NCAA Division II independent schools (ice hockey)

As of 2022, only six teams play at the Division II level with all belonging to the same conference (Northeast-10 Conference).

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

The NCAA did not start numerical classification until 1973. Prior to that teams played either in the University Division, which became Division I, or the College Division, which was split into Divisions II and III. College Division independents are listed here for reference as a majority of the College Division programs joined the Division II level regardless of where their respective schools were reclassified.

During the 1960s and 70s most western schools competed in the NAIA and did not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA. This began to change once the NCAA instituted the Division II Tournament in 1978. In some cases NCAA teams were invited to participate in the NAIA tournament, leaving the ordering of schools at that time unclear.

School	Team	Location	Years	Subsequent conference(s)	Notes
Babson College	Beavers[1]	Wellesley, Massachusetts	1965–1967	ECAC 2	Currently plays in NEHC.
Bentley College	Falcons[2]	Waltham, Massachusetts	1998–1999	MAAC	Played one season at the Division II level before raising to Division I. Currently plays in the MAAC's successor conference, Atlantic Hockey America.
Elmira College	Soaring Eagles[3]	Elmira, New York	1974–1976	ECAC 2	Currently plays in UCHC.
Lake Forest College	Foresters[4]	Lake Forest, Illinois	1965–1984	Division III	Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in the NCHA.
Lowell Tech	Terriers[5]	Lowell, Massachusetts	1967–1968	ECAC 2	Raised to Division I in 1983. Became University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1993. Currently plays in Hockey East.
Mankato State University	Mavericks[6]	Mankato, Minnesota	1969–1980 1992–1996	NCHA Division I	Left NCHA in 1992 to compete fully at the Division II level. Program was raised to D-I four years later due to the lack of interest from other D-II schools. Became Minnesota State University in 2000.
New England College	Pilgrims[7]	Henniker, New Hampshire	1969–1971	ECAC 2	Currently plays in NEHC.
Nichols College	Bison[8]	Dudley, Massachusetts	1964–1966†	ECAC 2	Currently plays in CNE.
North Adams State College	Mohawks	North Adams, Massachusetts	1971–1972 1974–1975	ECAC 3 ECAC 2	School changed name to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts before dropping ice hockey in 2003. The program was restarted in 2023.
Plymouth State College	Panthers[9]	Plymouth, New Hampshire	1971–1973	ECAC 3
Post University	Eagles[10]	Waterbury, Connecticut	2016–2019	Northeast-10
Salem State College	Vikings[11]	Salem, Massachusetts	1964–1967†	ECAC 2	Currently plays in MASCAC.
St. Cloud State University	Huskies[12]	St. Cloud, Minnesota	1964–1980†	NCHA	Program was promoted to Division I in 1987. Currently plays in the NCHC.
St. Olaf College	Oles[13]	Northfield, Minnesota	1950–1974†	MIAC	School left the MIAC in 1950 and returned in 1974.
The College at Brockport, State University of New York	Golden Eagles[14]	Brockport, New York	1973–1976	ECAC 2	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Geneseo	Knights[15]	Geneseo, New York	1975–1976	ECAC 2	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh	Cardinals[16]	Plattsburgh, New York	1975–1976	ECAC 2	Founded ice hockey division of SUNYAC in 1992.
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point	Pointers[17]	Stevens Point, Wisconsin	1981–1984	Division III	Remained an independent at the D-III level. Currently plays in the WIAC.

† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.