THE AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHES A NEW LEVEL OF COLLEGE HOCKEY:
THE AMERICAN COLLEGIATE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
ACDC to provide a non-national-tournament-bound option within the ACHA
TROY, MI (July 22, 2025) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for non‐NCAA men’s and women’s hockey in the United States, today announced the creation of the American Collegiate Development Conference (ACDC), a new level of hockey within the ACHA organization.
The ACHA’s opportunity to create the ACDC was identified by the ACHA Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Lloyd Ney, to foster exploratory college hockey programs which would be created, managed, and overseen by the ACHA as an association-wide initiative and distinct from any single division. The ACDC will include a separate Men’s component as well as a separate Women’s component, each designed to support the continued growth and stability of collegiate hockey under the guidance and care of the ACHA.
“By establishing the ACDC, we position the ACHA as a truly comprehensive, full-service non-NCAA college hockey association—capable of meeting the diverse needs of institutions and student-athletes at all stages of their program development,” said ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett.
Barnett continued, “As outlined in our mission statement, the primary goal of the ACHA is to support the growth of collegiate hockey by establishing standards that unite and guide collegiate programs across the country. Over the past 35 years, the ACHA—working in close partnership with USA Hockey—has grown alongside the sport’s expansion at the youth, high school, and junior levels. As our membership surpasses 500 programs, establishing the ACDC presents us with another opportunity to further our mission.”
Several important needs will be served by the creation of the ACDC. The ACDC developmental tier will allow newly established college hockey programs that may not be ready for the competitive and operational demands of the ACHA’s existing divisions to focus on recruiting, player and coach development, budgeting, travel planning, and building a competitive foundation at a sustainable pace.
The ACDC also provides existing college hockey programs impacted by the current instability of other non-NCAA associations with a stable, long-term home under the proven structure and leadership of the ACHA.
The ACDC Men’s and Women’s Programs will be governed by current ACHA Bylaws and Policies, with ACDC Women’s teams generally aligning with current ACHA Women’s Division II operational policies (with certain exceptions) and ACDC Men’s teams following current ACHA Men’s Division III operational policies (with certain exceptions).
Annual Dues for ACDC teams will be $1,100 per season, which will include USA Hockey registration, membership and insurance and ACHA governance and oversight. ACDC teams would not be eligible for any ACHA post-season tournaments or participation on any ACHA international team.
For additional information about the American Collegiate Development Conference, including how to apply to be a member of the ACDC for the 2025-2026 season, please contact ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett at cbarnett@achahockey.org.
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About American Collegiate Hockey Association
The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) was founded in 1991 and is the national association for Non-NCAA Collegiate Hockey throughout the United States. Our organization of more than 460 colleges and university-affiliated teams representing 48 states provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide. With approximately 13,000 players and coaches as well as countless volunteers and game officials, the ACHA has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade and continues to be a viable option for college bound student-athletes to continue playing competitive hockey nationwide. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth of Collegiate Hockey while emphasizing academic performance, personal development, and opportunities for regional, national, and international competition. The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and will enter its 35th season in September 2025. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
