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.”