Junior Colleges With Hockey Programs

According to an article in the "Community College Times," more than half of U.S. community colleges offer collegiate sports. As of 2010, there were 10 colleges in the National Junior College Athletic Association that offer men's ice hockey. Playing junior college ice hockey is a realistic alternative to playing in the NCAA. If your game is not quite ready for the “The Frozen Four,” which is the NCAA's Division I championship tournament, then considering the two-year options at a NJCAA school could be the next best thing.

  1. SUNY Canton

    • The University of New York, Canton's ice hockey program has captured 14 national championships. The university is a public, co-educational, residential college located along the banks of the Grasse River.

      SUNY Canton is close to the Adirondack Mountains, the St. Lawrence River and the Canadian cities of Montreal and Ottawa. The hockey program offers 16 scholarships, and walk-ons always are welcome. The SUNY Canton Kangaroo's play in the NAIA's Sunrise Conference, which allows student-athletes to play their chosen sport for four years.

      SUNY Canton NY
      34 Cornell Drive
      Canton, NY 13617
      315-386-7123
      admissions@canton.edu

    Erie Community College

    • The Erie Community College Kats play in Region III of the NJCAA and the Western New York Athletic Conference. ECC teams compete against two-year and four-year institutions across the country.

      In 2010, the men's ice hockey team won the Region III ice hockey championship for the second year in a row. They have appeared in 16 NCJAA national tournaments all told. In 2010, it was were runner-up at the tournament. ECC has three campuses located across Western New York.

      Erie Community College
      121 Ellicott St.
      Buffalo, NY 14203
      716-851-1219
      ecc.edu

    Dakota College at Bottineau

    • The website for the the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks recently touted the team as the nation's best small college hockey program. With four consecutive national titles to its name and eight overall, it is hard to argue with its boosters.

      Only about 300 students roam the campus at Botineau, and at least half that number play varsity sports. The hockey team attracts student athletes from European countries, Canada and the United States. If you are interested in playing for the Lumberjacks, simply fill out their recruiting form online.

      Dakota College at Bottineau
      105 Simrall Blvd.
      Bottineau, ND 58318
      701-228-5488
      dakotacollege.edu

    Monroe Community College

    • The Monroe Community men's ice hockey team began play in 1999. The MCC Tribunes play their home games on Campus at the Sports Centre at MCC. The complex includes four ice rinks, an equipment store, restaurant and conference rooms.

      The Tribunes play in the Western New York Athletic Conference. They ended up in the semifinals at the 2010 NJCAA Championship. Their semifinal appearance helped MCC clinch second place in the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators Cup race.

      The NATYCAA awards are given out based on how much success an athletic program achieves at the championship level. MCC won the award in 2006 and 2007.

      Monroe Community College
      Athletics-Bldg.10 Rm.136
      Rochester, NY 14623
      585-292- 2088
      monroecc.edu