Hockey East was formed in September 2001 in response to the dawn of women's collegiate hockey as an NCAA sport. The five original members were Hockey East schools on the men's side that had formed Division I women's programs - Boston College, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Providence. The original charter stipulated that any other Hockey East school that added a varsity women's program in the future would be freely admitted to the league.
Hockey East Tournament Champions
2003 Providence
2004 Providence
2006 New Hampshire
2007 New Hampshire
2008 New Hampshire
2009 New Hampshire
2010 Boston University
2011 Boston College
2012 Boston University
2013 Boston University
2014 Boston University
2015 Boston University
2016 Boston College
2017 Boston College
2018 Northeastern
2019 Northeastern
2020 Northeastern
2021 Northeastern
2022 Northeastern
2023 Northeastern
2024 Connecticut
Boston College
Boston, Massachusetts
Mascot: Eagles
Rink: Conte Forum, capacity 7,884
Coach: Katie King Crowley (18th season)
Frozen Four Appearances: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Boston College women's hockey homepage
Boston College women's hockey Instagram
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
Mascot: Terriers
Rink: Walter Brown Arena, capacity 3,806
Coach: Tara Watchorn (2nd season)
Frozen Four Appearances: 2011, 2013
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Boston University women's hockey homepage
Boston University women's hockey Instagram
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Mascot: Huskies
Rink: Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum, capacity 2,000
Coach: Chris MacKenzie (12th season)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2024
UConn women's hockey homepage
UConn women's hockey Instagram
University of Maine
Orono, Maine
Mascot: Black Bears
Rink: Harold Alfond Sports Arena, capacity 5,641
Coach: Molly Engstrom (3rd season)
Maine women's hockey homepage
Maine women's hockey Instagram
Merrimack University
North Andover, Maine
Mascot: Warriors
Rink: Lawler Rink, Capacity 2,549
Coach: Erin Hamlen (10th season)
Merrimack women's hockey homepage
Merrimack women's hockey Instagram
University of New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire
Mascot: Wildcats
Rink: Whittemore Center, capacity 6,501
Coach: Hilary Witt (11th season)
Frozen Four Appearances: 2006
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
UNH women's hockey homepage
UNH women's hockey Instagram
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
Mascot: Huskies
Rink: Matthews Arena, capacity 4,666
Coach: Dave Flint (17th season)
Frozen Four Appearances: 2021, 2022, 2023
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Northeastern women's hockey homepage
Northeastern women's hockey Instagram
Providence College
Providence, Rhode Island
Mascot: Friars
Rink: Schneider Arena, capacity 3,030
Coach: Matt Kelly (7th season)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2005, 2021
Providence women's hockey homepage
Providence women's hockey Instagram
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Mascot: Catamounts
Rink: Gutterson Fieldhouse, capacity 4,007
Coach: Jim Plumer (13th season)
Vermont women's hockey homepage
Vermont women's hockey Instagram
Postseason tournament structure
Byes: Top six earn byes to the quarterfinals
Opening round: Single game
#10 seed at #7 seed,
#9 seed at #8 seed
Quarterfinals: Single game
lowest remaining seed at #1 seed
second-lowest remaining seed at #2 seed
#6 seed at #3 seed
#5 seed at #4 seed
Semifinals: Single game
lowest remaining seed at highest remaining seed
second-lowest remaining seed at second-highest remaining seed
Championship: Single game - UConn hosts in 2025