It was held between March 18 and 20, 1948, and concluded with Michigan defeating Dartmouth 8-4.
This inaugural tournament possesses two distinctions beyond being the first of its kind: it was the championship with the fewest games played (3) with all succeeding tournaments having a minimum of 4 games.
Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions.
The teams were selected by a committee based upon both their overall record and the strength of their opponents.
All matches were Single-game eliminations with the semifinal winners advancing to the national championship game.