College Hockey Faq

<DIV class=headertext>College Hockey FAQ </DIV>
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<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/NCAAvsACHAFAQ.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>NCAA vs ACHA FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/RecruitmentFAQ.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Recruitment FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/ScholarshipFAQ.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Scholarship FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/JuniorHockeyFAQ.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Junior Hockey FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/Prep-HSHockeyFAQ.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Prep/HS Hockey FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/NCAAClearingHouseFaq.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>NCAA Clearinghouse FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/CollegePlanningTimeLine.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>College Planning Timeline</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/AcademicRequirementsFAQ.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Academic Requirements FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/ApplicationFaq.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Application /Admissions FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/FinancialAidInfo.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Financial Aid FAQ</FONT></A> 
<LI><A href="/contents/Articles/CommunityCollegeTransfers.aspx" target=_blank><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Tahoma>Community College Transfers</FONT></A><FONT color=#0000ff face=Tahoma><EM><STRONG> </STRONG></EM></FONT>
<LI><A href="/contents/faqs/CollegeSelectionFaq.aspx" target=_blank><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>College Selection FAQ</FONT></A></LI></UL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy align=center><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=4 face=Tahoma><STRONG><U>College Hockey Basics</U></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><STRONG>Q: How many different levels are there in college hockey?</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: Men's college hockey in the United States includes NCAA Division I, II and III, ACHA Division I, II and III.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>NJCAA is the junior college division. Women's college hockey in the United States includes NCAA Division I and III, and ACHA Division I and II.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma><STRONG>Q: What’s the difference between NCAA and ACHA?</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: College “Varsity” sports are NCAA sports, and they are funded by the college or university. College hockey programs that are affiliated with the school—but do not take funding from the school—are usually part of the ACHA. Both the NCAA and ACHA are members of USA Hockey.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2><FONT face=Tahoma>Why the difference? Well, In the United States, universities field far fewer ice hockey teams at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) level than most other popular sports. This is partly due to the high cost incurred by the school to run an NCAA Ice Hockey program with the required facilities and legislation such as Title IX that requires colleges to provide equal opportunity to student athletes based on gender.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">   </SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2><FONT face=Tahoma>As a result the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) was established in 1991 to be a governing body for college hockey programs that are not considered varsity sports at their particular school. ACHA programs are required to fund themselves in most cases. The ACHA is growing in numbers every year as more schools across the country continue to form hockey programs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma>Q: Which is more competitive: the NCAA or the ACHA?</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2><FONT face=Tahoma>A: NCAA hockey is extremely competitive at all levels and there are only so many roster spots available at these schools.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>This has lead to the growth of the ACHA or "club" hockey in recent years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#434343 size=2><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=#000000>Q: How is the NCAA organized?</FONT> </FONT></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: The NCAA competes in Men's Division I, II and III and Women's Division I and III. The NCAA does not have a Division II level in women's hockey and only 7 teams compete in Men's NCAA Division II. These teams compete against each other and NCAA Division III teams also.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>There has not been an NCAA Division II National Championship held since 1999.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Tahoma>Q: How is the ACHA organized?</FONT></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: The ACHA competes in Men's Division I, II and III and Women's Division I and II. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma>Q: Does the NCAA give out scholarships?</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: Yes (except for Ivy League schools, which do not offer athletic scholarships). Scholarships are only offered at the NCAA Division I and II levels for men's hockey and the NCAA Division I level for women.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>NCAA Division I schools are permitted 18 full scholarships per team, and Division II schools are allowed 13.5 full scholarships per team.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>These "full" scholarships can be divided into partial scholarships and usually are by most schools. ACHA programs do not offered athletic scholarships for ice hockey. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma>Q: How do college hockey playing rules differ from the NHL playing rules?</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: NCAA and ACHA playing rules vary slightly from NHL playing rules.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Some notable differences are that college hockey plays automatic icing, while the NHL plays touch icing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>NCAA and ACHA players are required to wear a full face shield. Fighting in college hockey is not permitted and carries a two game suspension. Also, the rink size may differ from school to school in the college hockey while all NHL teams play on a standard 200' x 85' sheet. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma>Q: How many schools offer Men’s ice hockey?</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: The NCAA has (58) Division I, (7) Division II and (71) Division III men's programs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The ACHA has (53) Division I, (162) Division II and (140) Division III programs. The NJCAA includes (11) schools.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">   </SPAN>(502) total men's college hockey teams. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma>Q: How many schools offer Women's ice hockey?</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: The NCAA has (34) Division I and (50) Division III women's programs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The ACHA has (17) Division I, (29) Division II programs. (130) total women's college hockey teams.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt" class=headline><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Tahoma>Q: Do college hockey players frequently go on to play professionally?</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt" class=copy><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>A: There are players from both the NCAA and ACHA that continue their hockey playing careers after college as professionals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Elite NCAA players may advance to the NHL or AHL level, while strong players from both the NCAA and ACHA may continue their careers in other professional leagues throughout North America and Europe.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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