TROY, MI (August 10, 2022) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for non-NCAA men’s and women’s hockey in the United States, is excited to announce that as of August 9, 2022, at least 24 new college hockey programs will be joining the ACHA membership
During the past 2021-2022 season, the ACHA membership was comprised of 454 teams throughout all five ACHA Divisions. Of those 454 member teams, 435 of them actually competed last season after coming off the shortened 2020-2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-eight teams competed in Men’s Division 1 in 2021-22, 187 teams in Men’s Division 2, 97 teams in Men’s Division 3, 29 teams in Women’s Division 1 and 54 teams in Women’s Division 2.
“We are excited to continue to grow non-NCAA college hockey at both the men’s and women’s levels,” said ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett. “The total ACHA membership count for the 2022-2023 season will be at least 474 teams with 24 new ACHA programs as of right now.”
Men’s Division 1 level will add four programs in 2022-2023, all of which are moving up from the M2 division. San Diego State University, University of Oregon, Purdue University Northwest, and The College of New Jersey will start ACHA M1 play this season. With Iowa State University and Lindenwood University not fielding M1 teams for this coming season, Men’s Division 1 will have 70 teams in 2022-2023.
The ACHA’s largest division is Men’s Division 2, which will add six new programs in 2022-2023. The University of Tampa, a former M3 member, rejoins the ACHA at the M2 level for the upcoming season. Other new programs to ACHA M2 this season include American International College, Drury University, Rivier University, and Concordia University Ann Arbor. University of San Diego returns to the Division after being shut down for the last two seasons due to COVID restrictions. M2 will also add four teams that previously played in different divisions, including Penn State-Berks, which is transitioning from M1, and Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Baylor University, all of whom are making the jump from M3.
At the Men’s Division 3 level, nine new programs should push M3 over the 100-member mark for 2022-23. New ACHA M3 programs will include Maryville University, Olivet Nazarene University, Drake University, University of Southern Indiana, Wheaton College, Colorado College, Loyola University Maryland, Cleary University, and Curry College.
Women’s Division 1 will add five new programs, taking their membership to 34 teams which is the highest number of ACHA W1 members since 2006-07. New programs to ACHA W1 in 2022-2023 include University of Jamestown, Lake Superior State University, Aurora University, Montana State University, and the University of Wyoming.
Finally, at the Women’s Division 2 level, four new teams will hit the ice in 2022-2023. The University of Wisconsin will be transitioning from W1 whereas Niagara University, Oswego State University, and College of the Holy Cross are new ACHA W2 programs.
“What is really unique is that every division has its own story to tell with the additions of their new programs,” said Barnett. “M1 is seeing new teams in the West, M2 continues to build in the Midwest while also bringing back a Florida school, M3 adds new teams primarily in the Midwest, W1 achieves its largest membership number ever including two programs in the West, and W2 continues its solid growth in the Northeast while also adding a big-name school from Wisconsin!”
For more information, please contact ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett at cbarnett@achahockey.org.
