The NCHA men's tournament is an annual Division III conference tournament that has taken place since 1986. The winner of the tournament has received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament since they were first offered in 2000.
History When the NCHA formed in 1981, the NCAA was already holding a preliminary tournament to help determine the bids for the NCAA Tournament. They continued to do so until 1985, after which the western conferences began playing their own postseason tournaments. For the first year, the NCHA tournament format was a two-game, total goal series for both rounds. That was changed to a point system the following year; the teams would play two games against one another, and whoever had the most points would advance (2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie). If the two teams were tied after two games, than a 20-minute 'mini-game' was played to determine the winner. In 1993 the tournament was expanded to include all six teams, with all rounds following the same point system format. Two seasons later the tournament was expanded again, this time to eight teams, before returning to a six-team championship the following year. In 1997, Bemidji State was no longer eligible to participate in any Division III tournament, but remained in the NCHA for three more seasons. The following year the eight-team tournament was restored. When Lake Forest left the conference in 2009, the tournament shifted to a seven-team format, but was restored to an eight-team arrangement after membership was reshuffled in 2013.
In 2016, the conference standings were altered by splitting teams into two divisions, North and South. The tournament was also changed to include only six teams, three from each division, with the top teams advancing to the semifinal round. The remaining teams would play within their division for the quarterfinals, and then the opposite divisions for the semifinals. Two years later the tournament was returned to an eight-team format; however, the teams would play both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds within their divisions, leaving the championship as the only interdivisional game.
1986
SeedSchoolConference record1 Bemidji State 12–6–02 Mankato State 11–5–23 St. Scholastica 11–6–14 Wisconsin–River Falls 11–5–0
1987
SeedSchoolConference record1 St. Cloud State 13–6–12 Mankato State 13–6–13 Bemidji State 12–7–14 Wisconsin–River Falls 15–5–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1988
SeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–River Falls 20–4–02 Bemidji State 15–6–33 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 15–7–24 Mankato State 14–8–2
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1989
SeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 23–1–02 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 13–8–33 Bemidji State 12–10–24 Mankato State 11–10–3
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1990
SeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 19–2–32 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 15–8–13 Mankato State 13–9–24 Wisconsin–River Falls 11–10–3
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1991
SeedSchoolConference record1 Mankato State 16–3–52 Bemidji State 17–4–33 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 16–8–04 Wisconsin–Superior 13–11–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1992
SeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 14–4–22 Wisconsin–Superior 14–5–13 Mankato State 11–7–24 Bemidji State 9–8–3
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1993
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 17–1–24 Wisconsin–Superior 9–11–02 Bemidji State 14–6–05 Lake Forest 5–15–03 Wisconsin–River Falls 10–9–16 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 3–16–1
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1994
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Superior 13–4–34 Wisconsin–River Falls 10–6–42 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 13–6–15 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 3–15–23 Bemidji State 12–6–26 Lake Forest 2–16–2
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1995
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Bemidji State 16–3–15 Wisconsin–River Falls 10–6–42 Wisconsin–Superior 14–5–16 St. Norbert 6–12–23 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 10–5–57 Lake Forest 5–13–24 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 12–8–08 St. Scholastica 0–20–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1996
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–River Falls 16–3–14 St. Norbert 9–9–22 Bemidji State 13–5–25 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 7–12–13 Wisconsin–Superior 12–6–26 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 7–12–1
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1997
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 16–4–04 Wisconsin–River Falls 13–7–02 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 14–5–15 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 7–12–13 Wisconsin–Superior 13–6–16 Wisconsin–Stout 6–14–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1998
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 17–3–05 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 6–14–02 Wisconsin–River Falls 14–5–16 Lake Forest 5–13–23 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 14–6–07 Wisconsin–Stout 3–16–14 Wisconsin–Superior 14–6–08 St. Scholastica 1–19–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
1999
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 12–2–25 Wisconsin–Stout 6–9–12 Wisconsin–River Falls 12–4–06 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 4–10–23 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 10–6–07 Lake Forest 4–12–04 Wisconsin–Superior 9–6–18 St. Scholastica 2–14–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2000
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 12–2–05 Lake Forest 7–7–02 St. Norbert 10–3–16 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 5–9–03 Wisconsin–Superior 10–4–07 Wisconsin–Stout 1–12–14 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–4–28 St. Scholastica 1–13–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2001
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Superior 11–3–05 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 7–7–02 Wisconsin–River Falls 10–4–06 St. Scholastica 3–10–13 St. Norbert 9–4–17 Lake Forest 3–11–04 Wisconsin–Stout 9–5–08 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 3–11–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2002
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 12–0–25 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 7–6–12 Wisconsin–Superior 8–3–36 Lake Forest 4–10–03 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 8–4–27 Wisconsin–Stout 4–10–04 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–5–28 St. Scholastica 1–13–0 Note: As the top seed, St. Norbert's arena was used for the semifinal and championship rounds.
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2003
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 12–1–15 Lake Forest 6–7–12 Wisconsin–Superior 11–2–16 St. Scholastica 2–11–13 Wisconsin–River Falls 11–2–17 Wisconsin–Stout 2–12–04 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 8–6–08 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 1–12–1 Note: As the top seed, St. Norbert's arena was used for the semifinal and championship rounds.
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2004
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 11–2–15 Wisconsin–Stout 5–7–22 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–3–36 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 5–7–23 Wisconsin–Superior 7–4–37 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 4–9–14 Lake Forest 7–5–28 St. Scholastica 1–11–2 Note: As the top seed, St. Norbert's arena was used for the semifinal and championship rounds.
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
Quarterfinals
(1) St. Norbert vs. (8) St. Scholastica
(4) Lake Forest vs. (5) Wisconsin–Stout
(2) Wisconsin–River Falls vs. (7) Wisconsin–Eau Claire
(3) Wisconsin–Superior vs. (6) Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Semifinals
(1) St. Norbert vs. (4) Lake Forest
(2) Wisconsin–River Falls vs. (6) Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Finals
(1) St. Norbert vs. (2) Wisconsin–River Falls
2005
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 12–0–25 Lake Forest 7–7–02 Wisconsin–Superior 9–2–36 Wisconsin–Stout 2–9–33 Wisconsin–River Falls 9–5–07 St. Scholastica 2–10–24 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 7–6–18 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 1–10–3
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2006
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 10–2–25 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 6–6–22 Wisconsin–River Falls 9–4–16 St. Scholastica 6–7–13 Wisconsin–Superior 7–5–27 Wisconsin–Stout 6–8–04 Lake Forest 7–7–08 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 0–12–2
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2007
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–River Falls 10–3–15 St. Scholastica 6–7–12 St. Norbert 10–3–16 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 3–10–13 Wisconsin–Stout 10–3–17 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 2–9–34 Wisconsin–Superior 9–4–18 Lake Forest 0–11–3
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2008
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 10–0–45 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 6–7–12 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–5–16 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 5–6–33 Wisconsin–Stout 7–5–27 St. Scholastica 4–7–34 Wisconsin–Superior 6–4–48 Lake Forest 1–13–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2009
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Superior 11–1–25 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 6–7–12 Wisconsin–Stout 10–2–26 Wisconsin–River Falls 4–9–13 St. Scholastica 9–4–17 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 3–10–14 St. Norbert 8–5–18 Lake Forest 0–13–1
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2010
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 14–2–25 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 6–12–02 St. Scholastica 11–3–46 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 4–10–43 Wisconsin–River Falls 9–7–27 Wisconsin–Superior 3–11–44 Wisconsin–Stout 6–8–4
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2011
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 14–3–15 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 8–9–12 Wisconsin–Superior 10–8–06 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–10–13 Wisconsin–Stout 10–8–07 St. Scholastica 4–14–04 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 8–9–1
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2012
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 12–4–25 Wisconsin–Superior 4–7–72 St. Scholastica 9–5–46 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 5–11–23 Wisconsin–River Falls 10–6–27 Wisconsin–Stout 4–13–14 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 8–6–4
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2013
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Wisconsin–Eau Claire 14–3–15 Wisconsin–Superior 6–10–22 St. Norbert 13–4–16 Wisconsin–River Falls 5–9–43 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 8–9–17 Wisconsin–Stout 5–13–04 St. Scholastica 7–10–1
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2014
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 St. Norbert 16–2–05 Marian 10–7–12 Adrian 14–1–36 Concordia (WI) 7–9–23 St. Scholastica 10–5–37 MSOE 6–12–04 Lake Forest 11–7–08 Lawrence 5–12–1
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2015
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference record1 Adrian 16–1–15 Marian 9–8–12 St. Norbert 13–4–16 St. Scholastica 8–8–23 Lake Forest 12–5–17 Lawrence 6–12–04 MSOE 11–7–08 Concordia (WI) 4–14–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
2016
SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference recordN1 St. Norbert 17–2–1S1 Adrian 17–2–1N2 St. Scholastica 12–7–1S2 Marian 15–4–1N3 Lawrence 8–9–3S3 Concordia (WI) 7–10–3
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: Mini-games in italics
Quarterfinals
(S2) Marian vs. (S3) Concordia (WI)
(N2) St. Scholastica vs. (N3) Lawrence
Semifinals
(N1) St. Norbert vs. (S2) Marian
(S1) Adrian vs. (N2) St. Scholastica
Finals
(N1) Adrian vs. (N1) St. Norbert
2017 SeedSchoolConference recordSeedSchoolConference recordN1 St. Norbert 15–4–1S1 Adrian 17–3–0N2 St. Scholastica 10–9–1S2 Marian 12–7–1N3 Northland 9–10–1S3 Lake Forest 12–8–0
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)