Ncaa Division 1 Men's Hockey Standings
The NCAA Division 1 Men's Hockey Standings consist of 60 teams competing in a rigorous yet thrilling season from October to April. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctions this tournament, and it serves as a platform for young players to hone their skills and become professional hockey players.The teams are divided into five conferences, each of whom awards an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament champion while the remaining teams earn at-large bids based on their season's performance.
Atlantic Hockey Conference
The Atlantic Hockey Conference was founded in 2003 and features ten teams, mostly situated in the Northeastern part of the United States. The current holder of the conference title is American International College, who beat the Sacred Heart Pioneers in June 2021 to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference dates back to 1950 and has seven teams competing in the men's ice hockey championships. It is one of the most competitive conferences and has produced some of the most well-known players such as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Jack Eichel. The Minnesota Golden Gophers won the 2021-2022 conference title and will compete for the NCAA Championships.
ECAC Hockey Conference
The ECAC Hockey Conference is made up of twelve teams, mostly located in the Northeastern United States. The conference was founded in 1961 and has a rich hockey history. The Cornell Big Red won the conference title in 2021-2022 and will look to continue their form in the upcoming NCAA Championships.
Hockey East Conference
The Hockey East Conference was founded in 1986 and now features eleven teams, primarily located in the Northeastern United States. The conference has produced some of the finest players in the game such as Jimmy Vesey, Chris Kreider, and Cory Schneider. The Massachusetts Minutemen won the conference title in 2021-2022 and will look to carry their form into the NCAA Championships.
National Collegiate Hockey Conference
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is a relatively new conference that was founded in 2011. It consists of eight teams located in the Midwest and Western United States. The conference has grown in popularity, and it is not uncommon to see players from this conference drafted into the NHL. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks won the conference title in 2021-2022 and will look to add to their trophy cabinet in the NCAA Championships.
Conclusion
The NCAA Division 1 Men's Hockey Standings is a platform that provides young players with an opportunity to hone their skills and eventually become professional hockey players. The five conferences, namely Atlantic Hockey Conference, Big Ten Conference, ECAC Hockey Conference, Hockey East Conference, and National Collegiate Hockey Conference, provide players with a highly competitive environment to compete against the best in the game.
