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MCHA Directory
Member Schools
Adrian College - Adrian, Michigan (Member since 2007-2008)
Concordia University - Mequon, Wisconsin (Member since 2007-2008)
Finlandia University - Hancock, Michigan (Member since 2004-2005)
Lake Forest College - Lake Forest, Illinois (Member since 2009-2010)
Lawrence University - Appleton, Wisconsin (Charter Member since 1998-1999)
Marian University - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (Charter Member since 1998-1999)
Milwaukee School of Engineering - Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Charter Member since 1998-1999)
Northland College - Ashland, Wisconsin (Charter Member since 1998-1999)
Officers & Staff:
Commissioner: Dr. G. Steven Larson
Phone: 262-993-8884
Email:
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Mailing Address: PO Box 1536
Waukesha, WI 53187-1536
Treasurer: TBA
Director of Public Relations/Secretary: Chris Zills
Office Phone: 414-229-4593
E-Mail:
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MCHA Supervisor of Officials: Jim Olson
Phone: 414-305-5738
E-Mail:
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MCHA Tournament Sites:
2011- Arrington Ice Arena - Adrian, Mich. (Host: Adrian College ... Champion: Adrian College)
2010- Arrington Ice Arena - Adrian, Mich. (Host: Adrian College ... Champion: Adrian College)
2009 - Arrington Ice Arena - Adrian, Mich. (Host: Adrian College ... Champion: Adrian College)
2008 - The Kern Center - Milwaukee, Wis. (Host: MSOE ... Champion: Adrian College)
2007 - Houghton County Ice Arena - Hancock, Mich. (Host: Finlandia University ... Champion: Finlandia University)
2006 - Appleton Ice Center - Appleton, Wis. (Host: Lawrence University ... Champion: MSOE)
2005 - The Kern Center - Milwaukee, Wis. (Host: MSOE ... Champion: MSOE)
2004 - Blue Line Ice Center - Fond du Lac, Wis. (Host: Marian University ... Champion: Minnesota-Crookston)
2003 - Crookston Civic Center - Crookston, Minn. (Host: UM-Crookston ... Champion: Minnesota-Crookston)
2002 - Appleton Ice Center - Appleton, Wis. (Host: Lawrence University ... Champion: Marian University)
2001 - Blue Line Ice Center - Fond du Lac, Wis. (Host: Marian University ... Champion: Marian University)
2000 - The Ponds of Brookfield - Brookfield, Wis. (Host: MSOE ... Champion: Minnesota-Crookston)
1999 - Findlay, Ohio (Host: University of Findlay ... Champion: University of Findlay)
Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association History
Heading into its 14th season of operation in 2011-12, the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association has seen itself slowly but surely grow into a force to be reckoned with in hockey at the NCAA Division III level.
The past two seasons have been the most important in its existence, as the NCAA granted the long-awaited automatic qualifier to the league's postseason champion on April 14, 2009. The 2010 postseason marked the first time the winner of the Harris Cup advanced to the NCAA Tournament where Adrian College led early before falling by just one goal to eventual NCAA National runner-up St. Norbert College. The Bulldogs then one-upped that accomplishment by claiming a pair of NCAA Tournament wins in the 2011 postseason before falling by just a goal in the NCAA National Championship game.
One major change over the past year is at the top, as the MCHA named Dr. G. Steven Larson the new commissioner of the league in July, 2010.
Back in the late 1990's, a group of independent NCAA hockey programs that all formed within the same time period came together to aid in scheduling and provide additional competitive opportunities for their programs. Hence, the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association was born prior to the start of the 1998-1999 season.
Charter members of the league were Benedictine University (Lisle, Illinois), The University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio), Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), Marian University (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin), Milwaukee School of Engineering (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), and Northland College (Ashland, Wisconsin).
The University of Findlay (OH) hosted the first ever MCHA Tournament and claimed the league's first championship. After that inaugural season, Findlay left the league to pursue NCAA Division I membership in hockey and Benedictine dropped their hockey program moving them out of the league.
In the spring of 1999, the University of Minnesota at Crookston joined the MCHA to bring the total membership to five institutions. The next addition to the MCHA occurred in 2004-05 when Finlandia University (Hancock, Michigan) joined the conference. After staying at six members for three consecutive seasons, the MCHA saw expansive growth and moved to eight teams for the 2007-08 season, as Adrian College (Adrian, Michigan) and Concordia University (Mequon, Wisconsin) joined the ranks of the conference.
The expansion did not stop there, as Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Illinois) was accepted into the league and began play in the 2009-10 season, with Minnesota-Crookston leaving following the 2008-09 campaign to bring membership to the eight current schools.
 None of this would have been possible without the dedicated and forward thinking leadership of former MCHA President Dan Harris (pictured on right in photo). Harris, currently the Athletic Director at Milwaukee School of Engineering, spurred creation of the association and led it into the next century. His leadership was so valuable to the conference, that the MCHA named the league championship trophy after him when he formally resigned as the league president following the 2001-2002 season. The teams now compete each winter for the "Harris Cup".
Just as instrumental to the league was Terry Brand, who was named the first commissioner of the league in the summer of 2005 and stayed in that role until the end of the 2009-10 campaign.
Chris Zills enters his 11th season as the league's Director of Public Relations, maintaining all statistics, producing the weekly report, and administering the MCHA website, while also having added secretarial duties in 2004-2005. Jim Olson, who was named to the post in July of 2007, completes the staff as MCHA Supervisor of Officials, overseeing the league's referees.
The Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association promotes sportsmanship and exists to enhance the academic and athletic well being of its participants. The members of the MCHA are competitive with any college hockey program in the nation that competes at the NCAA Division III or II level.
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Plenty of storylines remain in place as the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association enters the final month of the regular season. In the Southern Division, Adrian College and MSOE both swept weekend series to remain deadlocked heading down the stretch. The Bulldogs (6-1 and 9-2 winners over Finlandia) and Raiders (2-0 and 4-2 over Lawrence) are now tied at 12-1-1 in MCHA play and, coincidentally, 15-3-1 overall. A head-to-head series to close out the regular season looms the final weekend.
