Primarily, the league has been concentrated in New England and Upstate and Western New York, with eleven of its thirteen members over fourteen seasons based in those areas.

Notably, four ECWHL members have left the league in order to transition to NCAA varsity status.

Buffalo, Connecticut, Navy, Vermont and Northeastern all departed while dropping to the ACHA's Division 2, where each remains today.

Bates presently competes in the non-ACHA division of the Independent Women's Collegiate Hockey League.

NCCC left for a non-ACHA conference, the Northeast Women's College Hockey Association, but has since ceased operations.