AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION SIGNS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CRAIG BARNETT TO FIVE YEAR EXTENSION
Barnett set to lead ACHA through 2031
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (May 18, 2026) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for non-NCAA men’s and women’s hockey in the United States, announced today that Executive Director Craig Barnett has agreed to continue leading the organization by signing a five-year extension with the ACHA. Barnett has been the Executive Director of the ACHA since 2018.
As Executive Director, Barnett will continue through at least 2031 to direct the ACHA, which governs over 570 men’s and women’s college hockey teams at hundreds of colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada.
A native of Oakville, Ont., Barnett played college hockey at Plattsburgh State then in the New York Rangers organization. Barnett has coached or directed programs at colleges and high schools, including the University of Findlay, Lake Forest Academy, Becker College, Mercyhurst University, the American Lacrosse Conference, the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. In addition, Barnett has been the NAHL’s Director of Compliance and Education since 2012.
“I’m honored to have the continued support of the ACHA to serve in this capacity for five more years,” said Barnett. “I thank the ACHA Board of Directors for their confidence and support. These are dynamic times in the landscape of collegiate athletics and I look forward to the challenge of providing our student-athletes with a safe and positive environment to play a high level of hockey during their college years.”
“As Executive Director of the ACHA, Craig has represented the organization with dignity and class throughout North America during the past eight years,” said ACHA President Paul Hebert. “Under Craig’s leadership, the number of teams in the ACHA has increased, he’s created more national awareness of the ACHA and its partners, and cultivated new partners for the organization.”
“Craig supports and recognizes the coaches, managers, and other administrators of the ACHA who sacrifice their time and energies for their teams”, added Hebert. “And at the same time, he remains laser-focused on the student-athletes of the ACHA, who play in the ACHA for the love of the game while they pursue their college degree. We are thrilled to have Craig continue leading the ACHA.”
For more information, 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 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.
