What the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference and its members have accomplished and what it has provided the larger regional hockey community is nothing short of spectacular. Established in May of 2009, The University at Albany, Farmingdale State College, Hofstra University, Union College, Skidmore College, Southern Connecticut State, and Fairfield University set out to establish an organization committed to providing the most comprehensive hockey experience for the elite division 3 non-varsity collegiate hockey programs in the Atlantic Region. The ECHC provides the framework and structure to support the highest level of growth of its member's hockey programs, through league, team, player, and coach development. Standards of play and the opportunity to compete both regionally and nationally within AAU College Hockey are considered paramount.
The ECHC, in accordance with the NCAA, and AAU College Hockey, emphasizes academic performance, institutional sanction, and eligibility criteria, to ensure the highest quality of hockey and curricular integrity. This extremely competitive hockey conference is highly selective about its members and their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of competition. All ECHC teams are required to be members in good standing as tournament-bound teams within AAU College Hockey and make continuous strides to improve their hockey program as well as our Conference, and the regional hockey community at large. Since 2009, ECHC teams have represented the Atlantic Region in every ACHA National Tournament; and sent 5 programs to the CHF's inaugural Federation Cup in 2020, and 6 in 2022. The ECHC has had 11 players named to the ACHA National Select Team; 3 ACHA All Americans; 1 National Player of the Year; 1 National Coach of the Year; hosted the 2012 National Championship Tournament; and has hosted and partnered in some of the country's most competitive non-varsity college showcases, “The Empire Classic and the Invitational”.
In the fall of 2019, the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference welcomed Ramapo College of New Jersey, Hofstra University, Fordham University, and Stony Brook University to its family, solidifying the conference as the premier conference in the Collegiate Hockey Federation. In the spring of 2022, the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference expanded its ranks once again, with the addition of the University of New Haven, Sacred Heart University, and Farmingdale State's Division 3 team. This new expansion, and the unwavering goal of creating the most dynamic hockey experience for our members, led the Empire to create a second division to ensure competitive balance and integrity for its members. In February of 2023, the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference crowned two conference champions for the very first time. In the most recent season, 2023-24, Rutgers University has joined the conference, bringing with it a new level of competition and excitement. Additionally, Columbia University has entered the fold, further enriching the landscape of collegiate hockey within the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference. Furthermore, Fairfield University has expanded its participation by adding a DIII team, underscoring the conference's commitment to growth and diversity within its ranks.
CURRENT MEMBER PROGRAMS: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY'S DI AND DIII TEAMS, FARMINGDALE STATE COLLEGE'S DI AND DII TEAMS, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY, RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY, STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN.
FORMER MEMBERS: UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY, SIENNA COLLEGE, SKIDMORE COLLEGE, SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY, SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE, UNION COLLEGE, AND WAGNER COLLEGE.
