American Women's College Hockey Alliance

The American Women's College Hockey Alliance debuted in 1997–98. It was a program funded through the United States Olympic Committee/NCAA Conference Grant Program. The AWCHA organized and developed activities with collegiate women's varsity ice hockey teams, and helped to promote women's ice hockey at all NCAA levels. The first AWCHA Division I National Ice Hockey Championship was held in March 1998. The New Hampshire Wildcats defeated the Brown Bears by a 4–1 score, to become the first recognized national champion in women's college ice hockey. There were two more AWCHA National Championships and then the NCAA became involved. In August 2000, the NCAA announced it would hold its first Division I Women's Ice Hockey National Championship. The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs captured the first NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship, defeating the St. Lawrence Skating Saints by a 4–2 tally on March 25, 2001.

American Women's College Hockey Alliance champions

Prior to the NCAA establishing a women's ice hockey championship, the AWCHA held a championship from 1997–98 season to 1999–2000 season. Below are those champions.

• 1998 New Hampshire
• 1999 Harvard
• 2000 Minnesota

Awards

Laura Hurd Award

Main article: Laura Hurd Award

The Laura Hurd Award is given to the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey College Player of the Year, for the best player in women's Division III (the Patty Kazmaier Award is given for Division I play).

Year	Winner	School	Position
2000	Sylvia Ryan	Middlebury	Forward
2001	Michelle Labbe	Middlebury	Forward
2002	Sarah Moe	Gustavus Adolphus	Forward
2003	Angela Kapus	Middlebury	Forward/Defense
2004	Molly Wasserman	Williams	Forward
2005	Laura Hurd	Elmira	Forward
2006	Emily Quizon	Middlebury	Forward
2007	Andrea Peterson	Gustavus Adolphus	Defense
2008	Danielle Blanchard	Plattsburgh	Forward
2009	Kayla Coady	Elmira	Forward
2010	Isabel Iwachiw	Trinity	Goaltender