ACHA Hockey Leagues: A Comprehensive Guide to Collegiate Conferences

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) continues to serve as the primary governing body for non-NCAA college ice hockey programs across the United States, and Canada. Established to provide structure and regulate operations for collegiate affiliated programs, the organization manages a extensive network of teams that operate outside the National Collegiate Athletic Association financial structure. As of March 30, 2026, the association oversees a growing landscape of men’s and women’s divisions, supported by a wide array of regional conferences.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA functions as a chartered non-profit corporation. The organization was established in 1991 and has operated for 35 years as of the current date. Leadership within the association includes President Paul Hebert and Executive Director Craig Barnett. Financial records from 2024 indicate the organization reported revenue of $1.2 million USD. The ACHA’s purpose is to promote quality in collegiate ice hockey while offering an opportunity for programs that may struggle with large budgets and Title IX issues under the NCAA model.

The association currently maintains three men’s divisions and two women’s divisions. This structure allows for competitive balance across varying levels of program funding and student-athlete experience. Most ACHA teams offer few athletic scholarships and typically receive far less university funding compared to NCAA counterparts. This model supports the growth of two-year and four-year collegiate hockey programs nationwide, filling the gap where NCAA program expansion has not met the demand of youth players reaching college age.

Introduction of the American Collegiate Development Conference

In a significant structural development announced on July 22, 2025, the ACHA established the American Collegiate Development Conference (ACDC). This new level of hockey was created to provide a non-national-tournament-bound option within the ACHA organization. The ACDC was identified by the ACHA Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Lloyd Ney, to foster exploratory college hockey programs. These programs are created, managed, and overseen by the ACHA as an association-wide initiative distinct from any single division.

The ACDC includes a separate Men’s component as well as a separate Women’s component. Each is designed to support the continued growth and stability of collegiate hockey under the guidance of the ACHA. Executive Director Craig Barnett highlighted the strategic importance of this expansion in the official announcement.

By establishing the ACDC, we position the ACHA as a truly comprehensive, full-service non-NCAA college hockey association—capable of meeting the diverse needs of institutions and student-athletes at all stages of their program development.

ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett

Barnett further noted that the primary goal of the ACHA is to support the growth of collegiate hockey by establishing standards that unite and guide collegiate programs across the country. The organization has worked in close partnership with USA Hockey over the past 35 years. At the time of the ACDC announcement, the ACHA noted that its membership surpasses 500 programs, marking an increase from previous estimates of approximately 450 teams.

Regional Conference Landscape

The ACHA’s membership is organized into numerous regional conferences across different division levels. The following leagues operate within the association’s structure, covering Men’s Division 1, 2, and 3, as well as Women’s Division 1 and 2.

• Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (M2, M3 &amp. W2)
• Big Mountain Hockey Conference (M2)
• Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association (W1&W2)
• College Hockey East (M3 & W2)
• College Hockey Mid-America (M1)
• Colonial State Collegiate Hockey Conference (M2)
• Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (W2)
• Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (M1)
• Great Lakes 6 Hockey Conference (M1)
• Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (M1)
• Indiana Collegiate Hockey Conference (M3)
• Independent Women’s Collegiate Hockey League (W2)
• Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (M2&M3)
• Midwest College Hockey (M1)
• Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (M3)
• Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (M3)
• Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League (M2)
• Northern Collegiate Hockey League
• Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (M2&M3)
• Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (M1)
• Pacific Athletic Conference (M2)
• SuperEast Collegiate Hockey League (M2)
• Texas Collegiate Hockey Conference (M2)
• Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (M2)
• Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (M2)
• Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (M2)
• Western Collegiate Hockey League (M1)
• Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (M1)
• Women’s Midwest College Hockey (W1)
• Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League (W1)

This extensive network ensures geographic coverage across the United States, allowing teams to compete regionally while adhering to national standards set by the ACHA. The Men’s Division 2 leagues alone include conferences such as the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League, the Big Mountain Hockey Conference, and the Colonial State Collegiate Hockey Conference. These leagues provide competitive outlets for programs that may not fit within the Division 1 or Division 3 frameworks.

Mission and Future Growth

The interest in college hockey has grown as the game has expanded in the United States. However, the number of NCAA programs has not expanded as rapidly to meet the demand. The ACHA level was created to address this disparity. By establishing standards and providing a regulatory framework, the association ensures that student-athletes can extend their hockey-playing experience beyond high school and junior levels.

The creation of the ACDC presents another opportunity to further the mission of supporting growth. As outlined in the organization’s statement, the new conference is capable of meeting the diverse needs of institutions at all stages of their program development. This flexibility allows the ACHA to remain a comprehensive service provider for non-NCAA college hockey.