Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League
The Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League (ECWHL) is a collegiate women's ice hockey league based in the eastern region of the United States. It was founded in 2005 and is made up of ten teams from eight different states. The league is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and is recognized as one of the premier women's ice hockey leagues in the country.
Member Teams
The ECWHL currently consists of ten member teams:
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of New Hampshire
- University of Rhode Island
- University of Vermont
- University of Delaware
- West Chester University
- Lehigh University
- University of Maryland
- Northeastern University
League Format
The ECWHL season runs from September through February, with each team playing a total of 20 regular-season games. The teams are divided into two divisions: the North Division and the South Division. Each team plays a home-and-home series against the other teams in their division, and then plays one game against each team in the other division. The top four teams from each division then advance to the playoffs, which are held in late February.
League Championships
The ECWHL championship is held annually in late February and features the top four teams from each division. The winner of the championship receives an automatic bid to the ACHA National Championships, which are held in early March.
Recent Successes
The ECWHL has seen a lot of success in recent years, with several teams consistently ranking among the top in the country. In the 2019-2020 season, the University of Pittsburgh won the ECWHL championship and advanced to the ACHA National Championships. The University of Massachusetts Amherst also had a successful season, finishing second in the North Division and earning a spot in the playoffs.
Conclusion
The Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League is a premier women's ice hockey league in the eastern region of the United States. With ten member teams and a competitive, well-structured league format, the ECWHL continues to produce successful teams and players year after year.
