A History Of Tradition

The Army Black Knights began as an informal collection of inline skaters playing in Central and Northern areas in 1999, using big yellow laundry carts for goals. This loosely organized group eventually coagulated into a formal club in 2000 after receiving founding support from then LTC Kathleen Snook (the original OIC) and ultimately the blessing of then Commandant of Cadets, BG Eric T. Olsen. Without the freedom or funding to enter league play, the early team competed in a handful of loosely organized intercollegiate roller hockey tournaments across the northeast using hand-me-down ice hockey jerseys. The first of these events was a 4-team invitational in October 2000 in Corning, NY.

In 2006-2007, the Black Knights became a competitive club entering the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (ECRHA). By 2009, Army qualified for the D1 National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association, finishing in 6th place after losing to Buffalo 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Army’s continued success in the ECRHA coupled with increasing demand enabled the Cadets to transition from Roller Hockey to Ice Hockey.

In 2012-2013, the West Point club hockey team transitioned to an on-ice team, playing an abbreviated schedule in the American Collegiate Hockey Association(ACHA). The following season, 2013-2014, the club continued its ACHA campaign at the Division II level, finishing the season with a record of 11-1 versus Division II competition. The squad won the Service Leaders of Tomorrow tournament, competing against the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy.”

2024-2025 Season: Regular Season ACHA Northeast #1, Second Trip to Nationals Earned

24.25 Army Club Hockey Nationals with WP Alumns in STL

Army West Point Club Hockey solidified its stature and prominence in the American Collegiate Hockey Association during the 2024-2025 season. The team built off of the loftier plateau earned the prior season and started out this year with 7 straight victories before an overtime loss interrupted three more consecutive victories. Sitting at 9-1, the first ACHA rankings had Army ranked #1 in the Northeast Region. This season saw the men’s club team expand their playing area traveling south to take on teams at North Carolina and NC State University. In December, Army defeated ACHA D1 Navy 7-3 at the Cap Center in Washington DC to conclude the 2024 slate of their season. Becoming a ‘highlighted game’ on most everyone’s schedule, Army continued their strong season performance in 2025 winning four of their last five regular season contests to finish the regular season 18-4-2 (Wins-Losses-OT Loss). Army then won two games in the SECHL post-season tournament advancing to the conference finals before falling in overtime of an exciting and exhilarating championship game.

Ultimately, the strength of the team’s overall season performance and ACHA metrics earned Army the #1 ranking for the Northeast region and thereby automatic qualification for the 16-team ACHA National Tournament held in Maryland Heights, MO just outside of St. Louis.

At the national tournament, in their first game Army staged a dramatic rally to secure an overtime win over Texas. However, injuries began to take a bit of a toll as their bench thinned. In their second contest, facing a 5-minute penalty kill, a shorthanded goal put Army within one late in the 3rd period, but could not hold on for the whole 5-minute PK falling 2-4 to St. Thomas (MN). Their final contest was against powerhouse Liberty University where they battled valiantly before falling 1-3, finishing their second national tournament appearance 1-2. A second consecutive appearance at the national tournament concluded another phenomenal season and established a ‘New Tradition’ for Army Men’s Club Hockey.

COW Robert Staring earned post-season awards of major significance being named to the ACHA D2 First Team All-Athletic as well as being honored as the East Region’s Player of the Year.

Credit and appreciation need to go to the Firstie leadership of Captain Anthony Chambers, Assistant Captain Caleb Kaiser, Jack Sexton, Ben Gaucher, and manager Nathan Wells. Special recognition goes to Anthony Chambers who beyond on-ice leadership was the administrative and organizational force that spearheaded Army Men’s Club Hockey to become a powerhouse program in the SECHL, Northeast Region, and ACHA Division II Hockey.

2024: Army 7 Navy 3, Cap Center, Washington DC – Sing Second!

Army Men’s Club Team Hockey (ACHA D2) continued their winning streak over the Naval Academy (ACHA D1) with a strong 7-3 victory. This was a special event hosted at the home of the NHL Washington Capitals with the game being the first of two as Army Hockey D1 played Penn State University in the nightcap.

2023-2024 Season includes a trip to Nationals!

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The team capped its program-best season winning the SECHL title for the third time. At the Northeast Regionals West Point defeated 2023 national champion, UMass, to secure its first trip to the American Collegiate Hockey Association nationals. They finished 22-6-2 overall, including 1-2 in their maiden trip to nationals.

First game at nationals, they lost 8-5 to tournament-host Lindenwood and fell 6-3 to Liberty University for the second game. Third game the cadets scored an overtime goal, for the win, against the University of Providence 5-4 and concluded Division II Pool C round-robin play at Centene Community Ice Center in St. Louis.

2023 ARMY BEATS NAVY 6-2

In a lively setting on Saturday at Tate Arena, the Black Knights rolled over the Midshipmen 6-2 to extend their winning streak to 10 games. Army was led by its top line of center Caleb Kaiser and wingers Mark Lehman and Charlie Aronov who combined for four goals and nine points.

Lehman, a firstie, collected his third hat trick on the season and now has a team-high 19 goals. Kaiser, a cow, had a shorthanded goal and two assists. And yearling Aronov had three helpers.

The Black Knights, who led 1-0 after the first period and 4-2 through two, also got goals from cow forward Jack Sexton and yearling defenseman Bobby Staring. Plebe goalie Liam Monahan was outstanding in improving to 11-2-2 in his young career.

“Hats off to Navy for a hard-fought battle. It’s always a pleasure going toe-to-toe with their Division 1 hockey team.” Army Captain Anthony Chambers

2022 ARMY BEATS NAVY 4-2

Army West Point beat Navy 4-2 on Saturday in a thrilling environment at the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis. The Division II Black Knights, who improved to 10-1, never trailed in the ACHA showdown against the Division I Midshipmen.

First win over Navy since 2015-2016 season.

Defenseman Robert Staring and forward Erich Marschall (power play) scored to give Army a 2-0 lead midway through the second period before Navy made it a one-goal game with a 5-on-3 power play goal late in the frame. Forward Charles Aronov upped the Black Knights’ lead to 3-1 just 5:25 into the third period and, following Navy’s second goal with 6:53 remaining, forward Caleb Kaiser scored an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Goalie Chris Eno made 22 saves for the Black Knights, who outshot Navy 32-24.

2021-2022 SECHL Champions

In 2022, the Black Knights defeated Clarkson University in overtime to earn their first SECHL championship and move on to the Northeast Regional Tournament. Led by Captain Calvin Mckee (’22), Assistant Captain Will Kiley (’22), and Assistant Captain Jaxon Jones (’22).

2014 ARMED FORCES ACADEMY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

In 2014 the Black Knights are the Armed Forces Tournament Champions.

2009 SUCCESS STORY

The Black Knights maintained a strong presence throughout the 2009 making it to the quarterfinals at the 2009 NCRHA Nationals.

ARMY COMES BACK TO TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2008

After a single year Army comes back to take the NCRHA Championship in a 2-0 win against the University of Missouri-Rolla.

ARMY COMES IN 2ND AT THE FIRST INLINE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT IN KEY WEST

The Black Knights headed down to the beautiful Florida Key’s in 2007 for the inaugural National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Winter Fest Tournament.