockey Team History". USCHO. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Canisius Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Castleton Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Curry Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Finlandia Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Lake Forest Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Lawrence Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Morrisville Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Mercyhurst Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Neumann Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Southern New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Quinnipiac Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "St. Norbert Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "St. Scholastica Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Skidmore Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Wisconsin–Stevens Point Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Becker Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Bryn Athyn Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Daniel Webster Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ Hayward, Mark (September 13, 2016). "SNHU to 'rescue' Daniel Webster College". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^ "Iona Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Scranton Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.