NCAA Division II independent schools (ice hockey)

NCAA Division II independent schools are teams that compete in NCAA ice hockey but are not members of a conference. There are currently no independents at the Division II level, however, several teams were previously independents while under D-II classification.

Current independent programs

As of 2022, only six teams play at the Division II level with all belonging to the same conference (Northeast-10 Conference).

Current programs which were previously independent

The NCAA did not start numerical classification until 1973. Prior to that teams played either in the University Division, which became Division I, or the College Division, which was split into Divisions II and III. College Division independents are listed here for reference as a majority of the College Division programs joined the Division II level regardless of where their respective schools were reclassified.

During the 1960s and 70s most western schools competed in the NAIA and did not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA. This began to change once the NCAA instituted the Division II Tournament in 1978. In some cases NCAA teams were invited to participate in the NAIA tournament, leaving the ordering of schools at that time unclear.

Men

School Team Location Years Subsequent
conference(s)		 Notes
University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers[1] Huntsville, Alabama 1986–1987
1992–1998		 Division I
Division I		 Played one season at the Division II level after transferring from NAIA before raising to the D-I level. Returned to D-II when the national tournament was restarted and left in preparation to join a D-I conference (CHA). Currently played in the WCHA.
Babson College Beavers[2] Wellesley, Massachusetts 1965–1967 ECAC 2 Currently plays in NEHC.
Bentley College Falcons[3] Waltham, Massachusetts 1998–1999 MAAC Played one season at the Division II level before raising to Division I. Currently plays in the MAAC's successor conference, Atlantic Hockey.
Elmira College Soaring Eagles[4] Elmira, New York 1974–1976 ECAC 2 Currently plays in UCHC.
Lake Forest College Foresters[5] Lake Forest, Illinois 1965–1984 Division III Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in the NCHA.
Lowell Tech Terriers[6] Lowell, Massachusetts 1967–1968 ECAC 2 Raised to Division I in 1983. Became University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1993. Currently plays in Hockey East.
Mankato State University Mavericks[7] Mankato, Minnesota 1969–1980
1992–1996		 NCHA
Division I		 Left NCHA in 1992 to compete fully at the Division II level. Program was raised to D-I four years later due to the lack of interest from other D-II schools. Became Minnesota State University in 2000.
New England College Pilgrims[8] Henniker, New Hampshire 1969–1971 ECAC 2 Currently plays in NEHC.
Nichols College Bison[9] Dudley, Massachusetts 1964–1966† ECAC 2 Currently plays in CCC.
Plymouth State College Panthers[10] Plymouth, New Hampshire 1971–1973 ECAC 3
Post University Eagles[11] Waterbury, Connecticut 2016–2019 Northeast-10
Salem State College Vikings[12] Salem, Massachusetts 1964–1967† ECAC 2 Currently plays in MASCAC.
St. Cloud State University Huskies[13] St. Cloud, Minnesota 1964–1980† NCHA Program was promoted to Division I in 1987. Currently plays in the NCHC.
St. Olaf College Oles[14] Northfield, Minnesota 1950–1974† MIAC School left the MIAC in 1950 and returned in 1974.
The College at Brockport, State University of New York Golden Eagles[15] Brockport, New York 1973–1976 ECAC 2 Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Geneseo Knights[16] Geneseo, New York 1975–1976 ECAC 2 Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh Cardinals[17] Plattsburgh, New York 1975–1976 ECAC 2 Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers[18] Stevens Point, Wisconsin 1981–1984 Division III Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in the WIAC.

† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.

Women

Defunct teams

Men

School Team Location Years Subsequent
conference(s)		 Notes
Boston State College Warriors Boston, Massachusetts 1964–1966† ECAC 2 Merged with University of Massachusetts Boston in 1982.
University of Buffalo Bulls Buffalo, New York 1969–1971 ECAC 2 Suspended program in 1987.
University of Findlay Oilers[19] Findlay, Ohio 1996–1998 MCHA Joined Division I CHA after one year in the MCHA. Program was suspended in 2004.
University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles[20] Crookston, Minnesota 1998–1999 MCHA Was forced to leave the MCHA in 2009 due to NCAA regulations barring higher-tier teams from participating in Division III conferences. Suspended program when no other nearby Division II schools were willing to start ice hockey programs.
North Adams State College Mohawks North Adams, Massachusetts 1971–1972
1974–1975		 ECAC 3
ECAC 2		 School changed name to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts before dropping ice hockey in 2003.

† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.

Women

See also

References

  1. ^ "Alabama Huntsville Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Babson Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "Bentley Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  4. ^ "Elmira Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Lake Forest Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "UMass Lowell Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Minnesota State Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  8. ^ "New England College Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Nichols Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "Plymouth State Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Post Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "Salem State Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "St. Cloud State Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "St. Olaf Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Brockport Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Geneseo Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Plattsburgh Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "Wisconsin–Stevens Point Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Findlay Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  20. ^ "Minnesota–Crookston Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.