During the 2023-2024 college ice hockey season, there will be 64 NCAA Division I men’s programs across 21 states, led by New York and Massachusetts with 11 teams each.

The 64 programs are dispersed into six conferences, with six independent programs all competing annually for a spot in the 16-team, single elimination NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. 

Regular-season play and conference tournament champions are weighted during the selection process.

Each conference tournament champion receives an automatic berth to the national tournament, leaving 10 at-large spots for the selection committee to determine.

Division I college hockey has been recognized since the 1947-1948 season, when 26 programs made up the league. Between 1948-1999, 27 Division I programs joined the league. Since 2000, 11 more programs have been added, with seven of those programs joining since 2020.

Men’s college hockey also features a combined 88 Division II (not recognized by NCAA) and Division III programs, and even more club hockey teams, throughout the nation.

The 2023-2024 college ice hockey season also will feature 37 women’s programs. 

Eleven programs are selected for the women’s Division I national tournament. There are an additional 77 Division II and Division III women’s programs.

Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA)

Gender: Men
Founded: 1997 as MAAC Hockey (Atlantic Hockey, 2003)
Programs: 11
Most Conference Titles: United States Air Force Academy, 7
Teams: American International College, Bentley University, Canisius College, College of the Holy Cross, Mercyhurst University, Niagara University, Robert Morris University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart University, United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy

Big Ten Hockey Conference

Gender: Men
Founded: 2013
Programs: Seven
Most Conference Titles: University of Michigan, 3
Teams: Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania State University

Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)

Gender: Men
Founded: 1971-2013 (re-founded 2021)
Programs: Nine
Most Conference Titles: Minnesota State University, 2
Teams: Augustana University, Bemidji State University, Bowling Green State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Tech University, Minnesota State University, Northern Michigan University, University of St. Thomas

? Episode 2.4 of "The CCHA Show" is up! Preview the 2023-24 season with @chrismpeters
and @jackhitts.

Apple: https://t.co/AfWc9hZlRt
Spotify: https://t.co/LdjWPuvjtL#CCHAHockey pic.twitter.com/QIwu998WB2

— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) October 3, 2023

ECAC Hockey

Gender: Men
Founded: 1961
Programs: 12
Most Conference Titles: Cornell University, 12
Team: Brown University, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, Quinnipiac University, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, St. Lawrence University, Union College, Yale University

Gender: Women
Founded: 1993
Programs: 12
Most Conference Titles: Harvard University, 6
Teams: Brown University, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, Quinnipiac University, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, St. Lawrence University, Union College, Yale University

Hockey East

Gender: Men
Founded: 1984
Programs: 11
Most Conference Titles: Boston College, 11
Team: Boston College, Boston University, Merrimack College, Northeastern University, Providence College, University of Connecticut, University of Maine, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont 

Gender: Women
Founded: 2002
Programs: 10
Most Conference Titles: Northeastern University, 6
Teams: Boston College, Boston University, College of the Holy Cross, Merrimack College, Northeastern University, Providence College, University of Connecticut, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont

National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC)

Gender: Men
Founded: 2011
Programs: Eight
Most Conference Titles: University of North Dakota, 5
Teams: Colorado College, Miami University, St. Cloud State University, University of Denver, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of North Dakota, Western Michigan University

#NCHChockey is home to 5⃣ teams in the @USCHO Preseason Poll! ?

4⃣ @DU_Hockey
7⃣ @UNDmhockey
8⃣ @SCSUHuskies_MH
1⃣2⃣ @WMUHockey
1⃣7⃣ @UMDMensHockey

?: https://t.co/hYZFYrz2aJ
?: https://t.co/B6LRkyKUx7 pic.twitter.com/fHbXhOwliW

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) September 25, 2023

Independent Programs 

Gender: Men
Founded: N/A
Programs: Six
Most Conference Titles: N/A
Teams: Arizona State University, Lindenwood University, Long Island University, Stonehill College, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks

College Hockey America (CHA)

Gender: Women
Founded: 2001
Programs: Five
Most Conference Titles: Mercyhurst University, 13
Teams: Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Pennsylvania State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University 

New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) 

Gender: Women
Founded: 2018
Programs: Eight
Most Conference Titles: Long Island University, 2; St. Anslem, 2
Teams: Assumption University, Franklin Pierce University, Long Island University, Post University, Sacred Heart University, St. Anslem College, St. Michael’s College, Stonehill College

Have a weekend @BoergerElla !!#RollToms pic.twitter.com/q2WD5pNP2W

— St. Thomas Women's Hockey (@TommieWHockey) October 1, 2023

Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)

Gender: Women
Founded: 2001
Programs: Eight
Most Conference Titles: University of Wisconsin, 7
Teams: Bemidji State University, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State University, Ohio State University, St. Cloud State University, University of St. Thomas, University of Wisconsin

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.