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 2020, only seven 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	Remained an independent at the D-III level. 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.
The College at Brockport, State University of New York	Golden Eagles[14]	Brockport, New York	1973–1976	ECAC 2	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Geneseo	Knights[15]	Geneseo, New York	1975–1976	ECAC 2	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh	Cardinals[16]	Plattsburgh, New York	1975–1976	ECAC 2	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point	Pointers[17]	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.

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[18]	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[19]	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.

See also

• List of NCAA Division II ice hockey programs
• NCAA Division II independent schools
• NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)
• NCAA Division III independent schools (ice hockey)

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. "Brockport Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
15. "Geneseo Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
16. "Plattsburgh Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
17. "Wisconsin–Stevens Point Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
18. "Findlay Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
19. "Minnesota–Crookston Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.