The PCHA, originally named the Southern California Collegiate Hockey Association, began in 1972.
The three charter schools were Cal State Northridge, UCLA and Caltech.
In 2008 San Diego State became the first PCHA team to advance to the ACHA Division 3 National Championship Game but lost to California University (PA).
In the modern era the PCHA champion is awarded the Adams Cup.
2012 Host City: Vineland, NJ Davenport (L 8-2) Robert Morris (W 9-6) Central Florida (W 7-6 OT) Hope College (T 5-5) California (PA) (L 8-6) Alabama (W 7-6 OT) 2011 Host City: Holland, MI Fredonia State (W 4-3) Loyola-Maryland (W 5-4) Saginaw Valley State (W 4-1) California (PA) (W 2-1 OT) National Championship Game- Hope College (W 5-3) 2010 Host City: Fort Myers, FL Florida (W 8-3) Robert Morris (W 7-4) Saginaw Valley State (L 4-1) Central Florida (L 7-4) California (PA) (L 9-2) Lansing Community College (W 8-6) 2009 Host City: Rochester, NY Penn State-Brandywine (W 5-1) Saginaw Valley State (L 7-2) College of the Canyons (W 11-3) Dordt College (L 2-1 SO) Albany (W 6-5) Grand Valley State (L 7-2) Northern Arizona (L 11-3) Georgia Tech (L 9-7) 2008 Host City: Rochester, MN Tennessee (W 5-3) Hope College (W 6-1) Central Florida (W 6-1) National Championship Game- California (PA) (L 7-3) Northwood (W 4-3) California (PA) (L 7-3) Farmingdale State (W 5-4) Hope College (L 4-3) 2007 Host City: Fort Wayne, IN Tennessee (W 9-5) Albany (L 3-2) Northern Colorado (L 8-3) Indiana (PA) (L 3-2) Kennesaw State (L 12-3) California (PA) (W 11-5) San Diego State (W 6-5) Wright State (L 12-4) Indiana (PA) (L 6-4) Central Florida (W 3-2) College of the Canyons (L 6-5) Penn State-Berks (L 3-1) 2006 Host City: Fort Myers, FL Wright State (L 6-1) Indiana (PA) (W 5-4 SO) Central Florida (L 12-1) Pittsburgh-Johnstown (L 9-2) 2005 Host School: California (PA) St. Vincent (W 9-4) Penn State-Berks (L 7-3) California (PA) (W 7-2) Wright State (L 8-2) 2004 Host School: Arizona State Indiana (PA) (L 1-0) Florida Gulf Coast (W 9-4) Radford (W 16-1) Georgia Tech (W 9-2) 2003 Host School: Muskegon Community College Wagner College (W 3-2) Hope College (L 1-0) Tennessee (W 9-7) Georgetown (W 5-4) 2002 Host School: Georgia Tech Georgia (W 4-3) Muskegon Community College (L 5-3) Slippery Rock (L 3-2)