NCAA Division I independent schools

NCAA Division I independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA college ice hockey but are not members of a conference. There are several current schools who, at one time or another, competed as Division I independents.
==Current independent programs==
===Men===
Institution 	Team 	Location 	Founded	Type 	Enrollment	Years 	Primary Conference
Arizona State University	Sun Devils	Tempe, Arizona 	1885 	Public 	50,246 	2015–present	Pac-12 Conference
Long Island University 	Sharks 	Brooklyn and Brookville, New York	1926 	Private	15,197 	2020–present	Northeast Conference
The Sun Devils moved up from club hockey in the ACHA to full varsity status. Arizona State began playing a full Division I schedule in 2016–17. ASU had expected to join a hockey conference by 2017–18, but no conference move has yet materialized. LIU, which had launched a women's hockey program in 2019–20, added men's hockey for 2020–21. With the 2020–21 season dramatically affected by COVID-19, both teams became scheduling partners of existing Division I hockey conferences for that season. ASU will partner with the Big Ten Conference, playing a road-only schedule of seven games against each of the conference's seven hockey members. LIU will partner with Atlantic Hockey.
===Women===
As of the 2019–20 season, no programs compete as independents in the National Collegiate division of NCAA women's hockey, the de facto equivalent of Division I in that sport.
Five schools competed as independents in the 2018–19 season, all participating in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance, which had been established in 2017 as a scheduling alliance between the then-current National Collegiate independents. The NEWHA had been founded with six members, but Holy Cross left after the alliance's first season to join Hockey East. It formally organized as a conference in 2018–19 with the remaining five members, but was not officially recognized by the NCAA until 2019–20, by which time the newly established LIU women's team had returned the NEWHA membership to six.
==Current programs which were at one point independent==
===Men===
School 	Years 	Subsequent conference 	Notes
Air Force Falcons 	1968–1999 	CHA 	Joined Atlantic Hockey in 2006
Alabama–Huntsville Chargers	1987–19921998–19992010–2013 	Division IICHAWCHA 	The Chargers first competed as a Division I independent between stints in Division II. After winning 2 championships and finishing as runners-up twice more, UAH returned to Division I in 1998, spending one season as an independent before becoming a charter member of College Hockey America. Following the demise of the men's side of CHA, and being denied entry to the CCHA, the Chargers were independent for three seasons (2010–11 to 2012–13) until joining the Western Collegiate Hockey Association beginning in the 2013–14 season. UAH dropped the sport in May 2020, but after a successful fundraising drive reinstated the team later that month..
Alaska–Anchorage Seawolves 	1984–19851988–1993 	GWHCWCHA 	The Seawolves competed as an independent following the demise of the Great West Hockey Conference. The school joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1993. UAA received NCAA tournament bids in 1990, 1991, and 1992 while an independent.
Alaska–Fairbanks Nanooks 	1925–19261932–19731988–1994 	dropped programDivision IICCHA 	The Nanooks re-joined Division I in 1985 in the Great West Hockey Conference, and went independent following the conference's demise. They joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 1994. Joined the WCHA in 2013.
Army Black Knights 	1903–19611991–1999 	ECACCHA 	Joined Atlantic Hockey in 2000.
Bemidji State Beavers 	1947–1950 	dropped program 	Bemidji returned to Division I in 1999 as a charter member of College Hockey America, and moved to the WCHA for 2010–11. Will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
Boston College Eagles 	1917–1961 	ECAC 	Currently competes in Hockey East.
Boston University Terriers 	1917–19431945–1961 	suspended programECAC 	Currently competes in Hockey East.
Brown Bears 	1897–1961 	ECAC 	
Clarkson Golden Knights 	1920–1950 	Tri-State League 	Clarkson was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
Colgate Raiders 	1915–19171920–19501957–1961 	dropped programTri-State LeagueECAC 	Colgate dropped their program in 1951 due to the lack of an indoor facility but returned to the ice in 1957.
Colorado College Tigers 	1937–19511958–1959 	MCHLWCHA 	Joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in 2013.
Cornell Big Red 	1900–19011902–19031906–19161920–19311933–19481957–1961	dropped programdropped programsuspended programdropped programdropped programECAC	
Dartmouth Big Green 	1905–19181919–1961 	suspended programECAC 	
Denver Pioneers 	1949–19511958–1959 	MCHLWCHA 	Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Harvard Crimson 	1897–19171918–19431945–1961 	suspended programsuspended programECAC 	
UMass Minutemen 	1908–19391947–19511953–19611993–1994 	dropped programdropped programDivision IIHockey East 	Dropped program from 1979 until 1993.
Merrimack Warriors 	1984–1989 	Hockey East 	Moved up from Division II in 1984. Merrimack received an NCAA tournament invitation in 1988 while an independent.
Miami RedHawks 	1978–1980 	CCHA 	Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Michigan Wolverines 	1922–1951 	MCHL 	Was also a member of the Big Ten from 1958 through 1981. Moved to CCHA in 1981. Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013..
Michigan State Spartans 	1921–19301949–1951 	dropped programMCHL 	Was also a member of the Big Ten from 1958 through 1981. Moved to CCHA in 1981. Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Michigan Tech Huskies 	1919–19511958–1959 	MCHLWCHA 	Played in the CCHA from 1981–84. Rejoined the WCHA in 1984; will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
Minnesota Golden Gophers 	1921–1951 	MCHL 	Was also a member of the Big Ten from 1958 through 1981. Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs 	1930–19321946–1965 	dropped programWCHA 	Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Minnesota State Mavericks 	1996–1999 	WCHA 	after moving up from Division II and before joining the WCHA. Will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
New Hampshire Wildcats 	1924–1961 	ECAC 	Currently competes in Hockey East.
Niagara Purple Eagles 	1997–1999 	CHA 	Niagara began varsity hockey in 1997, and became a charter member of the CHA in 1999. They moved to Atlantic Hockey for 2010–11.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks	1929–19361946–19511958–1959 	dropped programMCHLWCHA 	Joined the NCHC in 2013.
Northeastern Huskies 	1929–1961 	ECAC 	Currently competes in Hockey East.
Northern Michigan Wildcats 	1976–1977 	CCHA 	Joined the WCHA in 2013, and will join the revived CCHA in 2021.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 	1912–19271968–19711984–1991 	dropped programWCHACCHA 	Left the CCHA in 2013 for Hockey East, and joined Big Ten hockey in 2017.
Ohio State Buckeyes 	1963–19711973–1975 	CCHACCHA 	Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Penn State Nittany Lions 	2012–2013 	Big Ten 	In September 2010, Penn State announced they would add men's and women's NCAA Division I hockey programs in 2012, competing in their first season as an independent. In March 2011, the Big Ten Conference announced that Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State would leave the CCHA, and Minnesota and Wisconsin announced that they would leave the WCHA to form a Big Ten hockey conference to begin play in the 2013–14 season.
Princeton Tigers 	1900–1961 	ECAC 	
Providence Friars 	1926–19271952–19541955–1961 	dropped programNortheast LeagueECAC 	Currently competes in Hockey East.
RIT Tigers 	2005–2006 	Atlantic Hockey 	Played first year of its probation period after joining Division I as an independent.
RPI Engineers 	1901–1950 	Tri-State League 	Rensselaer was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
Sacred Heart Pioneers 	1993–1998 	MAAC 	
St. Cloud State Huskies 	1931–19421987–1990 	dropped programWCHA 	Dropped their program during World War II, resumed in 1946 in Division II. Joined the NCHC in 2013.
St. Lawrence Saints 	1925–19301938–1950 	dropped programTri-State League 	
St. Lawrence was a member of the Tri-State League concurrently with ECAC from 1961 until the Tri-State's dissolution in 1972.
Union Dutchmen 	1903–1949 	dropped program 	Suspended their program from 1949–1975, resumed in Division III, before moving back to Division I in the ECAC in 1991.
Wisconsin Badgers 	1921–19351963–1969 	dropped programWCHA 	Joined the new Big Ten men's hockey league in 2013.
Yale Bulldogs 	1895–1961 	ECAC 	Yale is the oldest active NCAA program.
===Women===
School 	Years 	Subsequent conference	Notes
Clarkson Golden Knights 	2003–2004	ECAC 	Played the first year of their program as an independent before joining the ECAC
Franklin Pierce Ravens 	2017–2019	NEWHA 	Moved from the Division III NEHC in 2017, joining the NEWHA. Left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
Holy Cross Crusaders 	2017–2018	Hockey East 	After playing as a de facto Division III program from the varsity program's creation in 1999–2000, joined the NEWHA at its formation in 2017–18 before moving to Hockey East the following season.
Lindenwood Lady Lions 	2011–2012	CHA 	The university competed as an independent for the 2011–12 season during the transition process of joining the NCAA from NAIA, during which, the team was reclassifying from ACHA Division I to NCAA Division I. Lindenwood placed an application in Fall 2011 and was accepted as a member of CHA starting in the 2012–13 season.
Post Eagles 	2017–2019	NEWHA 	Played inaugural women's hockey season of 2016–17 as a Division III independent ineligible for postseason play. Joined the NEWHA at its formation in 2017 and left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
Quinnipiac Bobcats 	2002–2004	CHA 	Left the ECAC after 2002 and spent two years playing as an independent before joining the CHA. They returned to the ECAC after one season in the CHA.
RPI Engineers 	2005–2006	ECAC 	Moved up from Division III (where they were a member of the ECAC East) in 2005.
Sacred Heart Pioneers 	2003–2019	NEWHA 	Moved from Division III, where they had been a member of ECAC East, in 2003. Left independent status when the NCAA recognized the NEWHA.
Saint Anselm Hawks 	2017–2019	NEWHA 	Moved from the Division III NEHC in 2017, joining the NEWHA. Left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
Saint Michael's Purple Knights	2017–2019	NEWHA 	Moved from the Division III NEHC in 2017, joining the NEWHA. Left independent status upon NCAA recognition of the NEWHA.
UConn Huskies 	2000–2001	ECAC 	Played the first year of their program as an independent before joining the ECAC, and moving to Hockey East in 2002.
==Defunct teams==
===Men===
School 	Years 	Subsequent conference 	Notes
Carnegie Tech Tartans 	1905–19101920–1921 	dropped programdropped program 	Program folded both times. Carnegie Tech merged into Carnegie Mellon University, which has never fielded varsity hockey, in 1967.
Kent State Golden Flashes 	1985–1992 	CCHA 	Program folded in 1994.
Illinois Fighting Illini 	1937–1943 	dropped program 	
UIC Flames 	1981–1982 	CCHA 	Moved up from Division II in 1981. Program folded in 1996.
MIT Engineers 	1906–1961 	ECAC 	The program joined the lower-tier division in 1964 and was dropped in 1975.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks	1980–1985 	GWHC 	Folded their program after one season in the GWHC.
Penn Quakers 	1898–19011908–19111919–19241928–19291939–19421958–1967	dropped programdropped programdropped programdropped programdropped programECAC	Program ended after the 1977-78 season.
Pittsburgh Panthers 	1896–1909 	Intercollegiate League 	varsity hockey was played intermittently from at least 1896, varsity program dropped presumably around 1916, if not earlier.
Saint Louis Billikens 	1970–1971 	CCHA 	St. Louis was a founding member of the CCHA and continued with the conference until the program was demoted to club status in 1979.They currently play as an unrecognized Division II team.
Syracuse Orangemen 	1911–19131923–19281939–1940 	dropped programdropped programdropped program 	School nickname changed to "Orange" in 2004.
U.S. International Gulls 	1979–1985 	GWHC 	Dropped their program in 1988.
Villanova Wildcats 	1929–1932 	dropped program 	Returned as a Division III team and later dropped their program again after the 1997–1998 season for Title IX reasons.
===Women===
School 	Years 	Subsequent conference	Notes
North Dakota Fighting Hawks	2002–2004	WCHA 	Played the first years of their program as an independent before joining the WCHA. Dropped women's ice hockey after the 2016–17 season.
==See also==
* List of NCAA Division I ice hockey programs
==References==
Category:NCAA