History of Atlantic Hockey
by Kurt Stutt/special to USCHO
The Atlantic Hockey Association was founded in 1997 as the MAAC. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference existed before then, but an NCAA regulation that forced all Division I institutions to participate at Division I in all sports compelled the MAAC to form a hockey conference.
Of the charter members, only Canisius, Fairfield and Iona were full members of the MAAC. The rest (American International, Connecticut, Holy Cross, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart -- followed later by Mercyhurst and Bentley) were associate members. All the schools formerly played as part of the ECAC's "lower classification" structure.
The 1998-99 season was the first for MAAC hockey, but important news emerged during the second season when the NCAA announced that the MAAC would receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament starting in 2001. In addition, Army announced it would join the MAAC and begin conference play in 2000-2001.
The league lost two of its founding members when Fairfield and Iona dropped hockey at the end of the 2002-03 season, leaving the league with nine schools. Of the nine, Canisius was the only one accorded full MAAC membership and able to vote on league issues.
During the summer of 2003, the nine hockey programs withdrew from the MAAC and formed an independent league, Atlantic Hockey, which began play in the 2003-04 season.
Kurt Stutt maintains the College Hockey Historical Archives. See the CHHA for in-depth college hockey archival information.
For year-by-year Standings, please see the USCHO Archives
Note: Atlantic Hockey was known as the MAAC prior to 2003-04.
Atlantic Hockey Champions
Season Regular Season Tournament 2003-04 Holy Cross Holy Cross 2002-03 Mercyhurst Mercyhurst 2001-02 Holy Cross Quinnipiac 2000-01 Mercyhurst Mercyhurst 1999-00 Quinnipiac Connecticut 1998-99 Quinnipiac Holy Cross
Atlantic Hockey Major Award Winners
Player of the Year
Note: Separate Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards were presented from 1998-99 through 2002-03.
2003-04 Tim Olsen, F, Connecticut
2002-03 Offensive: Brandon Doria, F, Holy Cross
Defensive: Wade Winkler, D, Quinnipiac
2001-02 Offensive: Patrick Rissmiller, F, Holy Cross
Defensive: Steve Tobio, D, Bentley
2000-01 Offensive: Ryan Manitowich, F, Iona
Defensive: Nathan Lutz, D, Iona
1999-00 Offensive: Shawn Mansoff, F, Quinnipiac
Defensive: Paul Colontino, D, Mercyhurst
Steve Tobio, D, Bentley
1998-99 Offensive: Ryan Carter, F, Iona
Defensive: Dan Ennis, D, Quinnipiac
Rookie of the Year
Note: Separate Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards were presented from 1998-99 through 2002-03.
2003-04 Pierre Luc-O'Brien, F, Sacred Heart
2002-03 Offensive: Scott Reynolds, F, Mercyhurst
Tyler McGregor, D, Holy Cross
Defensive: Brad Roberts, G, Army
2001-02 Offensive: Chris Casey, F, Army
Defensive: Jamie Holden, G, Quinnipiac
2000-01 Offensive: Adam Tackaberry, F, Mercyhurst
Defensive: Eric Nelson, D, Connecticut
1999-00 Offensive: Martin Paquet, F, Sacred Heart
Defensive: Nathan Lutz, D, Iona
1998-99 Offensive: Ryan Carter, F, Iona
Defensive: Dan Ennis, D, Quinnipiac
Coach of the Year
2003-04 Paul Pearl, Holy Cross 2002-03 Ryan Soderquist, Bentley 2001-02 Paul Pearl, Holy Cross 2000-01 Rick Gotkin, Mercyhurst 1999-00 Shaun Hannah, Sacred Heart 1998-99 Gary Wright, American International
Goaltending Award
Note: Presented to the goaltender that has the best goals-against average during the regular season in Atlantic Hockey league games. Known as the Goaltender of the Year Award from 1998-99 through 2002-03.
2003-04 Jamie Holden, Quinnipiac
2002-03 Eddy Ferhi, Sacred Heart
Brad Roberts, Army
2001-02 Peter Aubry, Mercyhurst
2000-01 Peter Aubry, Mercyhurst
1999-00 Sean Weaver, Canisius
1998-99 Scott Simpson, Holy Cross
Regular Season Scoring Trophy
Note: Presented to the leading scorer during the regular season in Atlantic Hockey league games.
2003-04 Tim Olsen, F, Connecticut
Best Defensive Forward
2003-04 Greg Kealey, Holy Cross
Best Defenseman
2003-04 T.J. Kemp, Mercyhurst
Individual Sportsmanship Award
2003-04 Tim Coskren, F, Holy Cross
Team Sportsmanship Award
2003-04 American International
Tournament Most Valuable Player
2004 Greg Kealey, F, Holy Cross 2003 David Wrigley, F, Mercyhurst 2002 Matt Craig, F, Quinnipiac 2001 Jeff Gould, F, Mercyhurst 2000 Marc Senerchia, G, Connecticut 1999 Mike Maguire, D, Holy Cross