West Coast Hockey Conference Explained

West Coast Hockey Conference
Founded:2010
League:ACHA
Divisions:2 & 3
Teams:21
Sports:Men's ice hockey
Region:West
Champions:Northern Arizona (4th title)
Most Champs:CSUN / NAU (4)
Website:Official website

The West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC) is an ACHA Division 2 and 3 club hockey league which began play in the Fall of 2010. The six charter schools were Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Loyola Marymount, Northern Arizona and San Diego State.

History

The first game in conference history was played on October 1, 2010. San Diego State hosted Long Beach State and won 4-3. At the end of the regular season Arizona State was crowned the conference's first champion.[1] For the conference's second season and beyond a playoff will be held to determine the conference champion.

UNLV became the seventh member of the conference on April 16, 2011.[2]

After the 2011-12 season Arizona State, San Diego State and UNLV became independent once again leaving the conference with four teams for the next two seasons.

Cal State Northridge became the fifth member of the conference on February 25, 2014.[3]

Northern Arizona left to become independent once again after the 2014-15 season and Arizona State's Pac-8 team transferred over to keep the conference membership at five.[4]

Arizona State left to become independent after one season and San Diego State rejoined the conference for 2016-17.[5]

Chapman became the sixth conference member for the 2017-18 season.[6]

The WCHC announced on May 14, 2018 UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and the University of San Diego were approved as members and San Diego State left to join the Pac-8 conference bringing the conference total to eight.[7]

The conference reached a new high in members with the addition of Cal State Bakersfield and UC Irvine for the 2019-20 season.[8] In an effort to even out the skill level two tiers were created. Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Long Beach State, Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara were placed in the top tier with the remaining five teams placed in the second tier. All top tier teams automatically qualified for the playoffs and the top two teams in the second tier qualified as well.

Cal Lutheran became a new member for the 2020-21 season while UC San Diego left the conference. CLU replaced UCSD in Tier II keeping total membership at ten.

After the 2021-22 season the WCHC expanded even further with Arizona State and Northern Arizona rejoining the conference and Grand Canyon, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa Junior College, UC Davis, UCLA and UC Santa Cruz becoming new members. San Diego also left which brought membership to a record 17 schools. With so many new schools the WCHC was divided into three tiers. Tier I consisted of six teams Arizona State, Grand Canyon, Long Beach State, Loyola Marymount, Northern Arizona and UCLA. Tier II South consisted of seven teams Cal Lutheran, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Chapman, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara. Tier II North consisted of four teams Santa Clara, Santa Rosa Junior College, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz.

Fresno State joined for the 2023-24 season in Tier II North while Santa Rosa Junior College is not fielding a team.

Three teams joined for the 2024-25 season while Fresno State left the conference. The University of San Diego brought their team back while the University of New Mexico and Park University-Gilbert became two new teams to join the conference. The WCHC also allowed Arizona State, Grand Canyon, Loyola Marymount and Northern Arizona to bring their Division 3 teams into the conference. The new Division 2 Tier will consist of nine teams Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Grand Canyon, Loyola Marymount, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs. The Division 3 Tier will consist of 12 teams split into three regions. Santa Clara, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz will play in the North. Cal Lutheran, Long Beach State, Loyola Marymount, San Diego and UC Irvine will play in the South. Arizona State, Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona and Park-Gilbert will play in the Desert. Again the top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs.

Members

SchoolLocationFoundedJoinedAffiliationNicknameColorsWebsite
Arizona StateTempe, AZalign=center 1885align=center 2022Publicalign=center Sun Devilsalign=center align=center
California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CAalign=center 1959align=center 2020Privatealign=center Kingsmenalign=center align=center http://knightsicehockey.pointstreaksites.com/view/clknights/
Cal State FullertonFullerton, CAalign=center 1957align=center 2010Public (CSU System)align=center Titansalign=center align=center
Cal State NorthridgeNorthridge, CAalign=center 1958align=center 2014Public (CSU System)align=center Matadorsalign=center align=center http://www.csunhockey.com
Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZalign=center 1949align=center 2022Privatealign=center Antelopesalign=center align=center
Long Beach StateLong Beach, CAalign=center 1949align=center 2010Public (CSU System)align=center The Beachalign=center align=center
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CAalign=center 1911align=center 2010Privatealign=center Lionsalign=center align=center https://lmuicehockey.com/
University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMalign=center 1889align=center 2024Publicalign=center Lobosalign=center align=center
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZalign=center 1899align=center 2022Publicalign=center Ice Jacksalign=center align=center http://nauicejacks.com
Park University-GilbertGilbert, AZalign=center 2018align=center 2024Privatealign=center Buccaneersalign=center align=center
University of San DiegoSan Diego, CAalign=center 1949align=center 2024Privatealign=center Torerosalign=center align=center
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CAalign=center 1851align=center 2022Privatealign=center Broncosalign=center align=center
UC DavisDavis, CAalign=center 1905align=center 2022Public (UC System)align=center Aggiesalign=center align=center
UC IrvineIrvine, CAalign=center 1965align=center 2019Public (UC System)align=center Anteatersalign=center align=center
UCLALos Angeles, CAalign=center 1919align=center 2022Public (UC System)align=center Bruinsalign=center align=center
UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CAalign=center 1891align=center 2018Public (UC System)align=center Gauchosalign=center align=center
UC Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CAalign=center 1965align=center 2022Public (UC System)align=center Banana Slugsalign=center align=center

Former members

SchoolCurrent Division (Conference)
Cal State Bakersfield No longer have a program
Chapman ACHA D-2 (Independent)
Fresno State ACHA D-2 (Independent)
San Diego State ACHA D-1 (Independent)
Santa Rosa Junior College ACHA D-2 (Independent)
UC San Diego ACHA D-2 (Independent)
UNLV ACHA D-1 (WCHL)

Team histories

Tournament champions

Year Champion Runner-Up Host
2024 UCLA
2023 UCLA
2022 Loyola Marymount (Regular season) - -
2021 Not played due to the COVID-19 Pandemic CSU Bakersfield
2020 Chapman
2019 Cal State Northridge[10] Cal State Fullerton
2018 Loyola Marymount
2017 Cal State Northridge
2016 Arizona State-Maroon Loyola Marymount
2015 Northern Arizona
2014 Long Beach State
2013 Cal State Fullerton
2012 UNLV
2011 Arizona State (Regular Season) - -

Note: 2022 tournament cancelled

ACHA Division 2 Nationals teams

The WCHC has sent five teams to the Division 2 National Tournament.

2016 Host City: West Chester, PA

Liberty (L 4-1)

William Paterson (L 5-1)

Lindenwood (L 9-1)

2015 Host City: Salt Lake City, UT

NYU (L 3-1)

Liberty (W 5-2)

Grand Valley State (L 7-2)

2014 Host City: Marlborough, MA

New Hampshire (L 3-1)

Liberty (L 6-2)

Grand Valley State (W 6-2)

2012 Host City: Fort Myers, FL

New Hampshire (W 7-1)

Maryland-Baltimore County (W 5-4 OT)

Michigan State (T 2-2)

Grand Valley State (L 8-2)

Penn State (L 9-0)

Siena College (L 3-1)

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LMU Ice Hockey - Home Page. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060517062746/http://www.lmuicehockey.com/ . 2006-05-17 .
  2. Web site: WCHC - Home Page. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110208111512/http://www.wchchockey.com/ . 2011-02-08 .
  3. Web site: ACHA Nationals and CSUN Added | West Coast Hockey Conference.
  4. Web site: ASU Maroon Joins the WCHC | West Coast Hockey Conference.
  5. Web site: SDSU Joins WCHC for 16-17 Season | West Coast Hockey Conference.
  6. Web site: Chapman University Joins WCHC | West Coast Hockey Conference.
  7. Web site: WCHC welcomes three new schools | West Coast Hockey Conference.
  8. Web site: UC Irvine, CSU Bakersfield Added to League | West Coast Hockey Conference.
  9. Web site: LMU Ice Hockey - History. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060517062712/http://www.lmuicehockey.com/History.html . 2006-05-17 .
  10. Web site: West Coast Hockey Conference CHAMPIONS • California State University, Northridge Matadors • #ACHA #WCHCpic.twitter.com/y4SaddWJbt . D2 . ACHA Men's . 2019-02-10 . @achamensd2 . 2019-02-13.