The league is based in New York State and has a majority of teams competing in-state along with some from neighboring Pennsylvania and Vermont.

In addition the league was organized into three divisions based on geography to cut down travel.

Before the 2019–20 season, the league left the ACHA and has joined the Collegiate Hockey Federation.

This tier is for new programs in an effort to "provide local area teams an avenue to play competitive hockey while minimizing budgetary impacts and reducing travel costs.

"[1] UNYCHL T2 holds ten teams which compete among one another for a separate league championship.