History of ECAC Division I
by Kurt Stutt/special to USCHO
ECAC Division I, as it is known today, evolved slowly, starting from a dispute between the New England and New York schools. For the 1961 NCAA Tournament, the selection committee chose St. Lawrence and Rensselaer to represent the East, bypassing the Boston area schools. In the disputes that followed, it was decided to hold an Eastern tournament the following season, with the tournament champion given an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The initial season saw 28 teams competing in what can be best described as an "informal" conference. No scheduling criteria existed, schools played whomever they wished. The standings were irrelevant, since a selection committee decided the eight participants in the tournament. The varying schedule strengths, resulting in a de facto division of the conference, meant the selection of only the "stronger" teams to the tournament, regardless of record.
After three seasons of 20-plus teams, the ECAC took the logical step and formally split the conference in two, with the strong teams and all the Ivy League schools forming a smaller Division I conference. However, the tournament field would continue to be selected by a committee and scheduling was still haphazard. The tournament selections would be abolished starting with the 1971 tournament. The scheduling situation was not resolved until 1982.
The late '60s and early '70s were perhaps the golden age of ECAC Hockey. Cornell, under Ned Harkness, became a powerhouse in the late '60s, winning the NCAA Championship twice (1967, 1970). Boston University followed with consecutive wins in 1971 and '72 (and a later title in 1978). For five consecutive seasons (1970-74), the NCAA Tournament was held in the East, at Lake Placid, Syracuse and Boston (three times), a situation never seen again.
The membership did not remain constant over this period. New Hampshire jumped up to D-I in 1966. Pennsylvania did the same in 1967. Army left for D-II in 1973, and Vermont came up to D-I in 1974. Pennsylvania dropped their program in 1978 and Maine joined D-I in 1979.
ECAC Division I split into three divisions in 1979. The Ivy League schools (Princeton, Dartmouth, Harvard, Cornell, Yale, Brown) formed one division; Boston University, Boston College, Maine, Providence, Northeastern and New Hampshire formed the East Division; and Colgate, Clarkson, Vermont, St. Lawrence and Rensselaer formed the West.
Starting in 1982, every school played each member of its region twice, all others once, resulting in an uneven number of games played. The Ivy and East regions played 21 games, the West region 20. Each region winner was given a home berth in the tournament, with the best second place team being the fourth home seed.
In 1983, major changes were under way. The entire East Region decided to break away and form its own conference, in response to a potential departure by the Ivy League schools. After the teams formally left in 1984, Army rejoined the conference as the 12th member, playing a half-schedule. Rensselaer would gain the ECAC a measure of revenge in defeating Providence in the 1985 NCAA Championship game. Army would begin a full schedule starting with the 1986-87 season, the first time in history the ECAC would play a balanced schedule.
Since then, four items of interest have occurred: Harvard won the NCAA Championship in 1989; the playoff structure was expanded from eight to 10 teams in 1990; Union replaced Army as a member in 1991; and the ECAC Championships were moved to Lake Placid in 1993, after 31 years in Boston.
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
ECAC Division I Champions
Season Regular Season Tournament 2003-04 Colgate Harvard 2002-03 Cornell Cornell 2001-02 Cornell Harvard 2000-01 Clarkson St. Lawrence 1999-00 St. Lawrence St. Lawrence 1998-99 Clarkson Clarkson 1997-98 Yale Princeton 1996-97 Clarkson Cornell 1995-96 Vermont Cornell 1994-95 Clarkson Rensselaer 1993-94 Harvard Harvard 1992-93 Harvard Clarkson 1991-92 Harvard St. Lawrence 1990-91 Clarkson Clarkson 1989-90 Colgate Colgate 1988-89 Harvard St. Lawrence 1987-88 Harvard St. Lawrence 1986-87 Harvard Harvard 1985-86 Harvard Cornell 1984-85 Rensselaer Rensselaer 1983-84 Rensselaer Rensselaer 1982-83 Providence Harvard 1981-82 Clarkson Northeastern 1980-81 Clarkson Providence 1979-80 Boston College Cornell 1978-79 Boston University New Hampshire 1977-78 Boston University Boston College 1976-77 Clarkson Boston University 1975-76 Boston University Boston University 1974-75 Harvard Boston University 1973-74 New Hampshire Boston University 1972-73 Cornell/Harvard Cornell 1971-72 Cornell Boston University 1970-71 Boston University Harvard 1969-70 Cornell Cornell 1968-69 Cornell Cornell 1967-68 Cornell Cornell 1966-67 Boston University Cornell 1965-66 Clarkson Clarkson 1964-65 Boston University Boston College 1963-64 Providence Providence 1962-63 Harvard Harvard 1961-62 Colby St. Lawrence
ECAC Division I Major Award Winners
Player of the Year
Known as Most Valuable Player prior to 1968-69.
Record missing for 1967-68.
2003-04 Yann Danis, G, Brown
2002-03 Dave LeNeveu, G, Cornell
Chris Higgins, F, Yale
2001-02 Marc Cavosie, F, Rensselaer
2000-01 Erik Anderson, F, St. Lawrence
1999-00 Andy McDonald, F, Colgate
1998-99 Eric Heffler, G, St. Lawrence
1997-98 Ray Giroux, D, Yale
1996-97 Todd White, F, Clarkson
1995-96 Eric Perrin, F, Vermont
1994-95 Martin St. Louis, F, Vermont
1993-94 Steve Martins, F, Harvard
1992-93 Ted Drury, F, Harvard
1991-92 Daniel Laperriere, D, St. Lawrence
1990-91 Peter Ciavaglia, F, Harvard
1989-90 Dave Gagnon, G, Colgate
1988-89 Lane MacDonald, F, Harvard
1987-88 Pete Lappin, F, St. Lawrence
1986-87 Joe Nieuwendyk, F, Cornell
1985-86 Scott Fusco, F, Harvard
1984-85 Scott Fusco, F, Harvard
1983-84 Cleon Daskalakis, G, Boston University
1982-83 Randy Velischek, D, Providence
1981-82 Steve Cruickshank, F, Clarkson
1980-81 Ed Small, D, Clarkson
1979-80 Craig Homola, F, Vermont
1978-79 Ralph Cox, F, New Hampshire
1977-78 Lance Nethery, F, Cornell
1976-77 Dave Taylor, F, Clarkson
1975-76 Peter Brown, D, Boston University
1974-75 Ron Wilson, D, Providence
1973-74 Randy Roth, F, Harvard
1972-73 Tom Mellor, D, Boston College
1971-72 Bob Brown, D, Boston University
1970-71 Bruce Bullock, G, Clarkson
1969-70 Tim Sheehy, F, Boston College
1968-69 Ken Dryden, G, Cornell
1966-67 Doug Ferguson, F, Cornell
1965-66 Terry Yurkiewicz, G, Clarkson
1964-65 John Cunniff, F, Boston College
1963-64 Bob Brinkworth, F, Rensselaer
1962-63 Bob Brinkworth, F, Rensselaer
1961-62 Ron Ryan, F, Colby
Rookie of the Year
Known as Sophomore of the Year prior to 1972-73.
Record missing for 1967-68.
2003-04 David McKee, G, Cornell
Brian Ihnacak, F, Brown
2002-03 Hugh Jessiman, F, Dartmouth
2001-02 Chris Higgins, F, Yale
2000-01 Rob McFeeters, F, Clarkson
1999-00 Derek Gustafson, G, St. Lawrence
1998-99 Brandon Dietrich, F, St. Lawrence
1997-98 Erik Cole, F, Clarkson
Willie Mitchell, D, Clarkson
1996-97 J.R. Prestifilippo, G, Harvard
1995-96 Kyle Knopp, F, Cornell
1994-95 Paul DiFrancesco, F, St. Lawrence
1993-94 Eric Perrin, F, Vermont
1992-93 Burke Murphy, F, St. Lawrence
1991-92 Christian Soucy, G, Vermont
1990-91 Geoff Finch, G, Brown
1989-90 Kent Manderville, F, Cornell
1988-89 Andre Faust, F, Princeton
1987-88 Trent Andison, F, Cornell
1986-87 John Fletcher, G, Clarkson
1985-86 John Messuri, F, Princeton
1984-85 Joe Nieuwendyk, F, Cornell
1983-84 John Cullen, F, Boston University
1982-83 George Servinis, F, Rensselaer
1981-82 Norm Lacombe, F, New Hampshire
1980-81 Don Sylvestri, G, Clarkson
1979-80 Mark Fusco, D, Harvard
1978-79 Bill Whelton, D, Boston University
1977-78 Mark Fidler, F, Boston University
1976-77 Jack Hughes, D, Harvard
1975-76 Paul Skidmore, G, Boston College
1974-75 Bob Miller, F, New Hampshire
1973-74 Ron Wilson, D, Providence
1972-73 Vic Stanfield, D, Boston University
1971-72 Don Cutts, G, Rensselaer
1970-71 Bob Brown, D, Boston University
1969-70 Tom Mellor, D, Boston College
1968-69 Joe Cavanagh, F, Harvard
1966-67 Herb Wakabayashi, F, Boston University
1965-66 Kent Parrot, F, Harvard
1964-65 Doug Ferguson, F, Cornell
1963-64 John Cunniff, F, Boston College
1962-63 Richard Green, D, Boston University
1961-62 Bob Brinkworth, F, Rensselaer
Coach of the Year
2003-04 Stan Moore, Colgate
2002-03 Mike Schafer, Cornell
2001-02 Mike Schafer, Cornell
2000-01 Mark Morris, Clarkson
1999-00 Don Vaughan, Colgate
1998-99 Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
1997-98 Tim Taylor, Yale
1996-97 Stan Moore, Union
1995-96 Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
1994-95 Bob Gaudet, Brown
1993-94 Bruce Delventhal, Union
1992-93 Roger Demment, Dartmouth
1991-92 Tim Taylor, Yale
1990-91 Mark Morris, Clarkson
1989-90 Terry Slater, Colgate
1988-89 Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
1987-88 Bill Cleary, Harvard
Mike Gilligan, Vermont
1986-87 Tim Taylor, Yale
Most Valuable Player in Tournament
2004 Brendan Bernakevitch, F, Harvard 2003 Dave LeNeveu, G, Cornell 2002 Tyler Kolarik, F, Harvard 2001 Jeremy Symington, G, St. Lawrence 2000 Derek Gustafson, G, St. Lawrence 1999 Willie Mitchell, D, Clarkson 1998 Jeff Halpern, F, Princeton 1997 Jason Elliott, G, Cornell 1996 Jason Elliott, G, Cornell 1995 Mike Tamburro, G, Rensselaer 1994 Sean McCann, D, Harvard 1993 Chris Rogles, G, Clarkson 1992 Daniel Laperriere, D, St. Lawrence 1991 Hugo Belanger, F, Clarkson 1990 Craig Woodcroft, F, Colgate 1989 Doug Murray, F, St. Lawrence 1988 Pete Lappin, F, St. Lawrence 1987 Lane MacDonald, F, Harvard 1986 Doug Dadswell, F, Cornell 1985 Daren Puppa, G, Rensselaer 1984 Adam Oates, F, Rensselaer 1983 Mitch Olson, D, Harvard 1982 Mark Davidner, G, Northeastern 1981 Kurt Kleinendorst, F, Providence 1980 Darren Eliot, G, Cornell 1979 Greg Moffett, G, New Hampshire 1978 Joe Mullen, F, Boston College 1977 Rick Meagher, F, Boston University 1976 Terry Meagher, F, Boston University 1975 Rick Meagher, F, Boston University 1974 Ed Walsh, G, Boston University 1973 Carlo Ugolini, F, Cornell 1972 John Danby, F, Boston University 1971 Dave Hynes, F, Harvard 1970 Bruce Bullock-*, G, Clarkson 1969 Ken Dryden, G, Cornell 1968 Ken Dryden, G, Cornell 1967 Doug Ferguson, F, Cornell 1966 Terry Yurkiewicz, G, Clarkson 1965 Pat Murphy, G, Boston College 1964 Bob Perani*, G, St. Lawrence 1963 Gene Kinasewich, F, Harvard 1962 Arlie Parker, D, St. Lawrence *-recipient did not play on winning team.
Best Defensive Defenseman
Known as Outstanding Defenseman prior to 1992-93
2003-04 Scott Ford, Brown
2002-03 Doug Murray, Cornell
2001-02 Brian McMeekin, Cornell
2000-01 Kent Huskins, Clarkson
1999-00 Justin Harney, St. Lawrence
1998-99 Jeff Burgoyne, Cornell
1997-98 Ray Giroux, Yale
1996-97 Matt Pagnutti, Clarkson
Andrew Will, Union
1995-96 Jeff Kungle, St. Lawrence
1994-95 Mike Traggio, Brown
1993-94 Mike Traggio, Brown
1992-93 Martin d'Orsonnens, Clarkson
1966-67 Harry Orr, Cornell
1965-66 Bob Gaudreau, Brown
1964-65 Tom Ross, Boston University
1963-64 Richie Green, Boston University
1962-63 Dave Johnston, Harvard
1961-62 Arlie Parker, St. Lawrence
Best Defensive Forward
2003-04 Jon Smyth, Colgate 2002-03 Stephen Baby, Cornell 2001-02 Stephen Baby, Cornell 2000-01 Mike Gellard, St. Lawrence 1999-00 Doug Stienstra, Cornell 1998-99 Syl Apps, Princeton 1997-98 Buddy Wallace, Clarkson 1996-97 Joel Prpic, St. Lawrence 1995-96 Brad Chartrand, Cornell 1994-95 Ian Sharp, Princeton 1993-94 Ian Sharp, Princeton 1992-93 Greg Carvel, St. Lawrence
Ken Dryden Award
2003-04 Yann Danis, Brown 2002-03 Dave LeNeveu, Cornell 2001-02 Matt Underhill, Cornell 2000-01 Oliver Jonas, Harvard 1999-00 Joel Laing, Rensselaer 1998-99 Eric Heffler, St. Lawrence 1997-98 Alex Westlund, Yale 1996-97 Trevor Koenig, Union 1995-96 Tim Thomas, Vermont