International Collegiate Hockey Association
The International Collegiate Hockey Association (ICHA) was an intercollegiate ice hockey conference from 1965-80 competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference had member schools in both Canada and the United States.
History
[edit]The league was founded in 1965 with member schools Bemidji State University, Lake Superior State University, Lakehead University, St. Cloud State University, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.
St. Cloud State dropped out of the league after four seasons in April 1969 due to lack of an indoor facility.[1][2]
In 1972-73, Lake Superior State played in both the ICHA and Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).[3] In 1973, LSSU left the ICHA for the CCHA. The following season, the Lakers left the NAIA to become an NCAA Division I ice hockey program.
LSSU was replaced by the College of St. Scholastica starting in the 1972-73 season.
Lakehead left the ICHA after the 1976-77 season.
Decline and Disbandment
[edit]Following the departure of Lakehead, the ICHA made an attempt to add former member St. Cloud State plus Mankato State, Wisconsin-River Falls, and Wisconsin-Stout. Another proposal of the ICHA was to join the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for hockey only, which would have brought that league's hockey membership to 10 teams.[4] Neither plan came to fruition.
St. Scholastica left the conference following the 1977-78 season leaving the ICHA with just two members.
On June 1, 1980, Bemidji State and Wisconsin-Superior joined Mankato State University, St. Cloud State University, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Wisconsin-River Falls to form the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.[5]
Conference Champions
[edit]- 1967 Bemidji State/Lakehead University
- 1968 Lake Superior State
- 1969 Bemidji State
- 1970 Bemidji State/Lake Superior State
- 1971 Bemidji State
- 1972 Lake Superior State
- 1973 Bemidji State/Lake Superior State
- 1974 Bemidji State
- 1975 St. Scholastica
- 1976 Bemidji State
- 1977 Bemidji State
- 1978 Bemidji State
- 1979 Bemidji State
- 1980 Bemidji State
National Championships
[edit]The ICHA dominated the NAIA ice hockey tournament winning 12 of 13 national titles from 1968-80. All 13 championship games featured at least one ICHA team. Seven championships were an inter-conference match-up.
NAIA National Champions
[edit]| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Bemidji State |
| 1969 | Bemidji State |
| 1970 | Bemidji State |
| 1971 | Bemidji State |
| 1972 | Lake Superior State |
| 1973 | Bemidji State |
| 1974 | Lake Superior State |
| 1975 | St. Scholastica |
| 1976 | Wisconsin–Superior |
| 1977 | St. Scholastica |
| 1979 | Bemidji State |
| 1980 | Bemidji State |
References
[edit]- ^ "Veteran Beavers Hockey Sextet Opens Play Tonight". The Pioneer. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ^ "Laker Icemen Set To Face Three New Powers on '69-'70 Slate". The Evening News. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ^ "Moments In CCHA History". CCHA. 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "ICHA scoring race ends in three way tie, Horner top goalie". The Pioneer. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ^ "NCHA History". Retrieved 2015-03-08.