Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League

The Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) is a non-NCAA collegiate ice hockey league in the mid-atlantic and southeast regions of the United States. The Mission of the ACC Hockey League is to provide student-athletes an option to compete in organized intercollegiate ice hockey without the high expenses of NCAA level hockey.

Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League
Founded1995
CommissionerMike Walley (since 2012)
Sports fielded
DivisionDivision II & III
No. of teams63
HeadquartersNorth Carolina
RegionSoutheast
Most recent
champion(s)
Penn State
(M2 Premier - 1st title) / Georgetown
(Women's - 1st title)
Most titlesGeorgetown
(Men's - 6 titles)
Official websiteOfficial website

All teams in Men's Division II compete out of the ACHA Southeast Region in Division II. All teams in the Women's Division also compete out of the ACHA Southeast Region in Division II. The Men's Division III level competes in the AAU as the Premier teams are apart of the Division II level with some being dual within Division III of the ACHA. The Elite teams are a part of the AAU Men's Division III level. Mike "Sheriff" Walley is the current executive director of the league.[1]

Current members

Men's Division II

Division Institution Location Nickname Arena Team Colors Primary conference
Premier - Mid-Atlantic Division University of Delaware Newark, DE Blue Hens Fred Rust Ice Arena     CAA (DI)
University of Maryland College Park, MD Terrapins The Gardens Ice House     Big Ten (DI)
Pennsylvania State University State College, PA Nittany Lions Pegula Ice Arena     Big Ten (DI)
Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ Broncs Tsai Field House     MAAC (DI)
Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Profs Hollydell Ice Arena     NJAC (DIII)
Premier - Atlantic Coast Division North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Wolfpack Wake Competition Center     ACC (DI)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Tar Heels Orange County Sportsplex     ACC (DI)
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, NC Seahawks Wilmington Ice House     CAA (DI)
Virginia Tech University Blacksburg, VA Hokies LancerLot Sports Complex     ACC (DI)
Elite - Capitol Division Georgetown University Washington, D.C. Hoyas The Gardens Ice House     Big East (DI)
George Washington University Washington, D.C. Colonials The St. James     A-10 (DI)
Princeton University Princeton, NJ Tigers Baker Rink     Ivy League (DI)
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA Hawks Haverford Skatium     A-10 (DI)
Elite - Carolina Division Duke University Durham, NC Blue Devils Orange County Sportsplex     ACC (DI)
East Carolina University Greenville, NC Pirates Carolina Ice Zone     AAC (DI)
Elon University Elon, NC Phoenix Orange County Sportsplex     CAA (DI)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC 49ers Extreme Ice Center     AAC (DI)
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Demon Deacons Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex     ACC (DI)
Elite - Virginia Division Denison University Granville, OH Big Red Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena     NCAC (DIII)
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Dukes Haymarket IcePlex     Sun Belt (DI)
University of Richmond Richmond, VA Spiders Richmond Ice Zone     A-10 (DI)
Stevenson University Stevenson, MD Mustangs Reisterstown Sportsplex     MAC (DIII)
University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Cavaliers LaHaye Ice Center     ACC (DI)
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Mountaineers Morgantown Ice Arena     Big 12 (DI)

Women's Division II

Division Institution Location Nickname Arena Team Colors Primary conference
North Division Georgetown University Washington, D.C. Hoyas The Gardens Ice House     Big East (DI)
George Washington University Washington, D.C. Colonials The St. James     A-10 (DI)
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Dukes Haymarket IcePlex     Sun Belt (DI)
University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Cavaliers LaHaye Ice Center     ACC (DI)
South Division High Point University High Point, NC Panthers Greensboro Ice House     Big South (DI)
North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Wolfpack Wake Competition Center     ACC (DI)
Virginia Tech University Blacksburg, VA Hokies LancerLot Sports Complex     ACC (DI)

Men's Division III

Division Institution Location Nickname Arena Team Colors Primary conference
Premier - Capitol Division Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. Cardinals Fort DuPont Ice Arena     Landmark (DIII)
George Mason University Fairfax, VA Patriots Prince William Ice Center     A-10 (DI)
University of Maryland, College Park College Park, MD Terrapins The Gardens Ice House     Big Ten (DI)
United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD Midshipmen McMullen Hockey Arena     Patriot (DI)
Premier - North Division Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD Greyhounds Reisterstown Sportsplex     Patriot (DI)
Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Profs Hollydell Ice Arena     NJAC (DIII)
Stevenson University Stevenson, MD Mustangs Reisterstown Sportsplex     MAC (DIII)
West Chester University West Chester, PA Golden Rams Ice Line Quad Rinks     PSAC (DII)
Premier - South Division Appalachian State University Boone, NC Mountaineers Greensboro Ice House     Sun Belt (DI)
College of Charleston Charleston, SC Cougars Carolina Ice Palace     CAA (DI)
Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Captains Hampton Roads Iceplex     C2C (DIII)
Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC Chanticleers Wilmington Ice House     Sun Belt (DI)
High Point University High Point, NC Panthers Greensboro Ice House     Big South (DI)
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Flames LaHaye Ice Center     ASUN (DI)
Elite - North Division American University Washington, D.C. Eagles Fort DuPont Ice Arena     Patriot (DI)
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Dukes Haymarket IcePlex     Sun Belt (DI)
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Blue Jays     Centennial (DIII)
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Catonsville, MD Retrievers The Gardens Ice House     America East (DI)
Millersville University Millersville, PA Marauders Lancaster Ice Rink     PSAC (DII)
Montgomery College Rockville, MD Raptors Rockville Ice Arena     NJCAA
Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria, VA Nighthawks Prince William Ice Center     NJCAA
York College of Pennsylvania Spring Garden Township, PA Spartans York Ice Arena     MACCC (DIII)
Elite - South Division The Citadel Charleston, SC Bulldogs Carolina Ice Palace     SoCon (DI)
High Point University High Point, NC Panthers Greensboro Ice House     Big South (DI)
Longwood University Farmville, VA Lancers LaHaye Ice Center     Big South (D)
University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Eagles Prince William Ice Center     C2C (DIII)
Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Monarchs Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex     Sun Belt (DI)
Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Keydets LaHaye Ice Center     Southern (DI)
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Rams Richmond Ice Zone     A-10 (DI)
College of William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Tribe Hampton Roads Iceplex     CAA (DI)

League Expansion

Tournament Championships

The ACCHL playoff tournament features all six teams qualifying from the M2 Premier Division as the winner is awarded the Admiral's Cup. The M2 Elite & M3 Premier Divisions have the top eight teams qualify. The M3 Elite Division has the top four teams qualify as the winner is awarded the Captain's Cup. The Women's Division features the top four teams qualifying as the winner is awarded the Commodore's Cup.

YearAdmiral's Cup ChampionRunner-UpRegular Season ChampionTournament Location
1996 Virginia (1)North CarolinaVirginia Tech (1)Fort Bragg, NC
1997 Liberty (1)North CarolinaVirginia (1)Charlottesville, VA
1998 Duke (1)VirginiaVirginia (2)Charlottesville, VA
1999 Maryland (1)North CarolinaVirginia (3)Charlottesville, VA
2000 Virginia (2)MarylandVirginia (4)Ashburn, VA
2001 Maryland (2)NC StateNC State (1)Laurel, MD
2002 Liberty (2)MarylandNC State (2)Laurel, MD
2003 Liberty (3)MarylandNC State (3)Raleigh, NC
2004 Duke (2)VirginiaDuke (1)Charlottesville, VA
2005 Georgetown (1)VirginiaVirginia (5)Hillsborough, NC
2006 Duke (3)GeorgetownDuke (2)Charlottesville, VA
2007 Georgetown (2)DukeGeorgetown (1)Arlington, VA
2008 Georgetown (3)DukeVirginia Tech (2)Roanoke, VA
2009 Virginia Tech (1)DukeVirginia Tech (3)Roanoke, VA
2010 Virginia Tech (2)GeorgetownMaryland (1)Arlington, VA
2011 NC State (1)MarylandMaryland (2)Hillsborough, NC
2012 Georgetown (4)MarylandGeorgetown (2)Hillsborough, NC
2013 Georgetown (5)NC StateNC State (4)Laurel, MD
2014 Georgetown (6)NC StateNC State (5)Annapolis, MD
2015 North Carolina (1)GeorgetownNC State (6)Annapolis, MD
2016 George Washington (1)NC StateNC State (7)Charlottesville, VA
2017 Virginia (3)NC StateVirginia (6)Charlottesville, VA
2018 Charlotte (1)Wake ForestGeorge Washington (1)Charlottesville, VA
2019 NC State (2)VirginiaNC State (8)Winston-Salem, NC
2020 NC State (3)Wake ForestNC State (9)Winston-Salem, NC
2021 *NC State (4)Virginia TechN/A (COVID)Winston-Salem, NC
2022 NC State (5)North CarolinaVirginia Tech (4)Winston-Salem, NC
2023 Penn State (1)North CarolinaPenn State (1)Winston-Salem, NC
2024 TBDTBDTBDWinston-Salem, NC
YearM2 Elite Division ChampionRunner-UpRegular Season ChampionTournament Location
2023 West Virginia (1)CharlotteSaint Joseph's (1)Winston-Salem, NC
2024 TBDTBDTBDWinston-Salem, NC
YearCommodore's Cup ChampionRunner-UpRegular Season ChampionTournament Location
2022 NC State (1)West VirginiaWest Virginia (1)Winston-Salem, NC
2023 Georgetown (1)NC StateGeorgetown (1)Winston-Salem, NC
2024 TBDTBDTBDWinston-Salem, NC
YearM3 Premier Division ChampionRunner-UpRegular Season ChampionTournament Location
2020 Christopher Newport (1)College of CharlestonChesapeake, MD
2021 *Coastal Carolina (1)LibertyN/A (COVID)Winston-Salem, NC
2022 Coastal Carolina (2)LibertyLiberty (1)Lynchburg, VA
2023 Coastal Carolina (3)LibertyLiberty (2)Winston-Salem, NC
2024 TBDTBDTBDWinston-Salem, NC
YearCaptain's Cup ChampionRunner-UpRegular Season ChampionTournament Location
2022 William & Mary (1)Appalachian StateWilliam & Mary (1)Lynchburg, VA
2023 Loyola Maryland (1)William & MaryWilliam & Mary (2)Winston-Salem, NC
2024 TBDTBDTBDWinston-Salem, NC
  • For the 2020-2021 season, league playoffs were held despite numerous programs not competing due to the COVID pandemic.

ACC Fall Tournament

From 2009 to 2020, NC State hosted the Stephen Russell Tournament at some point every season to commemorate the loss of their goaltender, Stephen Russell, who drowned in a swimming accident at Jordan Lake. The team retired Russell's #20 in his honor.

Starting in the 2021–2022 season, the ACC began to host what is now the annual fall tournament for all M2 member teams for a three-game league weekend. The tournament takes place at The St. James in Springfield, Virginia. The league will typically invite two non-members from ACHA Men's Division II to come participate as well. In 2022, the ACC began awarding a Men's Premier and Elite winner separately as well as a Women's winner which is held on a different weekend.

The current tournament features a conglomerate scoring system of winning periods (2 points per period), whole games (4 points = W, 2 points = OT/SOW, 1 point = OT/SOL, and 0 points = L), and points earned in a skills competition (varying by event). The totals are added for a final score. The Premier and Elite are each awarded a winner for the weekend.

YearTournament Champion
2013NC State
2014North Carolina
2015NC State
2016James Madison
2017James Madison
2018Virginia
2019NC State
2020NC State
2021NC State
2022Rowan (Premier) | Denison (Elite) | Virginia Tech (Women's)
2023Nov. 3-5, 2023

Men's Division II Southeast Regionals

The ACHA hosts their regional tournaments towards the end of February. Four regions (Northeast, Southeast, Central and West) see teams ranked #3-14 compete in a single elimination, three-day weekend for two berths to the Men's Division II National Tournament. The top two teams in each regional automatically qualify.

  • 2020: #9 Wake Forest defeated #12 The College of New Jersey in Overtime; defeated #4 NC State; lost to #3 Cincinnati.
  • 2021: ACHA did not hold the regional tournament due to the shortened seasons caused by COVID-19.
  • 2022: #3 NC State lost to #13 Pennsylvania / #14 North Carolina lost to #7 Indiana.
  • 2023: #7 Penn State defeated #14 Rider; lost to #6 Ohio / #9 Rowan lost to #12 Louisville / #11 North Carolina defeated #10 NC State; defeated #5 Miami Ohio in Overtime; lost to #3 Kentucky.

Men's Division II National Tournament

The ACHA hosts the Men's Division II National Tournament every March, hosting 16 teams. Those teams are put into four separate pools with a team from each region. Winner of each pool advances to the Final Four.

  • 2019: NC State (SE #4) finished 1–2 in Pool A; lost to Massachusetts (NE #1) 7–2, defeated Northern Colorado (West #2) 6-5 and lost to Trine (Central #3) 9–1.
  • 2021: NC State (#2) finished 2–1 in Pool A; defeated Providence (#4) 6–4, Davenport (#3) 5-3 and lost to Mary (#1) 5–1.

Men's Division III National Tournament

The AAU hosts the Men's Division II National Tournament every March, hosting 32 teams. Teams are split into eight pools based on their national ranking. Winner of each pool advances to the Quarter-Finals. The overall winner is the AAU College Hockey National Champion.

  • 2022: Christopher Newport (#16) finished 2-1 to win Pool A; lost to Central Florida (#17) 3-1, defeated Salisbury (#32) 5-2 and Tampa (#1) 4-3 in Overtime; lost to Ramapo (#9) 9-2 in the Quarter-Finals / Liberty (#12) finished 0–3 in Pool E; lost to Buffalo State (#21) 7-3, College of Charleston 4-2 and Babson (#5) 9-3 / East Carolina (#18) finished 1–2 in Pool B; lost to St. Bonaventure (#15) 9-4, Farmingdale State (#2) 7-2 and defeated Penn State Harrisburg (#31) 6-1 / College of Charleston (#28) went 1–2 in Pool E; lost to Babson (#5) 9-4, defeated Liberty 4-2 and lost to Buffalo State (#21) 11-5.
  • 2023: Liberty (#4) finished 0-2-1 in Pool G; tied Fordham (#26) 3-3 in Overtime, lost to Alabama (#18) 5-1 and South Carolina (#10) 7-6 in Overtime / High Point (#32) finished 1-2 in Pool A; lost to St. Bonaventure (#1) 5-0 and Georgia (#16) 7-0 and defeated Massachusetts Maritime Academy (#24) 7-2.

References

  1. "ACCHL: Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League | Home Page | Pointstreak Sites". Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  2. "Membership History". Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
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