Dwyer Arena hosted the CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament three times.College Hockey America (CHA) was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I ice hockey -only conference based in Detroit , Michigan that was formed in mid-1999 after the dissolution of Division II ice hockey.[ 1] Niagara and Robert Morris joined Atlantic Hockey , Bemidji State joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association , and Alabama–Huntsville became an independent school .[ 2] Atlantic Hockey Association to form the current Atlantic Hockey America .[ 3]
After the completion of each regular season, it held the CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament to determine its men's conference champion. In 2001, CHA commissioned the Bruce M. McLeod Trophy, named after its first commissioner, which was awarded to the tournament champion.[ 4] NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship for its tournament champion.[ 5] [ 6] 2000 tournament .[ 7] [ 8] 2009 tournament , Bemidji State became the only CHA team and 16th ranked seed to ever advance to the Frozen Four.[ 8]
Eleven CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournaments were held during the existence of CHA. The tournament was first hosted at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville , Alabama and was won by Niagara.[ 9] Wayne State won the most CHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournaments, with three each.[ 10] [ 10] Bill Wilkinson and Tom Serratore coached three championship teams, more than any other CHA coaches. Tom Serratore had the most championship game appearances as a coach, with six. Dwyer Arena in Lewiston , New York hosted the tournament three times, more than any other venue.[ 10]
Champions
Year[a]
Winning team
Coach
Losing team
Coach
Score
Location
Venue
Reference
2000 Niagara Blaise MacDonald Alabama–Huntsville Doug Ross 3–2
Huntsville , Alabama Von Braun Center [ 9]
2001 Wayne State Bill Wilkinson Alabama–Huntsville Doug Ross 4–1
Huntsville , Alabama Von Braun Center [ 11]
2002 Wayne State Bill Wilkinson Alabama–Huntsville Doug Ross 5–4 (OT )
Lewiston , New York Dwyer Arena [ 12]
2003 Wayne State Bill Wilkinson Bemidji State Tom Serratore 3–2
Kearney , Nebraska Tri-City Arena [ 13]
2004 Niagara Dave Burkholder Bemidji State Tom Serratore 4–3 (OT )
Kearney , Nebraska Tri-City Arena [ 14]
2005 Bemidji State Tom Serratore Alabama–Huntsville Doug Ross 3–0
Grand Rapids , Minnesota IRA Civic Center [ 15]
2006 Bemidji State Tom Serratore Niagara Dave Burkholder 4–2
Detroit , Michigan Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum [ 16]
2007 Alabama–Huntsville Doug Ross Robert Morris Derek Schooley 5–4 (OT )
Des Moines , Iowa 95KGGO Arena [ 17]
2008 Niagara Dave Burkholder Bemidji State Tom Serratore 3–2
Lewiston , New York Dwyer Arena [ 18]
2009 Bemidji State Tom Serratore Robert Morris Derek Schooley 3–2 (OT )
Bemidji , Minnesota John S. Glas Field House [ 8]
2010 Alabama–Huntsville Danton Cole Niagara Dave Burkholder 3–2 (OT )
Lewiston , New York Dwyer Arena [ 19]
Appearances
† indicates tournament champion
Appearances
Team
Wins
Losses
Win %
Years of appearance
6
Bemidji State 3
3
.500
2003, 2004, 2005†, 2006†, 2008, 2009†
6
Alabama–Huntsville 2
4
.333
2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007†, 2010†
5
Niagara 3
2
.600
2000†, 2004†, 2006, 2008†, 2010
3
Wayne State 3
0
1.000
2001†, 2002†, 2003†
2
Robert Morris 0
2
.000
2007, 2009
Notes
a
References
General
Specific
^ Wallace, William (June 17, 1999). "Plus: College hockey—Division I; sixth conference to start in fall" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 4, 2009 . ^ Lerch, Chris (January 28, 2009). "Atlantic Hockey approves expansion: Niagara and Robert Morris to join" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ "Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024 .^ "Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod" . Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved December 29, 2012 .^ McLaughlin, Budd (March 16, 2003). "Wayne State heads to NCAA Tournament" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ Scheerer, Mark (November 20, 2002). "College hockey: Notebook; no shortcuts in the rise of Colorado College" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 4, 2009 . ^ Pargas, Mark (March 22, 2000). "Colleges: Hockey notebook; The long wait is worth it for the Purple Eagles" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 28, 2012 . ^ a b c Borzi, Pat (April 7, 2009). "Bemidji State hockey goes from 16th seed to the Frozen Four" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ a b "Niagara (NIA) at Alab-Huntsville (ALH) boxscore" . collegehockeystats.net. Retrieved February 23, 2009 .^ a b c "CHA tournament" . College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved December 29, 2012 .^ Ponder, Darrell (March 10, 2001). "Wayne State spoils UAH's party" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ Rodriguez, Miguel (March 16, 2002). "Warriors repeat as CHA champions" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ McLaughlin, Budd (March 16, 2003). "Wayne State heads to NCAA tournament" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ "Tallari sends Niagara into NCAAs" . U.S. College Hockey Online. March 14, 2004. Retrieved December 29, 2012 .^ "Breaking the ice: Bemidji State heads to NCAA Tourney" . U.S. College Hockey Online. March 13, 2005. Retrieved December 29, 2012 .^ Mackinder, Matt (March 12, 2006). "Bemidji State downs Niagara to retain CHA Championship" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ Mackinder, Matt (March 11, 2007). "Alabama-Huntsville wins CHA Championship" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 . ^ "Niagara wins CHA title" . U.S. College Hockey Online. March 16, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2012 .^ Baldwin, Thomas (March 13, 2010). "Desmet scores in OT as Alabama-Huntsville captures final CHA crown" . U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved December 29, 2012 .
