Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association The Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association ( PCHA ) is a collegiate hockey conference within Division 3 of the ACHA . The PCHA has been in operation for more than 40 years and administers the PCHA Playoffs at the conclusion of each regular season . The winner of the PCHA Playoffs receives the coveted Adams Cup , named after Cary Adams who started the conference . At the end of the 2007 - 08 season San Diego State became the first PCHA team to make the ACHA Division 3 National Championship Game . They lost to California University ( PA ) . At the end of the 2010 - 11 season College of the Canyons became the first PCHA team to win a National Championship defeating Hope College 5 - 3 . After the 2011 - 12 season the last original member , Cal State Northridge , left for Division 2 and College of the Canyons and Northern Arizona left the conference to become independent Division 3 teams leaving the PCHA as a Northern California conference . History . The Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association , originally dubbed the Southern California Collegiate Hockey Association , began in 1972 . The three original charter schools were Cal State Northridge , UCLA and Cal Tech . As of 2013 , 29 schools have competed in the PCHA . Northern Arizona is the only school outside of California to compete in the league . Five years after the conference ' s inception , the PCHA began instituting a post - season tournament entitled the PCHA Playoffs . USC won the conference ' s first championship . There have been 17 schools total that have won the Adams Cup . After winning the 2012 championship , College of the Canyons became the first school to win the Adam ' s Cup four years in a row . Adams Cup Champions . Totals Division Champions . From the 2007 - 08 season until the 2010 - 11 season the PCHA was split into two divisions , the North and the South . The winner of each division would receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs . ^ Won Adam ' s Cup ACHA Division 3 Nationals Teams . Since 2002 , the PCHA has sent 17 teams to the ACHA Division 3 National Tournament . Two teams have reached the National Championship Game , San Diego State in 2008 and College of the Canyons in 2011 . San Diego State lost to California ( PA ) and COC defeated Hope College to become the first National Champion from the PCHA . COC made the most appearances with seven before becoming an independent Division 3 team . Northern Arizona made three appearances before moving up to Division 2 . Cal State Northridge and San Diego State made two appearances before moving up to Division 2 . West LA College , Fresno State and UC San Diego each made one appearance . Cal State Northridge in their second game at the 2012 National Tournament , was involved in the first tie in Division 3 Nationals history against Hope College . 2012 Host City : Vineland , NJ Davenport ( L 8 - 2 ) Robert Morris ( W 9 - 6 ) Central Florida ( W 7 - 6 OT ) Hope College ( T 5 - 5 ) California ( PA ) ( L 8 - 6 ) Alabama ( W 7 - 6 OT ) 2011 Host City : Holland , MI Fredonia State ( W 4 - 3 ) Loyola - Maryland ( W 5 - 4 ) Saginaw Valley State ( W 4 - 1 ) California ( PA ) ( W 2 - 1 OT ) National Championship Game - Hope College ( W 5 - 3 ) 2010 Host City : Fort Myers , FL Florida ( W 8 - 3 ) Robert Morris ( W 7 - 4 ) Saginaw Valley State ( L 4 - 1 ) Central Florida ( L 7 - 4 ) California ( PA ) ( L 9 - 2 ) Lansing Community College ( W 8 - 6 ) 2009 Host City : Rochester , NY Penn State - Brandywine ( W 5 - 1 ) Saginaw Valley State ( L 7 - 2 ) College of the Canyons ( W 11 - 3 ) Dordt College ( L 2 - 1 SO ) Albany ( W 6 - 5 ) Grand Valley State ( L 7 - 2 ) Northern Arizona ( L 11 - 3 ) Georgia Tech ( L 9 - 7 ) 2008 Host City : Rochester , MN Tennessee ( W 5 - 3 ) Hope College ( W 6 - 1 ) Central Florida ( W 6 - 1 ) National Championship Game - California ( PA ) ( L 7 - 3 ) Northwood ( W 4 - 3 ) California ( PA ) ( L 7 - 3 ) Farmingdale State ( W 5 - 4 ) Hope College ( L 4 - 3 ) 2007 Host City : Fort Wayne , IN Tennessee ( W 9 - 5 ) Albany ( L 3 - 2 ) Northern Colorado ( L 8 - 3 ) Indiana ( PA ) ( L 3 - 2 ) Kennesaw State ( L 12 - 3 ) California ( PA ) ( W 11 - 5 ) San Diego State ( W 6 - 5 ) Wright State ( L 12 - 4 ) Indiana ( PA ) ( L 6 - 4 ) Central Florida ( W 3 - 2 ) College of the Canyons ( L 6 - 5 ) Penn State - Berks ( L 3 - 1 ) 2006 Host City : Fort Myers , FL Wright State ( L 6 - 1 ) Indiana ( PA ) ( W 5 - 4 SO ) Central Florida ( L 12 - 1 ) Pittsburgh - Johnstown ( L 9 - 2 ) 2005 Host School : California ( PA ) St . Vincent ( W 9 - 4 ) Penn State - Berks ( L 7 - 3 ) California ( PA ) ( W 7 - 2 ) Wright State ( L 8 - 2 ) 2004 Host School : Arizona State Indiana ( PA ) ( L 1 - 0 ) Florida Gulf Coast ( W 9 - 4 ) Radford ( W 16 - 1 ) Georgia Tech ( W 9 - 2 ) 2003 Host School : Muskegon Community College Wagner College ( W 3 - 2 ) Hope College ( L 1 - 0 ) Tennessee ( W 9 - 7 ) Georgetown ( W 5 - 4 ) 2002 Host School : Georgia Tech Georgia ( W 4 - 3 ) Muskegon Community College ( L 5 - 3 ) Slippery Rock ( L 3 - 2 )