AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION RELEASES GAME SCHEDULE FOR INAUGURAL ACHA FALL FACEOFF INVITATIONAL
Thirty-six games to be played over four days at Lake Placid’s Olympic Center
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (June 1, 2026) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association has released the game schedule for the inaugural ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational, which will take place in historic Lake Placid, New York, from September 17-20, 2026.
The 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational will consist of 36 games played over four days and feature six Men’s Division I teams, six Men’s Division II teams, four Men’s Division III teams, as well as four teams each from Women’s Divisions I and II. The ACHA has partnered with the Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Town of North Elba, and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism to bring this special event to fruition.
The six ACHA Men’s Division I teams participating in the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational are Davenport University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, Missouri State University, North Carolina State University, and University of Utah. Representing ACHA Men’s Division II at the event are Lindenwood University, Michigan State University, Siena University, University of Tampa, Virginia Tech, and Weber State University. Rounding out the men’s teams at the event are four ACHA Men’s Division III teams: Central Maine Community College, Grand Canyon University, Oakland University, and Sacred Heart University.
The four ACHA Women’s Division I teams participating in the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational are University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Michigan, Penn State University, and University of Utah. Finally, the four teams from ACHA Women’s Division II at the inaugural event are Ohio State University, Providence College, United States Naval Academy and University of St. Thomas.
Each team participating in the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational is scheduled to play three games at the world-renowned Olympic Center in Lake Placid, home of the legendary “Miracle on Ice” from the 1980 Winter Olympics, where Team USA captured gold and inspired a nation. The Olympic Center, which includes the 1932 Jack Shea Arena, the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, and the USA Rink, has recently undergone extensive renovations. The village of Lake Placid itself has also seen exciting updates and continues to serve as host to numerous high-level hockey events, including the ECAC Hockey Men’s and Women’s Championships, the Adirondack Winter Invitational, and USA Hockey Women’s summer camps.
The 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational will get underway at 8:00 PM on Thursday, September 17th, with M1 North Carolina State University taking on M1 University of Utah at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena. Thirty-six games later, the event will conclude at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena at 8:00 PM on Sunday, September 20th, when M3 Central Maine Community College will tangle with M3 Sacred Heart University. Thirteen games will be played at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, twelve games will be played at the USA Rink, while the remaining 11 games will be played at the 1932 Jack Shea Arena.
2026 ACHA FALL FACEOFF INVITATIONAL GAME SCHEDULE
GAME TIME AWAY TEAM HOME TEAM RINK
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2026
8:00pm M1 Utah M1 North Carolina State 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
10:00am M2 Virginia Tech M2 Lindenwood USA Rink
10:15am M2 Siena M2 Tampa 1932 Jack Shea Arena
11:45am W2 St. Thomas W2 Navy 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
12:45pm M3 Sacred Heart M3 Grand Canyon USA Rink
1:00pm M1 Missouri State M1 Indiana Pennsylvania 1932 Jack Shea Arena
2:30pm W2 Providence College W2 Ohio State 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
3:30pm M1 Davenport M1 North Carolina State USA Rink
3:45pm M3 Central Maine CC M3 Oakland 1932 Jack Shea Arena
5:15pm W1 Utah W1 UMass 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
6:15pm M1 Utah M1 Lehigh USA Rink
6:30pm M2 Michigan State M2 Weber State 1932 Jack Shea Arena
8:00pm W1 Penn State W1 Michigan 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
10:00am M3 Oakland M3 Sacred Heart USA Rink
10:15am W2 Navy W2 Providence College 1932 Jack Shea Arena
11:45am M1 Missouri State M1 Utah 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
12:45pm M3 Grand Canyon M3 Central Maine CC USA Rink
1:00pm W2 Ohio State W2 St. Thomas 1932 Jack Shea Arena
2:30pm M2 Virginia Tech M2 Siena 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
3:30pm W1 Michigan W1 Utah USA Rink
3:45pm M1 North Carolina State M1 Indiana Pennsylvania 1932 Jack Shea Arena
5:15pm M2 Tampa M2 Michigan State 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
6:15pm W1 UMass W1 Penn State USA Rink
6:30pm M1 Lehigh M1 Davenport 1932 Jack Shea Arena
8:00pm M2 Weber State M2 Lindenwood 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
10:00am M2 Weber State M2 Virginia Tech USA Rink
10:15am W2 Providence College W2 St. Thomas 1932 Jack Shea Arena
11:45am M1 Davenport M1 Missouri State 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
12:45pm M2 Lindenwood M2 Tampa USA Rink
1:00pm W1 Penn State W1 Utah 1932 Jack Shea Arena
2:30pm M1 Indiana Pennsylvania M1 Lehigh 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
3:30pm M2 Michigan State M2 Siena USA Rink
3:45pm W1 UMass W1 Michigan 1932 Jack Shea Arena
5:15pm M3 Grand Canyon M3 Oakland 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
6:15pm W2 Navy W2 Ohio State USA Rink
8:00pm M3 Sacred Heart M3 Central Maine CC 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
For more information about the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational, please contact ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett at cbarnett@achahockey.org.
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About Olympic Regional Development Authority
Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. The Olympic Authority operates Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore Mountains, Mt Van Hoevenberg, the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval, the Olympic Jumping Complex, and the Olympic Center. As host to international, national, regional and local events, the Olympic Authority’s venues are destinations and economic catalysts of the regions it serves. For more information, visit orda.org.
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 450 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 is entering its 36th season of play in August 2026. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
