# ECAC 2 tournament

The ECAC 2 Tournament was a college ice hockey conference tournament played from 1967 until 1984. For several years it was the only championship held for lower-tier college programs under the oversight of the NCAA and served as the de facto NCAA national championship until 1978.

## History

ECAC 2 began holding a conference tournament for the 1965–66 season with four teams invited to participate. Even after 5 teams left in 1971 to form ECAC 3 the league's membership had risen from 15 to 24 teams in the interim and the championship was expanded to eight. When ECAC 2 reached 32 member institutions in 1977–1978, the league elected to stage separate 8–team tournaments for each of its two divisions rather than establishing a single 16–team competition (East and West). This was partly done to guarantee the two tournament champions automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament which began play the same year. Some schools, however, either had policies that barred them from appearing in national tournaments or were ineligible to appear in a Division II tournament due to being primarily a Division I or Division III school. This arrangement held for 6 years before the entire Division II level of college hockey collapsed after 1983–84 and ECAC 2 was formally split into two separate conferences the following season.

## 1966

| Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | American International | 11–4–0 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 11–5–0 |
| 3 | Colby | 8–4–0 |
| 4 | Merrimack | 4–4–1 |
| Semifinals March 8–9 | Semifinals March 8–9 | Semifinals March 8–9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 12 | ECAC 2 Championship March 12 | ECAC 2 Championship March 12 |
| 1 | American International | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 4 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 4 | 4 | Merrimack | 0 |
| | | | 3 | Colby | 5 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1 | 3 | Colby | 5 |
| 3 | Colby | 2 | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1967

| Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Norwich | 14–2–1 |
| 2 | Colby | 9–2–1 |
| 3 | Middlebury | 8–3–0 |
| 4 | Merrimack | 7–3–0 |
| Semifinals March 8–9 | Semifinals March 8–9 | Semifinals March 8–9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 11 | ECAC 2 Championship March 11 | ECAC 2 Championship March 11 |
| 1 | Norwich | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 12 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 12 | 4 | Merrimack | 6 |
| | | | 2 | Colby | 4 |
| 2 | Colby | 4** | 2 | Colby | 4 |
| 3 | Middlebury | 3 | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1968

| Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Merrimack | 10–1–0 |
| 2 | Colby | 15–2–0 |
| 3 | Hamilton | 13–2–1 |
| 4 | American International | 10–5–0 |
| Semifinals March 6–7 | Semifinals March 6–7 | Semifinals March 6–7 | ECAC 2 Championship March 9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 9 |
| 1 | Merrimack | 6 | | | |
| 4 | American International | 1 | | | |
| 4 | American International | 1 | 1 | Merrimack | 5 |
| | | | 3 | Hamilton | 4 |
| 2 | Colby | 3 | 3 | Hamilton | 4 |
| 3 | Hamilton | 6 | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1969

| Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Merrimack | 7–2–0 |
| 2 | American International | 13–5–0 |
| 3 | Colby | 12–6–0 |
| 4 | Norwich | 10–6–0 |
| Semifinals March 5–6 | Semifinals March 5–6 | Semifinals March 5–6 | ECAC 2 Championship March 8 | ECAC 2 Championship March 8 | ECAC 2 Championship March 8 |
| 1 | Merrimack | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Norwich | 5 | | | |
| 4 | Norwich | 5 | 4 | Norwich | 6 |
| | | | 2 | American International | 7 |
| 2 | American International | 10 | 2 | American International | 7 |
| 3 | Colby | 3 | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1970

| Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Bowdoin | 13–0–0 |
| 2 | Vermont | 12–4–0 |
| 3 | Middlebury | 11–5–0 |
| 4 | Merrimack | 9–4–0 |
| Semifinals March 11 | Semifinals March 11 | Semifinals March 11 | ECAC 2 Championship March 14 | ECAC 2 Championship March 14 | ECAC 2 Championship March 14 |
| 1 | Bowdoin | 9 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 1 | 1 | Bowdoin | 1 |
| | | | 2 | Vermont | 4 |
| 2 | Vermont | 5 | 2 | Vermont | 4 |
| 3 | Middlebury | 1 | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1971

| Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Bowdoin | 14–2–0 |
| 2 | Vermont | 13–3–0 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 12–3–1 |
| 4 | Norwich | 10–8–0 |
| Semifinals March 10 | Semifinals March 10 | Semifinals March 10 | ECAC 2 Championship March 13 | ECAC 2 Championship March 13 | ECAC 2 Championship March 13 |
| 1 | Bowdoin | 8 | | | |
| 4 | Norwich | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Norwich | 2 | 1 | Bowdoin | 5* |
| | | | 2 | Vermont | 4 |
| 2 | Vermont | 2 | 2 | Vermont | 4 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 1 | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1972

| Seed | School | Conference Record | Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Massachusetts | 15–3–0 | 5 | Salem State | 10–9–1 |
| 2 | Buffalo | 10–2–0 | 6 | Lowell Tech | 8–10–0 |
| 3 | Vermont | 12–2–1 | 7 | Boston State | 13–10–0 |
| 4 | Merrimack | 12–4–0 | 8 | Saint Anselm | 7–6–0 |
| Quarterfinals March 4-5 | Quarterfinals March 4-5 | Quarterfinals March 4-5 | Semifinals March 7-8 | Semifinals March 7-8 | Semifinals March 7-8 | ECAC 2 Championship March 11 | ECAC 2 Championship March 11 | ECAC 2 Championship March 11 |
| 1 | Massachusetts | 5 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Saint Anselm | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Saint Anselm | 3 | 1 | Massachusetts | 4 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Merrimack | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Buffalo | 9 | 4 | Merrimack | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Boston State | 5 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Boston State | 5 | | | | 1 | Massachusetts | 8 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Buffalo | 1 |
| 3 | Vermont | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Buffalo | 1 |
| 6 | Lowell Tech | 0 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Lowell Tech | 0 | 2 | Buffalo | 4 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Vermont | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 4 | 3 | Vermont | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Salem State | 2 | | | | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1973

| Seed | School | Conference Record | Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Vermont | 16–0–0 | 5 | Norwich | 11–6–2 |
| 2 | Bowdoin | 11–4–1 | 6 | Middlebury | 9–7–0 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 12–4–2 | 7 | Williams | 14–5–0 |
| 4 | Merrimack | 13–5–1 | 8 | Saint Anselm | 15–4–0 |
| Quarterfinals March 3-4 | Quarterfinals March 3-4 | Quarterfinals March 3-4 | Semifinals March 6-7 | Semifinals March 6-7 | Semifinals March 6-7 | ECAC 2 Championship March 10 | ECAC 2 Championship March 10 | ECAC 2 Championship March 10 |
| 1 | Vermont | 6 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Saint Anselm | 2 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Saint Anselm | 2 | 1 | Vermont | 4 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Merrimack | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Bowdoin | 5* | 4 | Merrimack | 3 | | | |
| 7 | Williams | 4 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Williams | 4 | | | | 1 | Vermont | 8 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Bowdoin | 1 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 10 | | | | | | | 2 | Bowdoin | 1 |
| 6 | Middlebury | 2 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Middlebury | 2 | 2 | Bowdoin | 9 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Massachusetts | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack | 3 | 3 | Massachusetts | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Norwich | 2 | | | | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1974

| Seed | School | Conference Record | Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Vermont | 15–1–0 | 5 | Massachusetts | 10–6–0 |
| 2 | Salem State | 18–3–0 | 6 | Norwich | 10–8–1 |
| 3 | Merrimack | 16–6–2 | 7 | Williams | 7–5–2 |
| 4 | Boston State | 13–9–2 | 8 | Army | 9–2–0 |
| Quarterfinals March 2-3 | Quarterfinals March 2-3 | Quarterfinals March 2-3 | Semifinals March 5-6 | Semifinals March 5-6 | Semifinals March 5-6 | ECAC 2 Championship March 9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 9 |
| 1 | Vermont | 10 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Army | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Army | 1 | 1 | Vermont | 4 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Massachusetts | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Salem State | 9 | 5 | Massachusetts | 3 | | | |
| 7 | Williams | 6 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Williams | 6 | | | | 1 | Vermont | 6 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Merrimack | 2 |
| 3 | Merrimack | 4 | | | | | | | 3 | Merrimack | 2 |
| 6 | Norwich | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Norwich | 3 | 2 | Salem State | 2 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Merrimack | 7 | | | |
| 4 | Boston State | 4 | 3 | Merrimack | 7 | | | |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 7 | | | | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1975

| Seed | School | Conference Record | Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Merrimack | 22–2–1 | 5 | Salem State | 15–7–0 |
| 2 | Bowdoin | 11–5–0 | 6 | Saint Anselm | 12–9–1 |
| 3 | Middlebury | 10–4–1 | 7 | Army | 12–7–0 |
| 4 | Hamilton | 13–5–1 | 8 | Lowell Tech | 13–8–0 |
| Quarterfinals March 1-3 | Quarterfinals March 1-3 | Quarterfinals March 1-3 | Semifinals March 5-6 | Semifinals March 5-6 | Semifinals March 5-6 | ECAC 2 Championship March 8 | ECAC 2 Championship March 8 | ECAC 2 Championship March 8 |
| 1 | Merrimack | 4 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Lowell Tech | 2 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Lowell Tech | 2 | 1 | Merrimack | 3 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Hamilton | 4 | | | |
| 2 | Bowdoin | 8 | 4 | Hamilton | 4 | | | |
| 7 | Army | 4 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Army | 4 | | | | 4 | Hamilton | 4 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Bowdoin | 6 |
| 3 | Middlebury | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Bowdoin | 6 |
| 6 | Saint Anselm | 4 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Saint Anselm | 4 | 2 | Bowdoin | 3* | | | |
| | | | 3 | Middlebury | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Hamilton | 6 | 3 | Middlebury | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Salem State | 3 | | | | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1976

| Seed | School | Conference Record | Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Merrimack | 21–2–0 | 5 | Oswego State | 13–6–1 |
| 2 | Union | 13–1–0 | 6 | Hamilton | 9–7–1 |
| 3 | Bowdoin | 13–3–0 | 7 | Army | 12–5–0 |
| 4 | Salem State | 15–5–0 | 8 | Buffalo | 9–4–1 |
| Quarterfinals March 5-6 | Quarterfinals March 5-6 | Quarterfinals March 5-6 | Semifinals March 9-10 | Semifinals March 9-10 | Semifinals March 9-10 | ECAC 2 Championship March 13 | ECAC 2 Championship March 13 | ECAC 2 Championship March 13 |
| 1 | Merrimack | 7 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Buffalo | 4 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Buffalo | 4 | 1 | Merrimack | 8 | | | |
| | | | 7 | Army | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Union | 2 | 7 | Army | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Army | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Army | 3 | | | | 1 | Merrimack | 5 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Bowdoin | 6 |
| 3 | Bowdoin | 7 | | | | | | | 3 | Bowdoin | 6 |
| 6 | Hamilton | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Hamilton | 3 | 3 | Bowdoin | 4 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Salem State | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Salem State | 3 | 4 | Salem State | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Oswego State | 1 | | | | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1977

| Seed | School | Conference Record | Seed | School | Conference Record |
| 1 | Merrimack | 20–2–1 | 5 | American International | 14–5–0 |
| 2 | Union | 11–1–0 | 6 | Lowell | 16–8–1 |
| 3 | Bowdoin | 13–2–0 | 7 | Salem State | 16–6–0 |
| 4 | Army | 14–2–1 | 8 | Elmira | 19–2–0 |
| Quarterfinals March 4-5 | Quarterfinals March 4-5 | Quarterfinals March 4-5 | Semifinals March 8-9 | Semifinals March 8-9 | Semifinals March 8-9 | ECAC 2 Championship March 16 | ECAC 2 Championship March 16 | ECAC 2 Championship March 16 |
| 1 | Merrimack | 5 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Elmira | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Elmira | 1 | 1 | Merrimack | 6 | | | |
| | | | 6 | Lowell | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Union | 12 | 6 | Lowell | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Salem State | 6 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Salem State | 6 | | | | 1 | Merrimack | 6 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Union | 4 |
| 3 | Bowdoin | 2 | | | | | | | 2 | Union | 4 |
| 6 | Lowell | 4 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Lowell | 4 | 2 | Union | 11 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Army | 4 | | | |
| 4 | Army | 7* | 4 | Army | 4 | | | |
| 5 | American International | 6 | | | | | | |
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1978

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1979

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1980

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1981

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1982

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1983

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## 1984

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

## Championships

| School | Championships |
| Bowdoin | 4 |
| Lowell | 4 |
| Merrimack | 4 |
| Vermont | 3 |
| Oswego State | 2 |
| Plattsburgh State | 2 |
| American International | 1 |
| Babson | 1 |
| Colby | 1 |
| Elmira | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 1 |
| Middlebury | 1 |
| RIT | 1 |