History of Atlantic Hockey | |||||||
| The founding members of Atlantic Hockey formerly played hockey as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). In 2003 core MAAC members Iona and Fairfield ended their hockey programs, leaving Canisius as the only full MAAC member playing hockey. This led to problems for the hockey schools in their attempts to get legislation approved by the MAAC, whose rules only allowed full members a vote. On June 30, 2003 the decision was made by the nine remaining schools to break with the MAAC and form a new hockey conference, the Atlantic Hockey Association, which assumed the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament formerly held by the MAAC. Quinnipiac left Atlantic Hockey at the conclusion of the 2004-05 season, opting to play in ECAC Hockey when a vacancy opened up with Vermont's departure. Late in 2004 RIT decided to elevate its hockey program to Division 1 and joined Atlantic Hockey, starting with the 2006-07 season. Air Force then announced its move to Atlantic Hockey during the 2005-06 season, entering the league with RIT in 2006-07. Further additions occurred, as both Robert Morris and Niagara became members in 2010, moving over from the defunct College Hockey America. Atlantic Hockey is a mid-major hockey conference with a scholarship limit of 12, as opposed to the NCAA limit of 18. The conference has yet to place two teams in the NCAA tournament, with only the conference's tournament champion making it each season. However, Holy Cross did score a major upset in 2006, defeating Minnesota in the first round and proving that, even if Atlantic Hockey schools lose more than win against the big schools, they should not be treated as lightweights. | |||||||
