National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association Explained

National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA)
Current Season:2022–23 NCRHA season
Pixels:150px
Sport:Inline hockey
Founded:August 1, 2003
Inaugural:2003–04
Director:Brennan Edwards
Headquarters:Torrance, California, United States
Country:United States
Continent:North America
Related Comps:Division I
Division II
Division III
Junior College Division
AA Division
Website:NCRHA.org

The National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) is an "incorporated not-for-profit corporation" which operates a national collegiate inline hockey league consisting of five divisions of competition (Division I, Division II, Division III, Junior College Division and AA Division). Headquartered in Torrance, California, the NCRHA is the national governing body of college inline hockey. The National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships is held annually to determine the national champions at the end of each season.

The league was organized on August 1, 2003, after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the Collegiate Roller Hockey League (CRHL), which had been founded in 1998. The NCRHA draws many highly skilled players from all over the United States. The NCRHA is not affiliated with the governing body of most college athletics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Game

See main article: Inline hockey. Each National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association game is played between two teams, 4 skaters aside, and is 36 minutes long. The game is composed of three 12–stopped clock periods with an intermission of one–minute between periods. At the end of the 36–minute regulation time, the team with the most goals wins the game. If at the end of regulation time, both teams are tied with the same number of goals, the game shall go to a 3 on 3-five minute sudden death overtime. If neither team scored after the 5 minutes have elapsed, a winner shall be declared by a shootout.

Ties do not occur during tournament format (such as regional and national championship tournaments) where a winner must be declared to advance to the next round of play. In these cases, sudden-death 12–minute four-on-four periods are played until one team scores. The first team to score a goal in the overtime period shall be declared the winner and advance to the next round.

Inline hockey rink

National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association games are played on a rectangular inline hockey rink with rounded corners surrounded by walls and Plexiglas. As nearly as possible, it measures 80 by 180 feet (24.38 by 54.86 meters) in the NCRHA, with the minimum size of 65 by 145 feet (19.81 by 44.20 meters) and a maximum of 100 by 200 feet (30.48 by 60.96 meters). The center line divides the rink in half, which divides the floor into two attacking zones. Near the end of both ends of the rink, there is a thin red goal line spanning the width of the floor, which is used to judge goals.

Season structure

The National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association season is divided into an exhibition season (October), a regular season (from October through February), regional championships (March) and the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships. During the exhibition season, teams usually play other teams in their member organization. During the regular season, clubs play each other in a predefined schedule. The regional championships are tournaments to determine member organization champions and automatic qualifiers for the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships. The final remaining team is crowned the national champion.

In the regular season, with the current NCRHA is divided into five divisions, and again geographically split into five member organizations. Schedules are determined by member organizations, as well as each team. Each team plays the majority of games against intra-organizational opponents. Some teams play select games against inter-organizational opponents.

The NCRHA's regular season standings are based on a point system instead of winning percentages. Points are awarded for each game, where two points are awarded for a win, one point for an overtime loss or tie, and zero points for a loss. At the end of the regular season, organizations hold a regional championship to determine its champion.

Regional champions along with a set number of at-large teams qualify for the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships. Teams are grouped into pools and play a round robin with teams in their respective pool to qualify for a single elimination tournament, with the remaining team being crowned national champion.

Team alignment

The current league organization divides the teams into five divisions: Division I, Division II, Division III, Junior College Division, and AA Division. Teams are also grouped geographically into five Member Organizations. The current organization has roots in the 2022-23 season when the Great Plains Collegiate Inline Hockey League merged with the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League, and the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Roller Hockey Association merged with the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League.

List of member organizations

Member OrganizationAbbLocationFoundedActive SchoolsChampionshipsLocationVenue
style=background:blue align=left Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Associationalign=center ECRHAHouston, TXalign=center 1998align=center 22ECRHA Conference ChampionshipsBroomall, PAMarple Sports Arena
style=background:red align=left Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey Leaguealign=center MCRHLDublin, OHalign=center 2003align=center 10MCRHL FinalFraser, MI (DII/JC and AA); Manchester, MO (DI and DIII)Fraser Roller Hockey (DII/JC and AA); Midwest Sport Hockey (DI and DIII)
style=background:gold align=left Southeastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Leaguealign=center SECRHLOrlando, FLalign=center 2005align=center 7SECRHL Regional ChampionshipsSnellville, GASGAA Dual Deck Hockey Arena
style=background:silver align=left Southwest Collegiate Hockey Leaguealign=center SCHLDenton, TXalign=center 1995align=center 5SCHL Conference ChampionshipDenton, TXLone Star Sports
style=background:orange align=left Western Collegiate Roller Hockey Leaguealign=center WCRHLTorrance, CAalign=center 1994align=center 8WCRHL Conference ChampionshipsCorona, CAThe Rinks-Corona Inline

Past Champions

Division I

Year Champion ScoreRunner-up Location Semi-Finalist #1 Semi-Finalist #2
1999 5–4 Chicago, ILPurdue
2000 5–4 Penn State Altoona
2001 10–5 Truman State
2002 6–4 St. Louis, MOMichigan
2003 Cal Poly Pomona4–2 Feasterville, PATowson
2004 10–3 Florida
2005 5–2 Eastern Michigan
2006 7–5 Eastern Michigan
2007 12–2 Eastern Michigan
2008 6–3 Missouri-St. LouisCentral Florida
2009 5–3 Feasterville, PAMichigan State
2010 5–1 Missouri-St. Louis
2011 4–3 Rowan
4–3 Michigan State
6–2 Neumann
2–1 Hofstra
4–3 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2016Neumann4-1UNLVCedar Rapids, IAMichigan StateBethel
2017Farmingdale State5-4LindenwoodFt. Myers, FLMichigan State
2018Farmingdale State5-1LindenwoodFargo, NDMichigan StateNorth Dakota
2019Farmingdale State7-3LindenwoodRochester, NYBethelArizona State
-2021Slippery Rock3-2Robert MorrisPittsburgh, PAMichigan Statenone
2022Lindenwood7-2Slippery RockKalamazoo, MIBethelArizona State
2023Lindenwood13-0Slippery RockIrvine, CABethelArizona State

Division II

Year Champion ScoreRunner-up Location Semi-Finalist #1 Semi-Finalist #2
2001 6-1
2002 2-0 West Chester
2003 6-3 Texas-Dallas
2004 4-3 Nevada
20054-2
2006 4-3 SUNY Brockport Nevada
2007 4-1 Missouri-St. Louis
2008 6-1 Cal State San Bernardino
2009 9-7
2010 West Chester7-5
2011 4-3 (2OT) USC
2012 8-0 Kansas State
2013 3-2 (OT) Florida
2014 6-2 Slippery Rock
2015 10-5 UC Irvine
2016Massachusetts2-1CortlandCedar Rapids, IARobert MorrisSaint Joseph's
2017Cal State Fullerton6-2TennesseeFort Myers, FLFloridaArkansas
2018RIT3-1NortheasternFargo, NDFloridaNorthern Arizona
2019Cal State Fullerton5-2Grand Valley StateRochester, NYCal Poly San Luis ObispoKennesaw State
2022Michigan State2-1NortheasternKalamazoo, MICal PolyStony Brook
2023Ohio State5-4UMass AmherstIrvine, CAEndicottRobert Morris

Division III

Year Champion ScoreRunner-up Location Semi-Finalist #1 Semi-Finalist #2
2019 5–3 Rochester, NYOswego State
2022 6–4 Kalamazoo, MIEndicott
2023 9-1 Irvine, CAOswego State

Junior College Division

Year Champion ScoreRunner-up Location Semi-Finalist #1 Semi-Finalist #2
2000 12-5 Grossmont CC
2001 St. Charles CC7-6 (OT)
2002 6-5
2003 3-2 Suffolk CCC
2004 7-2 Moorpark College
2005 6-5 Suffolk CCC
2006 5-4 Suffolk CCC
2007 8-2 Nassau CC
2008 8-7 (OT) St. Charles CCSt. Louis CC - Meramec
2009 4-3 (OT) Feasterville, PANassau CC
2010 8-3 St. Louis CC
2011 3-2 (OT) Santa Barbara CC
2012 3-2 Santa Barbara CC
2013 4-0 (Best-of-Seven)

Division IV/AA

Year Champion ScoreRunner-up Location Semi-Finalist #1 Semi-Finalist #2
2004 10-2 Eastern Michigan
2005 3-2 Western Michigan
2006 10-1 Eastern Michigan
2007 13-2
2008 5-1 Michigan State
2009 8-2
2010 6-2 UC Santa Barbara
2011 7-6 (OT) Michigan State
2012 7-1 Colorado
2013 5-3 Michigan State
2014 4-3 Slippery Rock
2015Lindenwood6-5NeumannIndependence, MOMichigan StateFlorida Gulf Coast
2016Lindenwood4-3Michigan StateCedar Rapids, IABethelNeumann
2017Lindenwood3-1FarmingdaleFort Myers, FLGrand Valley StateMichigan State
2018Lindenwood4-2FarmingdaleFargo, NDBethelMichigan State
2019Bethel4-1FarmingdaleRochester, NYLindenwoodMichigan State
2022Lindenwood10-0Slippery RockKalamazoo, MIArizonaMichigan State
2023Lindenwood10-0ArizonaIrvine, CASlippery RockFarmingdale

NCRHA Winterfest

Year Champion ScoreRunner-up Location Semi-Finalist #1 Semi-Finalist #2
2001 Colorado State
2002 3-2 (OT) RIT
2003 5-1 RIT
2004 6-5 (OT)
2005 6-4
2006 8-2 St. Charles CC Eastern Michigan
20076-5 (OT) West Point Colorado
2008West Point 4-3 Florida International
20095-4 Key West

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Launch and Relaunch! | National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association .