From humble beginnings, UCO Hockey has worked to establish itself among the elite in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. For the past 18 years, UCO Hockey has climbed the ranks to become a perennial National Championship contender in the ACHA. The University of Central Oklahoma Hockey Team made their debut in 2006 under legendary Head Coach, Craig McAllister. Coach McAllister built a program that has become one of the elite contenders each year in the ACHA Men’s Division 1 rankings. Coach McAllister also was pivotal in the establishment of the Western Collegiate Hockey League in 2013. McAllister lead the Bronchos to two ACHA Men’s D1 National Championships in 2015 and 2017 as well as back-to-back-to-back Western Collegiate Hockey League Championships in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Coach McAllister retired in 2019 and handed the reigns of the program to former player and assistant coach, Micheal Rivera.
Rivera has continued the legacy of the program and Coach McAllister, leading the Bronchos through the global pandemic which cut his first season at the helm short. in 2021, the Bronchos were finally able to hit the ice once more under the guidance of Coach Rivera. In only his second year (first full season due to the pandemic), Rivera lead the Bronchos to their fourth Western Collegiate Hockey League Championship and made a big splash at the 2022 American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship Tournament in which UCO had the opportunity to claim their third National title. Rivera continued his coaching success last season when he lead the Bronchos to their 5th Western Collegiate Hockey League Championship and made a deep run in the American Collegiate Hockey Association 2023 Men’s Division I National Championship. The University of Central Oklahoma Hockey Team looks towards the future and adding to it’s rich history.