Hockey East

The Hockey East Association enters its 40th season on the ice in 2023-24 as it has consistently proven as the strongest NCAA Division I college hockey conference from top to bottom, boasting 118 NCAA Tournament berths, more than any other conference since Hockey East’s inception.

More recently, Hockey East led the way at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft where more of its athletes, current and committed, were chosen than any other conference once again. In 2021, the University of Massachusetts captured its first-ever NCAA National Championship, the league’s 10th national crown.

Hockey East has seen a steady rise to prominence since its founding charter on July 11, 1983, when the possibility of an apparent Ivy League departure threatened the ECAC. In response, the athletics directors from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence unveiled a new Division I men’s ice hockey conference. Together, Bill Flynn of Boston College, John Simpson of Boston University, Andy Mooradian of New Hampshire, Joe Zabilski of Northeastern and Lou Lamoriello of Providence launched Hockey East with Lamoriello assuming the role of the league’s first commissioner.