History of the CCHA
by Kurt Stutt/special to USCHO
The CCHA endured a difficult growth period in the conference's early years. A midwestern conference of originally four teams, it did not take long for membership to be reduced to three and recognition from the WCHA and NCAA was almost a decade in coming.
Bowling Green, Ohio State, St. Louis and Ohio University formed the conference in 1971 from the ashes of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association. Lake Superior joined the following year, but that quick growth was not a sign of things to come. The two Ohio schools dropped out in the conference's third season, reducing the CCHA to just three teams. A Division II was formed, with Western Michigan the best of the lot, and Western Michigan joined as a Division I member in 1975. Along with the return of Ohio State, that brought the membership to a more healthy five. Northern Michigan joined in 1977, Ferris State in 1978 as an associate member (full membership in 1979), and Miami as an associate member in 1980 (full membership in 1981). St. Louis, however, dropped varsity hockey after the 1978-79 season.
Despite the growth in the late '70s, the CCHA did not get what it wanted most: Equality in Western collegiate hockey with the WCHA. In 1977, a special preliminary NCAA Tournament game began, with the CCHA champion playing a WCHA team for the right to advance to the NCAA semifinals. In 1978, Bowling Green win this game to advance, ultimately finishing third in the tournament. Only the defection of WCHA teams gave the CCHA what it needed.
In a coup for the CCHA, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Michigan Tech all left the WCHA in 1981 to join the more compact (geographically) CCHA. Michigan Tech also brought along the famed MacNaughton Cup, presented to the playoff champion of the CCHA. Bowling Green won the cup for the three years the CCHA had possession. That last season, 1984, saw Bowling Green win the NCAA Championship, a first for the CCHA. Illinois-Chicago joined the conference in 1982 and the CCHA reached an all-time high of 12 members, a plateau the conference did not stay at for long. Notre Dame dropped its hockey program in 1983, and Michigan Tech returned to the WCHA in 1984, taking Northern Michigan with them.
Michigan State won the second national title for the CCHA in 1986, followed by Lake Superior in 1988. Lake Superior continued its winning ways into the '90s, snaring two more championships (1992, 1994) and finishing second once (1993). Michigan won its record eighth and ninth titles in 1996 and 1998 for the remaining CCHA national championships.
Membership, however, has not remained constant in the 1990s. Notre Dame rejoined and Kent joined the conference for the 1992-93 season, but Kent discontinued its program after the 1993-94 campaign. Illinois-Chicago gave up hockey after the 1995-96 season, while Alaska-Fairbanks joined as an associate member in 1993 and became a full member in the 1995-96 season. Northern Michigan defected from the WCHA to the CCHA in 1997 and Nebraska-Omaha joined the ranks as the CCHA's newest member in 1998, beginning play in 1999.
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
CCHA Champions
Season Regular Season Tournament 2003-04 Michigan Ohio State 2002-03 Ferris State Michigan 2001-02 Michigan Michigan 2000-01 Michigan State Michigan State 1999-00 Michigan Michigan State 1998-99 Michigan State Michigan 1997-98 Michigan State Michigan State 1996-97 Michigan Michigan 1995-96 Lake Superior Michigan 1994-95 Michigan Lake Superior 1993-94 Michigan Michigan 1992-93 Miami Lake Superior 1991-92 Michigan Lake Superior 1990-91 Lake Superior Lake Superior 1989-90 Michigan State Michigan State 1988-89 Michigan State Michigan State 1987-88 Lake Superior Bowling Green 1986-87 Bowling Green Michigan State 1985-86 Michigan State Western Michigan 1984-85 Michigan State Michigan State 1983-84 Bowling Green Michigan State 1982-83 Bowling Green Michigan State 1981-82 Bowling Green Michigan State 1980-81 Northern Michigan Northern Michigan 1979-80 Northern Michigan Northern Michigan 1978-79 Bowling Green Bowling Green 1977-78 Bowling Green Bowling Green 1976-77 St. Louis Bowling Green 1975-76 Bowling Green St. Louis 1974-75 St. Louis St. Louis 1973-74 Lake Superior St. Louis 1972-73 St. Louis Bowling Green 1971-72 Ohio State Ohio State
CCHA Major Award Winners
Player of the Year
2003-04 Derek Edwardson, F, Miami
2002-03 Chris Kunitz, F, Ferris State
2001-02 Ryan Miller, G, Michigan State
2000-01 Ryan Miller, G, Michigan State
1999-00 Shawn Horcoff, F, Michigan State
1998-99 Mike York, F, Michigan State
1997-98 Chad Alban, G, Michigan State
1996-97 Brendan Morrison, F, Michigan
1995-96 Brendan Morrison, F, Michigan
1994-95 Brian Holzinger, F, Bowling Green
1993-94 David Oliver, F, Michigan
1992-93 Brian Savage, F, Miami
1991-92 Dwayne Norris, F, Michigan State
1990-91 Jim Dowd, F, Lake Superior
1989-90 Kip Miller, F, Michigan State
1988-89 Bruce Hoffort, G, Lake Superior
1987-88 Mark Vermette, F, Lake Superior
1986-87 Wayne Gagne, D, Western Michigan
1985-86 Dan Dorion, F, Western Michigan
1984-85 Ray Staszak, F, Illinois-Chicago
1983-84 Paul Pooley, F, Ohio State
1982-83 Brian Hills, F, Bowling Green
1981-82 George McPhee, F, Bowling Green
1980-81 Jeff Pyle, F, Northern Michigan
1979-80 Steve Weeks, G, Northern Michigan
1978-79 Ken Morrow, D, Bowling Green
1977-78 John Markell, F, Bowling Green
Don Waddell, D, Northern Michigan
1976-77 Mike Liut, G, Bowling Green
Rookie of the Year
2003-04 T.J. Hensick, F, Michigan
2002-03 Jeff Tambellini, F, Michigan
2001-02 Pat Dwyer, F, Western Michigan
2000-01 R.J. Umberger, F, Ohio State
1999-00 Chris Gobert, F, Northern Michigan
1998-99 Mike Comrie, F, Michigan
1997-98 Mark Eaton, D, Notre Dame
1996-97 Daryl Andrews, D, Western Michigan
1995-96 Marc Magliarditi, G, Western Michigan
1994-95 Marty Turco, G, Michigan
1993-94 Brendan Morrison, F, Michigan
1992-93 Chris Brooks, F, Western Michigan
1991-92 Brian Loney, F, Ohio State
1990-91 Brian Wiseman, F, Michigan
1989-90 David Roberts, F, Michigan
1988-89 Rod Brind'Amour, F, Michigan State
1987-88 John DePourcq, F, Ferris State
1986-87 Nelson Emerson, F, Bowling Green
1985-86 Joe Murphy, F, Michigan State
1984-85 Paul Ysebaert, F, Bowling Green
1983-84 Gary Emmons, F, Northern Michigan
Bill Shibicky, F, Michigan State
1982-83 Chris Seychel, F, Michigan
1981-82 Jon Elliott, G, Michigan
1980-81 Jeff Poeschl, G, Northern Michigan
Paul Pooley, F, Ohio State
1979-80 Steve Mulholland, F, Lake Superior
1978-79 George McPhee, F, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year
2003-04 Enrico Blasi, Miami 2002-03 Bob Daniels, Ferris State 2001-02 Guy Gadowsky, Alaska-Fairbanks 2000-01 Enrico Blasi, Miami 1999-00 Scott Borek, Lake Superior 1998-99 Ron Mason, Michigan State 1997-98 John Markell, Ohio State 1996-97 Mark Mazzoleni, Miami 1995-96 Bill Wilkinson, Western Michigan 1994-95 Buddy Powers, Bowling Green 1993-94 Gordon "Red" Berenson, Michigan 1992-93 George Gwozdecky, Miami 1991-92 George Gwozdecky, Miami 1990-91 Jeff Jackson, Lake Superior 1989-90 Ron Mason, Michigan State 1988-89 Ron Mason, Michigan State 1987-88 Frank Anzalone, Lake Superior 1986-87 Val Belmonte, Illinois-Chicago 1985-86 Bill Wilkinson, Western Michigan 1984-85 Ron Mason, Michigan State 1983-84 Bill Wilkinson, Western Michigan 1982-83 Jerry Welsh, Ohio State 1981-82 Jerry York, Bowling Green 1980-81 Rick Comley, Northern Michigan 1979-80 Rick Comley, Northern Michigan 1978-79 Ron Mason, Bowling Green 1977-78 Ron Mason, Bowling Green 1976-77 Bill Selman, St. Louis 1975-76 Ron Mason, Bowling Green
Most Valuable Player in Tournament
Note: No award given from 1973-81. 2004 Paul Caponigri, F, Ohio State 2003 Jed Ortmeyer, F, Michigan 2002 Mike Cammalleri, F, Michigan 2001 Ryan Miller, G, Michigan State 2000 Ryan Miller, G, Michigan State 1999 Mark Kosick, F, Michigan 1998 Mike York, F, Michigan State 1997 Brendan Morrison, F, Michigan 1996 John Madden, F, Michigan 1995 Wayne Strachan, F, Lake Superior 1994 Mike Stone, F, Michigan 1993 Blaine Lacher, G, Lake Superior 1992 Darrin Madeley, G, Lake Superior 1991 Clayton Beddoes, F, Lake Superior 1990 Peter White, F, Michigan State 1989 Jason Muzzatti, G, Michigan State 1988 Paul Connell, G, Bowling Green 1987 Bobby Reynolds, F, Michigan State 1986 Bill Horn, G, Western Michigan 1985 Norm Foster, G, Michigan State 1984 Glenn Healy-*, G, Western Michigan 1983 Mike David-*, G, Bowling Green 1982 Ron Scott, G, Michigan State 1972 Bill McKenzie, G, Ohio State *-recipient did not play on winning team.
Best Defensive Forward
2003-04 Dwight Helminen, Michigan 2002-03 Jed Ortmeyer, Michigan 2001-02 Bobby Andrews, Alaska-Fairbanks 2000-01 John Nail, Michigan State 1999-00 Shawn Horcoff, Michigan State 1998-99 Mike York, Michigan State 1997-98 Terry Marchant, Lake Superior 1996-97 John Madden, Michigan 1995-96 Bates Battaglia, Lake Superior 1994-95 Wayne Strachan, Lake Superior 1993-94 Mike Stone, Michigan 1992-93 Chris Bergeron, Miami 1991-92 Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan 1990-91 Jeff Napierala, Lake Superior 1989-90 Pete Stauber, Lake Superior
Best Offensive Defenseman
2003-04 A.J. Thelan, Michigan State 2002-03 John-Michael Liles, Michigan State 2001-02 John-Michael Liles, Michigan State 2000-01 Greg Zanon, Nebraska-Omaha 1999-00 Jeff Jillson, Michigan 1998-99 Mike Jones, Bowling Green 1997-98 Dan Boyle, Miami 1996-97 Andy Roach, Ferris State 1995-96 Keith Aldridge, Lake Superior 1994-95 Kelly Perrault, Bowling Green 1993-94 John Gruden, Ferris State 1992-93 Joe Cook, Miami 1991-92 Mark Astley, Lake Superior 1990-91 Jason Woolley, Michigan State 1989-90 Rob Blake, Bowling Green
Best Defensive Defenseman
2003-04 Doug Andress, Ohio State 2002-03 Brad Fast, Michigan State 2001-02 Mike Komisarek, Michigan 2000-01 Andrew Hutchinson, Michigan State 1999-00 Mike Weaver, Michigan State 1998-99 Mike Weaver, Michigan State 1997-98 Tyler Harlton, Michigan State 1996-97 Tyler Harlton, Michigan State 1995-96 Mike Matteucci, Lake Superior 1994-95 Steve Halko, Michigan 1993-94 Brent Brekke, Western Michigan 1992-93 Bobby Marshall, Miami 1991-92 Joby Messier, Michigan State 1990-91 Karl Johnston, Lake Superior 1989-90 Dan Keczmer, Lake Superior
Terry Flanagan Memorial Award (comeback player)
2003-04 Aaron Voros, F, Alaska-Fairbanks 2002-03 Brian Maloney, F, Michigan State 2001-02 Scott Titus, D, Ohio State 2000-01 Doug Schueller, D, Bowling Green 1999-00 Sean Peach, D, Michigan 1998-99 Ernie Hartlieb, F, Miami 1997-98 Bryan Adams, F, Michigan State 1996-97 Steve Noble, F, Notre Dame 1995-96 Jon Gaskins, D, Michigan State 1994-95 Charles Thuss, G, Miami 1993-94 Craig Lisko, G, Ferris State 1992-93 Wes McCauley, D, Michigan State
Ilitch Humanitarian Award
2003-04 Neil Komadoski, D, Notre Dame 2002-03 Mike Betz, G, Ohio State 2001-02 Kevin O'Malley, G, Michigan 2000-01 Jason Cupp, F, Nebraska-Omaha