As DI women’s hockey became an established sport, the Eastern College Athletic Conference bloated with members and eventually split into eastern and western women’s leagues. Out of the eastern league five schools banded together under the Hockey East banner and formed the Women’s Hockey East Association (WHEA). With the addition of a sixth team, the WHEA started playing hockey in the 2002-03 season. Since then the conference has expanded to nine members, all of which are located in New England. Over the years the Women’s Hockey East tournament has also expanded, going from a four-team tournament in its inception to six, and then to the best eight in the conference, which is its current form.
Better Know a DI Women’s Hockey Conference: Hockey East Midseason Standings
