ECAC Northeast
The ECAC Northeast was an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference. For many years it was one of the three men's hockey conferences that operated under the umbrella of the Eastern College Athletic Conference; the others were the ECAC East, and the ECAC West. Member institutions were located in the New England region of the United States, in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Unlike the ECAC East and ECAC West, there was no women's division of the ECAC Northeast. Most ECAC Northeast schools did not sponsor women's ice hockey; the two that did played in the ECAC East.
The ECAC Northeast dissolved in 2016 when The Commonwealth Coast Conference, a Division III all-sports conference and the primary conference of most ECAC Northeast members, decided to sponsor men's ice hockey as a varsity sport. Becker, Johnson and Wales, and Suffolk joined the CCC as associate members for ice hockey, while CCC member University of New England moved their men's team from the ECAC East to play in the CCC league.
History
The foundation of the ECAC Northeast was laid in 1971 when ECAC 2, the college division of the ECAC created a third conference called ECAC 3. When the NCAA created Division III in 1973 ECAC 3 was placed at that level and remained there for the rest of its existence. In 1985, as a result of the NCAA beginning a Division III Tournament, ECAC 2 was reorganized into two separate conferences, ECAC East and ECAC West, with each becoming D-III leagues. To prevent confusion, ECAC 3 was renamed as ECAC North/South with all members split into North and South divisions. This arrangement continued until 1992 when ECAC North/South was rearranged into three divisions and renamed ECAC North/South/Central. Over the course of the 1997–98 season the South Division lost 6 of its 8 teams, mostly to Division I, but rather than return to a two-division arrangement the league rebranded as ECAC Northeast. A year later the four member schools who were from Division II schools began playing in a separate tournament which allowed the other programs to play in an NCAA-sanctioned D-III conference tournament for the first time. As a result, ECAC Northeast got its first automatic bid to the tournament in 2000. In 2009 the nine schools whose primary conference was either MASCAC or Northeast-10 left when those two leagues began sponsoring ice hockey. The remaining teams stayed on for another seven years but in 2016 the Commonwealth Coast Conference, the primary conference for seven of the nine member teams, began sponsoring ice hockey. All nine teams joined CCC as either full or associate members and the ECAC Northeast was dissolved.ECAC Northeast Tournament
Upon its founding, ECAC 3 instituted a tournament. Originally only a single game the championship slowly expanded along with the league.Members
There were nine member schools as of the conference's final season in 2015-16.| Location | Athletic nickname | Colors | Founded | Joined | Left | Current Conference† | |
| Amherst, Massachusetts | Lord Jeffs | 1821 | 1972 | 1992 | NESCAC | ||
| Worcester, Massachusetts | Greyhounds | 1904 | 1973 | 2009 | Northeast–10 | ||
| Worcester, Massachusetts | Hawks | 1784 | 2006 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| Waltham, Massachusetts | Falcons | 1917 | 1977 | 1998 | Atlantic Hockey | ||
| Smithfield, Rhode Island | Bulldogs | 1863 | 1973 | 1975 | Dropped Program | ||
| Buffalo, New York | Golden Griffins | 1870 | 1980 | 1982 | Atlantic Hockey | ||
| Worcester, Massachusetts | Cougars | 1887 | 1978 | 1981 | Dropped Program | ||
| New London, Connecticut | Camels | 1794 | 1980 | 1991 | NESCAC | ||
| Milton, Massachusetts | Colonels | 1879 | 1983 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| Beverly, Massachusetts | Gulls | 1939 | 2015 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| Fairfield, Connecticut | Stags | 1942 | 1974 | 1998 | Dropped Program | ||
| Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Falcons | 1894 | 1975 | 2009 | MASCAC | ||
| Framingham, Massachusetts | Rams | 1839 | 1972 | 2009 | MASCAC | ||
| Rindge, New Hampshire | Ravens | 1962 | 2002 | 2009 | Northeast–10 | ||
| Wenham, Massachusetts | Fighting Scots | 1889 | 1974 | 1981 | Dropped Program | ||
| Antrim, New Hampshire | Hilanders | 1962 | 1984 | 1988 | College Closed | ||
| Geneva, New York | Statesmen | 1822 | 1978 | 1983 | NEHC | ||
| New Rochelle, New York | Gaels | 1940 | 1977 | 1998 | Dropped Program | ||
| Providence, Rhode Island | Wildcats | 1914 | 1997 | 2016 | NEHC | ||
| Keene, New Hampshire | Owls | 1909 | 1983 | 1986 | Dropped Program | ||
| Annville, Pennsylvania | Flying Dutchmen | 1866 | 1998 | 2004 | UCHC | ||
| Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Mountain Hawks | 1865 | 1971 | 1986 | Dropped Program | ||
| Dorchester, Massachusetts | Beacons | 1964 | 1980 | 1982 | NEHC | ||
| Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Corsairs | 1895 | 1974 | 2009 | MASCAC | ||
| Cambridge, Massachusetts | Engineers | 1861 | 1971 | 1975 | Dropped Program | ||
| Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | Buccaneers | 1891 | 1975 | 1978 | Dropped Program | ||
| Springvale, Maine | Lions | 1914 | 1972 | 1974 | College Closed | ||
| New York, New York | Beavers | 1847 | 1976 | 1977 | Dropped Program | ||
| Dudley, Massachusetts | Bison | 1914 | 1971 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| North Adams, Massachusetts | Mowhawks | 1894 | 1971 | 1975 | Dropped Program | ||
| Plymouth, New Hampshire | Panthers | 1871 | 1973 | 2009 | MASCAC | ||
| New York, New York | Knights | 1847 | 1976 | 1980 | Dropped Program | ||
| Hamden, Connecticut | Braves | 1929 | 1976 | 1998 | ECAC Hockey | ||
| Mahwah, New Jersey | Roadrunners | 1969 | 1976 | 1981 | Dropped Program | ||
| Henrietta, New York | Tigers | 1829 | 1972 | 1980 | Atlantic Hockey | ||
| Bristol, Rhode Island | Hawks | 1956 | 1983 | 1998 | Dropped Program | ||
| Fairfield, Connecticut | Pioneers | 1963 | 1993 | 1998 | Atlantic Hockey | ||
| Colchester, Vermont | Purple Knights | 1904 | 1982 | 2001 | Northeast–10 | ||
| Newport, Rhode Island | Seahawks | 1934 | 1997 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| Scranton, Pennsylvania | Royals | 1888 | 1985 | 1991 | Dropped Program | ||
| Saratoga Springs, New York | Thoroughbreds | 1903 | 1983 | 1998 | NEHC | ||
| Gorham, Maine | Huskies | 1878 | 1972 | 1995 | NEHC | ||
| Manchester, New Hampshire | Penmen | 1932 | 1977 | 2009 | Northeast–10 | ||
| New York, New York | Red Storm | 1870 | 1980 | 1992 | Dropped Program | ||
| Easton, Massachusetts | Skyhawks | 1948 | 1978 | 2009 | Northeast–10 | ||
| Boston, Massachusetts | Rams | 1934 | 1980 | 2016 | NEHC | ||
| Hartford, Connecticut | Bantams | 1823 | 1974 | 1991 | NESCAC | ||
| Medford, Massachusetts | Jumbos | 1852 | 1986 | 2001 | NESCAC | ||
| East Orange, New Jersey | Vikings | 1893 | 1979 | 1988 | College Closed | ||
| Radnor Township, Pennsylvania | Wildcats | 1842 | 1982 | 1998 | Dropped Program | ||
| Boston, Massachusetts | Leopards | 1904 | 1992 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| Middletown, Connecticut | Cardinals | 1831 | 1971 | 1995 | NESCAC | ||
| Springfield, Massachusetts | Golden Bears | 1919 | 1980 | 2016 | CCC | ||
| Westfield, Massachusetts | Owls | 1874 | 1974 | 1978 | MASCAC | ||
| Worcester, Massachusetts | Lancers | 1874 | 1971 | 2009 | MASCAC |
† as of 2018
* Assumption, Franklin Pierce, Southern New Hampshire, and Stonehill are Division II schools; and were not allowed to participate in the ECAC Northeast playoffs after 1999, nor were they eligible for the Division III national tournament.
Membership timeline
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bar:Mit color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/1975 text:MIT
bar:NAS color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/1975 text:North Adams State
bar:Leh color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/1986 text:Lehigh
bar:Wes color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/1995 text:Wesleyan
bar:Ass color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/2009 text:Assumption
bar:WSU color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/2009 text:Worcester State
bar:Nic color:men from:06/01/1971 till:06/01/2016 text:Nichols
bar:NSN color:men from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1974 text:Nasson
bar:USM color:men from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1975 text:Maine at Portland–Gorham
bar:USM color:men from:06/01/1985 till:06/01/1995 text:Southern Maine
bar:Fra color:men from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1979 text:Framingham State
bar:Fra color:men from:06/01/1982 till:06/01/2009 text:
bar:RIT color:men from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1980 text:RIT
bar:Amh color:men from:06/01/1972 till:06/01/1992 text:Amherst
bar:Bry color:men from:06/01/1973 till:06/01/1975 text:Bryant
bar:Ply color:men from:06/01/1973 till:06/01/2009 text:Plymouth State
bar:WfS color:men from:06/01/1974 till:06/01/1978 text:Westfield State
bar:WfS color:men from:06/01/2008 till:06/01/2009 text:
bar:Gor color:men from:06/01/1974 till:06/01/1981 text:Gordon
bar:Tri color:men from:06/01/1974 till:06/01/1991 text:Trinity
bar:Fai color:men from:06/01/1974 till:06/01/1998 text:Fairfield
bar:MaD color:men from:06/01/1974 till:05/01/1991 text:Southeastern Massachusetts
bar:MaD color:men from:07/01/1991 till:06/01/2009 text:UMass Dartmouth
bar:MMA color:men from:06/01/1975 till:06/01/1978 text:Massachusetts Maritime
bar:Fit color:men from:06/01/1975 till:06/01/2009 text:Fitchburg State
bar:NYC color:men from:06/01/1976 till:06/01/1977 text:CCNY
bar:Que color:men from:06/01/1976 till:06/01/1980 text:Queens
bar:Ram color:men from:06/01/1976 till:06/01/1981 text:Ramapo
bar:Qui color:men from:06/01/1976 till:06/01/1998 text:Quinnipiac
bar:Ben color:men from:06/01/1977 till:06/01/1998 text:Bentley
bar:Ion color:men from:06/01/1977 till:06/01/1998 text:Iona
bar:SNH color:men from:06/01/1977 till:05/01/2001 text:New Hampshire College
bar:SNH color:men from:07/01/2001 till:06/01/2009 text:Southern New Hampshire
bar:Cla color:men from:06/01/1978 till:06/01/1981 text:Clark
bar:Hob color:men from:06/01/1978 till:06/01/1983 text:Hobart
bar:Sto color:men from:06/01/1978 till:06/01/2009 text:Stonehill
bar:Ups color:men from:06/01/1979 till:06/01/1988 text:Upsala
bar:Can color:men from:06/01/1980 till:06/01/1982 text:Canisius
bar:UMB color:men from:06/01/1980 till:06/01/1982 text:UMass Boston
bar:CtC color:men from:06/01/1980 till:06/01/1991 text:Connecticut College
bar:SJU color:men from:06/01/1980 till:06/01/1992 text:St. John's
bar:Suf color:men from:06/01/1980 till:06/01/2016 text:Suffolk
bar:WNE color:men from:06/01/1980 till:06/01/2016 text:Western New England
bar:SMC color:men from:06/01/1982 till:06/01/2001 text:Saint Michael's
bar:KSC color:men from:06/01/1983 till:06/01/1986 text:Keene State
bar:RWU color:men from:06/01/1983 till:06/01/1998 text:Roger Williams
bar:Ski color:men from:06/01/1983 till:06/01/1998 text:Skidmore
bar:Vil color:men from:06/01/1983 till:06/01/1998 text:Villanova
bar:Cur color:men from:06/01/1983 till:06/01/2016 text:Curry
bar:Haw color:men from:06/01/1984 till:06/01/1988 text:Hawthorne
bar:Scr color:men from:06/01/1985 till:06/01/1991 text:Scranton
bar:Tuf color:men from:06/01/1986 till:06/01/2001 text:Tufts
bar:WIT color:men from:06/01/1992 till:06/01/2016 text:Wentworth
bar:SHU color:men from:06/01/1993 till:06/01/1998 text:Sacred Heart
bar:JWU color:men from:06/01/1997 till:06/01/2016 text:Johnson & Wales
bar:SRU color:men from:06/01/1997 till:06/01/2016 text:Salve Regina
bar:LVC color:men from:06/01/1998 till:06/01/2004 text:Lebanon Valley
bar:FPU color:men from:06/01/2002 till:06/01/2009 text:Franklin Pierce
bar:Bec color:men from:06/01/2006 till:06/01/2016 text:Becker
bar:End color:men from:06/01/2015 till:06/01/2016 text:Endicott
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