History of Hockey East
by Kurt Stutt/special to USCHO
Hockey East was formed in 1983, when the athletic leadership of the founding schools, responding to the possibility of the Ivy League hockey teams breaking away from the ECAC, decided to form their own conference. Those charter members, Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence, officially founded the Hockey East Association on July 11, to begin play in the fall of 1984. Lowell and Maine would join later that year, bringing the number of members to seven at the start of play.
With hockey powerhouses such as Boston College, Boston University and Providence in the ranks, Hockey East gained instant credibility. A December, 1983 agreement with the WCHA created an interlocking schedule between the conferences that continued through the 1988-89 season. On the ice, Providence advanced to the NCAA Championship game in the Association's first season. As a consequence, Hockey East would not have to endure the same growing pains as the CCHA.
Although Hockey East was immediately established, there were still minor kinks to be worked out. Movement of the finals around New England (Providence, Chestnut Hill and Boston) was not solved until Hockey East and the ECAC cooperated on "Hockeyfest," a joint championship weekend played at the Boston Garden, to start in 1990. However, the Hockey East teams were no-shows that first year, due to a measles epidemic on the Maine campus. Hockeyfest went off as planned for 1991 and 1992, and starting in 1993 Hockey East became the sole conference finals in Boston, with the ECAC moving to Lake Placid.
By this time, an NCAA Championship was the only thing lacking, until Maine secured the Association's first in 1993. An eligibility scandal rocked Maine the next year, along with a court injunction permitting the Black Bears to play in the Hockey East playoffs after the Association's athletic directors had voted to bar them.
Little did anyone know the heights the league would reach the following season, when two league members, Boston University and Maine, would meet in the 1995 NCAA Championship game, with BU emerging victorious. Four years later, Maine and New Hampshire comprised another all-Hockey East NCAA final, with Maine winning this time.
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
Hockey East Champions
Season Regular Season Tournament 2003-04 Boston College Maine 2002-03 New Hampshire New Hampshire 2001-02 New Hampshire New Hampshire 2000-01 Boston College Boston College 1999-00 Boston University Maine 1998-99 New Hampshire Boston College 1997-98 Boston University Boston College 1996-97 Boston Univ./UNH Boston University 1995-96 Boston University Providence 1994-95 Maine/Boston Univ. Boston University 1993-94 Boston University Boston University 1992-93 Maine Maine 1991-92 Maine Maine 1990-91 Boston College Boston University 1989-90 Boston College Boston College 1988-89 Boston College Maine 1987-88 Maine Northeastern 1986-87 Boston College Boston College 1985-86 Boston College Boston University 1984-85 Boston College Providence
Hockey East Major Award Winners
Player of the Year
2003-04 Steve Saviano, F, New Hampshire
2002-03 Mike Ayers, G, New Hampshire
Ben Eaves, F, Boston College
2001-02 Darren Haydar, F, New Hampshire
2000-01 Brian Gionta, F, Boston College
1999-00 Ty Conklin, G, New Hampshire
Mike Mottau, D, Boston College
1998-99 Jason Krog, F, New Hampshire
1997-98 Chris Drury, F, Boston University
1996-97 Chris Drury, F, Boston University
1995-96 Jay Pandolfo, F, Boston University
1994-95 Chris Imes, D, Maine
1993-94 Dwayne Roloson, G, Mass.-Lowell
1992-93 Paul Kariya, F, Maine
1991-92 Scott Pellerin, F, Maine
1990-91 David Emma, F, Boston College
1989-90 Greg Brown, D, Boston College
1988-89 Greg Brown, D, Boston College
1987-88 Mike McHugh, F, Maine
1986-87 Brian Leetch, D, Boston College
1985-86 Scott Harlow, F, Boston College
1984-85 Chris Terreri, G, Providence
Rookie of the Year
Award known as Freshman of the Year prior to 1988-89.
2003-04 Michel Léveillé, F, Maine
2002-03 Jim Howard, G, Maine
2001-02 Sean Collins, F, New Hampshire
2000-01 Chuck Kobasew, F, Boston College
1999-00 Ricky DiPietro, G, Boston University
1998-99 Darren Haydar, F, New Hampshire
1997-98 Brian Gionta, F, Boston College
1996-97 Greg Koehler, F, Mass.-Lowell
1995-96 Marty Reasoner, F, Boston College
1994-95 Mark Mowers, F, New Hampshire
1993-94 Greg Bullock, F, Mass.-Lowell
1992-93 Paul Kariya, F, Maine
1991-92 Craig Darby, F, Providence
Ian Moran, D, Boston College
1990-91 Jeff Levy, G, New Hampshire
1989-90 Scott Cashman, G, Boston University
1988-89 Rob Gaudreau, F, Providence
Scott Pellerin, F, Maine
1987-88 Mario Thyer, F, Maine
1986-87 Brian Leetch, D, Boston College
1985-86 Al Loring, G, Maine
Scott Young, F, Boston University
1984-85 Ken Hodge, F, Boston College
Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award
2003-04 Jerry York, Boston College 2002-03 Don Cahoon, Massachusetts 2001-02 Dick Umile, New Hampshire 2000-01 Paul Pooley, Providence 1999-00 Jack Parker, Boston University 1998-99 Dick Umile, New Hampshire 1997-98 Bruce Crowder, Northeastern 1996-97 Dick Umile, New Hampshire 1995-96 Bruce Crowder, Mass.-Lowell 1994-95 Shawn Walsh, Maine 1993-94 Bruce Crowder, Mass.-Lowell 1992-93 Shawn Walsh, Maine 1991-92 Jack Parker, Boston University 1990-91 Dick Umile, New Hampshire 1989-90 Shawn Walsh, Maine 1988-89 Fern Flaman, Northeastern 1987-88 Shawn Walsh, Maine 1986-87 Bill Riley, Jr., Lowell 1985-86 Jack Parker, Boston University 1984-85 Len Ceglarski, Boston College
William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Award
2004 Jimmy Howard, G, Maine 2003 Sean Fields, G, Boston University 2002 Darren Haydar, F, New Hampshire 2001 Chuck Kobasew, F, Boston College 2000 Niko Dimitrakos, F, Maine 1999 Blake Bellefeuille, F, Boston College 1998 Marty Reasoner, F, Boston College 1997 Michel Larocque, G, Boston University 1996 Joe Hulbig, F, Providence 1995 Bob Bell-*, G, Providence 1994 Dwayne Roloson-*, G, Mass.-Lowell 1993 Jim Montgomery, F, Maine 1992 Scott Pellerin, F, Maine 1991 Shawn McEachern, F, Boston University 1990 Scott LaGrand, G, Boston College 1989 Bob Beers, D, Maine 1988 Bruce Racine, G, Northeastern 1987 Brian Leetch, D, Boston College 1986 Peter Marshall, F, Boston University 1985 Chris Terreri, G, Providence *-recipient did not play on winning team.
Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award
2003-04 Steve Saviano, F, New Hampshire 2002-03 Martin Kariya, F, Maine 2001-02 Jon DiSalvatore, F, Providence 2000-01 Mike Jozefowicz, D, Northeastern 1999-00 Cory Larose, F, Maine 1998-99 Steve Kariya, F, Maine 1997-98 Steve Kariya, F, Maine 1996-97 Steve Kariya, F, Maine 1995-96 Todd Hall, D, New Hampshire 1994-95 Steve Thornton, F, Boston University 1993-94 Michael Spalla, D, Boston College 1992-93 Shane Henry, F, Mass.-Lowell 1991-92 Joe Flanagan, F, New Hampshire
Best Defensive Forward
2003-04 Todd Jackson, Maine 2002-03 Mark Mullen, Boston University 2001-02 Mike Pandolfo, Boston University 2000-01 Mike Lephart, Boston College 1999-00 John Sadowski, New Hampshire 1998-99 Doug Nolan, Mass.-Lowell 1997-98 Chris Drury, Boston University 1996-97 Travis Dillabough, Providence
Best Defensive Defenseman
2003-04 Andrew Alberts, Boston College
Prestin Ryan, Maine
2002-03 Cliff Loya, Maine
2001-02 Chris Dyment, Boston University
2000-01 Bobby Allen, Boston College
1999-00 Mike Mottau, Boston College
1998-99 Steve O'Brien, New Hampshire