The Midwest Collegiate Hockey League was founded in 1951. The league's fouding members were Colorado College, University of Denver, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Tech University, University of Minnesota, and University of North Dakota. The league's membership remained unchanged during its whole existence and all of the members formed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, which was founded in 1959, so the league traces its roots to this league. The league was renamed the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League in 1953.