NCAA Division II independent schools (ice hockey)

NCAA Division II independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA ice hockey but are not members of a conference. There are currently no independents at the Division II level, however, several teams were previously independents while under D-II classification.
==Current independent programs==
As of 2020, only seven teams play at the Division II level with all belonging to the same conference (Northeast-10 Conference). 
==Current programs which were previously independent==
The NCAA did not start numerical classification until 1973. Prior to that teams played either in the University Division, which became Division I, or the College Division, which was split into Divisions II and III. College Division independents are listed here for reference as a majority of the College Division programs joined the Division II level regardless of where their respective schools were reclassified.
During the 1960s and 70s most western schools competed in the NAIA and did not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA. This began to change once the NCAA instituted the Division II Tournament in 1978. In some cases NCAA teams were invited to participate in the NAIA tournament, leaving the ordering of schools at that time unclear.
===Men===
School 	Team 	Location 	Years 	Subsequentconference(s)	Notes
University of Alabama in Huntsville 	Chargers 	Huntsville, Alabama 	1986–19871992–1998	Division IDivision I 	Played one season at the Division II level after transferring from NAIA before raising to the D-I level. Returned to D-II when the national tournament was restarted and left in preparation to join a D-I conference (CHA). Currently played in the WCHA.
Babson College 	Beavers 	Wellesley, Massachusetts	1965–1967 	ECAC 2 	Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in NEHC.
Bentley College 	Falcons 	Waltham, Massachusetts 	1998–1999 	MAAC 	Played one season at the Division II level before raising to Division I. Currently plays in the MAAC's successor conference, Atlantic Hockey.
Elmira College 	Soaring Eagles	Elmira, New York 	1974–1976 	ECAC 2 	Currently plays in UCHC.
Lake Forest College 	Foresters 	Lake Forest, Illinois 	1965–1984 	Division III 	Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in the NCHA.
Lowell Tech 	Terriers 	Lowell, Massachusetts 	1967–1968 	ECAC 2 	Raised to Division I in 1983. Became University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1993. Currently plays in Hockey East.
Mankato State University 	Mavericks 	Mankato, Minnesota 	1969–19801992–1996	NCHADivision I 	Left NCHA in 1992 to compete fully at the Division II level. Program was raised to D-I four years later due to the lack of interest from other D-II schools. Became Minnesota State University in 2000.
New England College 	Pilgrims 	Henniker, New Hampshire 	1969–1971 	ECAC 2 	Currently plays in NEHC.
Nichols College 	Bison 	Dudley, Massachusetts 	1964–1966† 	ECAC 2 	Currently plays in CCC.
Plymouth State College 	Panthers 	Plymouth, New Hampshire 	1971–1973 	ECAC 3 	
Post University 	Eagles 	Waterbury, Connecticut 	2016–2019 	Northeast-10 	
Salem State College 	Vikings 	Salem, Massachusetts 	1964–1967† 	ECAC 2 	Currently plays in MASCAC.
St. Cloud State University 	Huskies 	St. Cloud, Minnesota 	1964–1980† 	NCHA 	Program was promoted to Division I in 1987. Currently plays in the NCHC.
The College at Brockport, State University of New York	Golden Eagles 	Brockport, New York 	1973–1976 	ECAC 2 	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Geneseo 	Knights 	Geneseo, New York 	1975–1976 	ECAC 2 	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh 	Cardinals 	Plattsburgh, New York 	1975–1976 	ECAC 2 	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point 	Pointers 	Stevens Point, Wisconsin	1981–1984 	Division III 	Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in the WIAC.
† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.
===Women===
==Defunct teams==
===Men===
School 	Team 	Location 	Years 	Subsequentconference(s)	Notes
Boston State College 	Warriors 	Boston, Massachusetts 	1964–1966† 	ECAC 2 	Merged with University of Massachusetts Boston in 1982.
University of Buffalo 	Bulls 	Buffalo, New York 	1969–1971 	ECAC 2 	Suspended program in 1987.
University of Findlay 	Oilers 	Findlay, Ohio 	1996–1998 	MCHA 	Joined Division I CHA after one year in the MCHA. Program was suspended in 2004.
University of Minnesota Crookston	Golden Eagles	Crookston, Minnesota 	1998–1999 	MCHA 	Was forced to leave the MCHA in 2009 due to NCAA regulations barring higher-tier teams from participating in Division III conferences. Suspended program when no other nearby Division II schools were willing to start ice hockey programs.
North Adams State College 	Mohawks 	North Adams, Massachusetts	1971–19721974–1975	ECAC 3ECAC 2 	School changed name to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts before dropping ice hockey in 2003.
† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.
===Women===
==See also==
* List of NCAA Division II ice hockey programs
* NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)
* NCAA Division III independent schools (ice hockey)
==References==
NCAA Division III Independents
Independents, ice hockey
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Ice
Independent