The Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League is a college ice hockey league comprising teams from smaller colleges and universities in and near Upstate New York that is affiliated with the Collegiate Hockey Federation (CHF). The league is based in New York State and has a majority of teams competing in-state along with some from neighboring Pennsylvania and Vermont.
History
The league was founded by Andrew Musto in 2006 with the purpose of creating a league that is a low-cost alternative to higher cost leagues. As of 2017 the league fee per team is $300. League fees are used for playoff ice time, referee fees, scorekeepers, and awards.
At the end of the 2016–17 season, Musto stepped down as commissioner and appointed Jon Marchese the new commissioner. The UNYCHL opened its 11th season with the biggest expansion in its history. The league grew to 23 teams with the additions of SUNY Albany, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, Clarkson University, Niagara County Community College, Binghamton University and Syracuse University as well as the return of Alfred State College, Hilbert College and SUNY Canton. In addition the league was organized into three divisions based on geography to cut down travel.
Before the 2019–20 season, the league left the ACHA and has joined the Collegiate Hockey Federation.
The league also organizes a second-tier league called UNYCHL Tier 2, which launched with the 2018–19 season. This tier is for new programs in an effort to "provide local area teams an avenue to play competitive hockey while minimizing budgetary impacts and reducing travel costs."[1] UNYCHL T2 holds ten teams which compete among one another for a separate league championship.
The 2015 UNYCHL Playoffs were played February 20–22 at the home rink of each #1 and #2 seeds and 27th and 28th at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga, New York.
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
1
St. John Fisher College
4
4
SUNY Brockport
3
1
LeMoyne College
1
2
University at Buffalo
6
2
University at Buffalo
7
3
University of Rochester
6
1
St. John Fisher College
3
2
University at Buffalo
4 (OT)
1
LeMoyne College
6
4
Skidmore College
4
1
St. John Fisher College
4
2
Hamilton College
2
2
Hamilton College
5
3
Union College
3
2016 Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
1
University of Rochester
9
4
SUNY Geneseo
2
1
University of Rochester
10
3
Union College
6
2
University at Buffalo
3
3
St. John Fisher College
1
1
University of Rochester
7 (OT)
2
Hamilton College
6
1
Hamilton College
6
4
Onondaga Community College
3
1
Hamilton College
4
2
University at Buffalo
0
2
LeMoyne College
2
3
Union College
5
2017 Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
1
University at Buffalo
5
4
SUNY Geneseo
1
1
Skidmore College
4
3
Hobart College
9
2
University of Rochester
5
3
Hobart College
9
1
University at Buffalo
2
3
Hobart College
3
1
Skidmore College
8
4
LeMoyne College
5
1
University at Buffalo
5
2
Union College
4
2
Union College
9
3
St. Lawrence University
3
Awards
Coach of the Year
Year
Coach
Team
Division
Coach
Team
Division
2007
Andrew Musto
LeMoyne College
2008
Henry Gaspe
Cazenvovia College
2009
Andrew Musto
LeMoyne College
2010
Andrew Musto
LeMoyne College
2011
April Harper
SUNY Oneonta
2012
Bob Shattell
LeMoyne College
2013
Zachary Schwann
Skidmore College
2014
Jim Doersam
University at Buffalo
West
Matt McDermott
Union College
East
2015
Randy Smallridge
St. John Fisher College
West
Bob Shattell
LeMoyne College
East
2016
Justin Niebel
University of Rochester
West
Charlie Boynton
Onondaga Community College
East
2017
Edd Kirchberger
University at Buffalo
West
Matt McDermott
Union College
East
League MVP
Year
Player
Team
Division
Player
Team
Division
2007
Matt Selover
St. John Fisher College
2008
Dan Deacon
LeMoyne College
2009
Dan Deacon
LeMoyne College
2010
Bob Shattell
LeMoyne College
2011
Leif Catania & Aaron Srebnik
Skidmore College
2012
Eric Manley
LeMoyne College
2013
Justin Cunningham
LeMoyne College
2014
Brett Barton
University of Rochester
West
Charlie Gawne
Union College
East
2015
Andrew Simonelli
St. John Fisher College
West
Garrett Ordway
LeMoyne College
East
2016
Steve Sachman
SUNY Brockport
West
Matt Morgia
ACPHS
East
2017
Ryan Peterson
University of Rochester
West
Luc Chatelin
Skidmore College
East
Playoff MVP
Year
Player
Team
Division
2014
Brett Barton
University of Rochester
West
2015
Adam Oetinger
University at Buffalo
West
2016
Kyle Schwartz
University of Rochester
West
2017
Zach McCloskey
Hobart College
West
2019
Sean Kross
Erie Community College
Metro
2020
Ryan O'Donnell
University at Buffalo
Metro
Records
Team Records
Least Penalty Minutes in a Season
60 - Skidmore College - 2015-2016
Team Goals Against Average in a Season
2.50 - LeMoyne College - 2014-2015
Team Goals For in a Season
123 - Hamilton College - 2014-2015
These records began tracking at the beginning of the 2014 - 2015 season.
Individual Records
Most points in a Season
42 - Matt Morgia - ACPHS - 2015-2016
Most Goals in a Season
25 - Andrew Tullo - Union College - 2015-2016
Most Assists in a Season
20 - Matt Morgia - ACPHS - 2015-2016
These records began tracking at the beginning of the 2014 - 2015 season.