NCAA Division III women's ice hockey

As of the 2022–23 season, there were 72 teams competing in NCAA Division III women’s hockey across eight conferences with four independent programs.
NCAA Division III women's ice hockey may begin formal practice on October 15 and are limited to 25 games in the regular season. Four of the five conferences begin practice on this date (all except for the New England Small College Athletic Conference) and once the season begins, most teams practice or play six days per week.
The women's ice hockey championship includes eight conferences for the NCAA Division III. A conference with seven or more affiliated programs automatically qualifies for the NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey Tournament. Thus, currently, there are seven automatic bids, as the WIAC does not have enough teams to qualify for an auto-bid.
==Conferences==
=== Commonwealth Coast Conference ===
The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) is a college athletic conference which competes in NCAA Division III. The CCC schools are located in the New England region of the United States. There are currently seven women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
* Curry College (Colonels) - Milton, Massachusetts
* Endicott College (Gulls) - Beverly, Massachusetts
* Nichols College (Bison) - Dudley, Massachusetts
* Salve Regina University (Seahawks) - Newport, Rhode Island
* Suffolk University (Rams) - Boston, Massachusetts
* University of New England (Nor'easters) - Biddeford, Maine
* Western New England University (Golden Bears) - Springfield, Massachusetts
=== Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ===
The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The MIAC schools are located in the state of Minnesota. There are currently ten women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
*Augsburg University (Auggies) – Minneapolis, Minnesota
*Bethel University (Royals) – Arden Hills, Minnesota
*Concordia College (Cobbers) – Moorhead, Minnesota
*Gustavus Adolphus College (Golden Gusties) – St. Peter, Minnesota
*Hamline University (Pipers) – St. Paul, Minnesota
*College of Saint Benedict (Bennies) – St. Joseph, Minnesota
*Saint Mary’s University (Cardinals) – Winona, Minnesota
*St. Catherine University (Wildcats) – St. Paul, Minnesota
*St. Olaf College (Oles) – Northfield, Minnesota
*College of St. Scholastica (Saints) – Duluth, Minnesota
===New England Hockey Conference===
The New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The NEHC schools are located in the northeastern United States. There are currently ten women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
* Castleton University (Spartans) - Castleton, Vermont
* Elmira College (Soaring Eagles) - Elmira, New York
* Johnson & Wales University (Wildcats) - Providence, Rhode Island
* New England College (Pilgrims) - Henniker, New Hampshire
* Norwich University (Cadets) - Northfield, Vermont
* Plymouth State University (Panthers) - Plymouth, New Hampshire
* Salem State University (Vikings) - Salem, Massachusetts
* University of Southern Maine (Huskies) - Gorham, Maine
*University of Massachusetts Boston (Beacons) - Boston, Massachusetts
*William Smith College (Herons) - Geneva, New York
=== New England Small College Athletic Conference ===
The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The NESCAC schools are located in the northeastern United States. There are currently nine women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
*Amherst College (Mammoths) – Amherst, Massachusetts
*Bowdoin College (Polar Bears) – Brunswick, Maine
*Colby College (Mules) – Waterville, Maine
*Connecticut College (Camels) – New London, Connecticut
*Hamilton College (Continentals) – Clinton, New York
*Middlebury College (Panthers) – Middlebury, Vermont
*Trinity College (Bantams) – Hartford, Connecticut
*Wesleyan University (Cardinals) – Middletown, Connecticut
*Williams College (Ephs) – Williamstown, Massachusetts
=== Northeast Women's Hockey League ===
The Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The NEWHL schools are located in the state of New York. There are currently seven women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
* Buffalo State College (Bengals) - Buffalo, New York
* State University of New York at Canton (Kangaroos) - Canton, New York
* State University of New York College at Cortland (Red Dragons) - Cortland, New York
* Morrisville State College (Mustangs) - Morrisville, New York
* State University of New York at Oswego (Lakers) - Oswego, New York
* State University of New York at Plattsburgh (Cardinals) - Plattsburgh, New York
* State University of New York at Potsdam (Bears) - Potsdam, New York
=== Northern Collegiate Hockey Association ===
The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The NCHA schools are located in the midwestern United States. There are currently nine women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
* Adrian College (Bulldogs) - Adrian, Michigan
* Aurora University (Spartans) - Aurora, Illinois
* Concordia University Wisconsin (Falcons) - Mequon, Wisconsin
* Finlandia University (Lions) - Hancock, Michigan
* Lake Forest College (Foresters) - Lake Forest, Illinois
* Lawrence University (Vikings) - Appleton, Wisconsin
* Marian University (Sabres) - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
* St. Norbert College (Green Knights) - De Pere, Wisconsin
* Trine University (Thunder) - Angola, Indiana
=== United Collegiate Hockey Conference ===
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The UCHC schools are located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. There are currently eleven women's hockey-playing schools in the league.
* Alvernia University (Golden Wolves) - Reading, Pennsylvania
* Arcadia University (Knights) - Glenside, Pennsylvania
* Chatham University (Cougars) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* King's College (Monarchs) - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
* Lebanon Valley College (Flying Dutchmen) - Annville, Pennsylvania
* Manhattanville College (Valiants) - Purchase, New York
* Nazareth College (Golden Flyers) - Pittsford, New York
* Neumann University (Knights) - Aston, Pennsylvania
* Stevenson University (Mustangs) - Stevenson, Maryland
* Utica University (Pioneers) - Utica, New York
* Wilkes University (Colonels) - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
=== Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ===
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is a college athletic conference, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The WIAC schools are located in the state of Wisconsin. There are currently five women's hockey-playing schools in the league. Due to only having five teams, the WIAC does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
* Northland College (LumberJills) - Ashland, Wisconsin
* University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Blugolds) - Eau Claire, Wisconsin
* University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Falcons) - River Falls, Wisconsin
* University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Pointers) - Stevens Point, Wisconsin
* University of Wisconsin-Superior (Yellowjackets) - Superior, Wisconsin
=== Independents ===
There are currently four independent women's hockey programs within Division III.
* Anna Maria College (Amcats) - Paxton, Massachusetts
* Hilbert College (Hawks) - Hamburg, New York
* Rivier University (Raiders) - Nashua, New Hampshire
* Worcester State University (Lancers) - Worcester, Massachusetts
==List of champions==
Year	Champion 	Score 	Runner-up
2002	Elmira 	2–1 	Manhattanville
2003	Elmira 	5–1 	Manhattanville
2004	Middlebury 	2–1 	UW-Stevens Point
2005	Middlebury 	4–3 	Elmira
2006	Middlebury 	3–1 	Plattsburgh
2007	Plattsburgh 	2–1 	Middlebury
2008	Plattsburgh 	3–2 	Manhattanville
2009	Amherst 	4–3 (OT) 	Elmira
2010	Amherst 	7–2 	Norwich
2011	Norwich 	5–2 	RIT
2012	RIT 	4–1 	Norwich
2013	Elmira 	1–0 	Middlebury
2014	Plattsburgh 	9–2 	Norwich
2015	Plattsburgh 	3–2 	Elmira
2016	Plattsburgh 	5–1 	UW-River Falls
2017	Plattsburgh 	4–3 (OT) 	Adrian
2018	Norwich 	2–1 	Elmira
2019	Plattsburgh 	4–0 	Hamline
2020	Cancelled after opening round due to the coronavirus pandemic	Cancelled after opening round due to the coronavirus pandemic	Cancelled after opening round due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021	Tournament cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic 	Tournament cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic 	Tournament cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2022	Middlebury 	3-2 (OT) 	Gustavus Adolphus
2023	Gustavus Adolphus 	3-1 (3OT) 	Amherst
==Awards and honors==
===Laura Hurd Award===
The Laura Hurd Award is an annual award given to the top player in NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey. It is given by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Since 2007, it has been named after Laura Hurd, a stand-out player for Elmira College who was killed in a car accident. Previously, it was known as the Division III Women’s Player of the Year Award.
==Award winners==
Year	Winner 	Position 	School
2000	Sylvia Ryan 	Forward 	Middlebury College
2001	Michelle Labbe 	Forward 	Middlebury College
2002	Sarah Moe 	Forward 	Gustavus Adolphus College
2003	Angela Kapus 	Forward/Defense	Middlebury College
2004	Molly Wasserman 	Forward 	Williams College
2005	Laura Hurd 	Forward 	Elmira College
2006	Emily Quizon 	Forward 	Middlebury College
2007	Andrea Peterson 	Defense 	Gustavus Adolphus College
2008	Danielle Blanchard	Forward 	SUNY Plattsburgh
2009	Kayla Coady 	Forward 	Elmira College
2010	Isabel Iwachiw 	Goaltender 	Trinity College
2011	Sarah Dagg 	Forward 	Rochester Institute of Technology
2012	Julie Fortier 	Forward 	Norwich University
2013	Teal Gove 	Forward 	SUNY Plattsburgh
2014	Sydney Aveson 	Goaltender 	SUNY Plattsburgh
2015	Ashley Ryan 	Forward 	Elmira
2016	Michelle Greeneway	Forward 	Lake Forest
2017	Dani Sibley 	Forward 	UW-River Falls
2018	Melissa Sheeran 	Forward 	Plattsburgh
2019	Bre Simon 	Forward 	Hamline University
2020	Amanda Conway 	Forward 	Norwich University
2021	Not awarded 	Not awarded 	Not awarded
2022	Callie Hoff 	Forward 	UW-River Falls
2023	Darci Matson 	Forward 	Aurora University
*NCAA Division I Women's Hockey conferences and teams
*National Collegiate women's ice hockey championship
*Women's Hockey Coaches with 250 wins
==References==
==External links==
*NCAA Division III women ice hockey page
 
 
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