AWCHA

In 1997-98, the American Women's College Hockey Alliance debuted. It was a program funded through the United States Olympic Committee/NCAA Conference Grant Program. The AWCHA organized and developed activities with collegiate women's varsity ice hockey teams, and helped to promote women's ice hockey at all NCAA levels. The first AWCHA Division I National Ice Hockey Championship was held in March 1998. The New Hampshire Wildcats defeated the Brown Bears by a 4-1 score, to become the first recognized national champion in women's college ice hockey. 
There were two more AWCHA National Championships and then the NCAA became involved. In August 2000, the NCAA announced it would hold its first Division I Women's Ice Hockey National Championship. The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs captured the first NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship, defeating the St. Lawrence Skating Saints by a 4-2 tally on March 25, 2001.
==American Women's College Hockey Alliance champions==
Prior to the NCAA establishing a women's ice hockey championship, the AWCHA held a championship from 1997-98 season to 1999-2000 season. Below are those champions.
===Division I===
*1998 New Hampshire
*1999 Harvard
*2000 Minnesota
===Division III===
*1998 not held
*1999 not held
*2000 Middlebury Panthers
*2001 Middlebury Panthers
==Awards==
=== Laura Hurd Award===
The Laura Hurd Award is given to the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey College Player of the Year
Year	Winner 	School 	Position
2000	Sylvia Ryan 	Middlebury 	Forward
2001	Michelle Labbe 	Middlebury 	Forward
2002	Sarah Moe 	Gustavus Adolphus	Forward
2003	Angela Kapus 	Middlebury 	Forward/Defense
2004	Molly Wasserman 	Williams 	Forward
2005	Laura Hurd 	Elmira 	Forward
2006	Emily Quizon 	Middlebury 	Forward
2007	Andrea Peterson 	Gustavus Adolphus	Defense
2008	Danielle Blanchard	Plattsburgh 	Forward
2009	Kayla Coady 	Elmira 	Forward
2010	Isabel Iwachiw 	Trinity 	Goaltender
==References==
Category:Women's ice hockey in the United States