AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION EXPANDS PROSPECT SHOWCASE SERIES IN 2026
TROY, MI (Dec. 10, 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 it will continue its Prospect Showcase Series in the spring of 2026 and adding additional sites to the series.
The 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series has been expanded and will now be held at seven sites across the United States:
April 24-26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois
May 29-31, 2026 in Fargo, North Dakota;
June 5-7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri;
June 12-14, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina;
June 26-28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada;
July 10-12, 2026 in Lynchburg, Virginia; and
July 31-August 2, 2026 in Adrian, Michigan.
In addition, an eighth site for the Prospect Showcase Series is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series is intended to help educate prospective men’s and women’s student-athletes and their families about the ACHA as the largest collegiate hockey association in the world, while also providing exposure for those prospective student-athletes to ACHA teams and coaching staffs.
Student-athletes interested in participating in the 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series can register at https://www.capperhockeyservices.com/pages/register-lnbvdnfi.
The 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series will focus on High School and Junior Hockey men’s and women’s prospects (i.e., student-athletes with 2005-2010 birth years) that are looking to continue their competitive hockey careers while attending college. Since the inception of the ACHA Prospect Showcase Series two years ago, 122 Series participants are now playing men’s college hockey at 83 different schools and 25 past Series participants are now playing on 15 different women’s college hockey rosters.
The ACHA has once again partnered with Capper Hockey Services to develop and manage the 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series and will be joined by many of the 500-plus ACHA college hockey programs to conduct each event. The 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series “weekend experience” at each site will consist of:
- Competitive hockey
- Ladder of hockey development options
- Education of college hockey landscape
- Academic preparation for college hockey
- Exposure to coaches from all 5 divisions of ACHA hockey
Prospective student-athletes will play three (3) games as well as one (1) practice run by ACHA coaches. ACHA coaches will also be coaching on the benches and communicating directly with prospects during the games.
An educational seminar for prospective student-athletes and their families on the ACHA will take place on Day Two of each ACHA Prospect Showcase to discuss options for prospective student-athletes to consider including all levels of ACHA hockey, junior hockey, NCAA Division 1 hockey, and NCAA Division 3 hockey. The ACHA will also conduct a College Fair at each ACHA Prospect Showcase to permit prospective student-athletes and their families the opportunity to speak directly with ACHA coaches and university representatives.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the growth of our ACHA Prospect Showcase Series and the opportunities it creates,” said ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett. “We’re not only delivering a premier exposure event for our ACHA members—we’re also helping prospective student-athletes and their families better understand the ACHA and the incredible pathways available to them. The engagement from our coaches has been remarkable. They’re hands-on with prospects: running practices, coaching from the benches, and representing their schools at the college fair. Every part of the Showcase is designed to spark real connections between prospects, their families, and ACHA programs.”
Barnett continued, “We’re equally grateful for the partnership with Capper Hockey Services and ACHA alumni Joe Caprio. Their leadership has been vital to the success of these events.”
“We could not be happier to have another ACHA Prospect Showcase in Adrian. Capper hockey has done a fantastic job in putting on a high-quality event, for both the players and the coaches in attendance,” said Gary Astalos, Head Coach of Adrian College, ACHA Men’s Division I. “It is also great to see that the showcase opportunities and locations continue to expand, just like the ACHA as you see more campuses all over the country, continuing to join the American Collegiate Hockey Association.”
“The ACHA has seen a ton of growth this past year, with deeper competition, more exposure, and more schools investing in their hockey programs,” said Anthony Vignieri-Greener, Head Coach of University of Nevada-Las Vegas, ACHA Men’s Division I. “The ACHA prospect events have been a major boost to helping this growth. We were able to identify and successfully recruit a standout player directly from the showcase, which speaks to the quality of talent coming through that pipeline.”
“Capper Hockey Services has re written the standard for prospect showcases,” said Matt Parker, Head Coach of Lake Superior State University, ACHA Women’s Division I. “Very few showcases allow you as a player and parent the opportunity to actively engage coaches from around the country on a frequent basis. From informational seminars to sitting in the stands, Capper Hockey Services provides a top tier showcase experience for the whole family. As coaches we have the opportunities to get on the ice and coach. It’s a unique, fun chance for players to get a little flavor of a lot of different coaching styles. If you are thinking about a weekend well spent as a player and family, find one of the unique locations!”
“The substantial growth of the ACHA – not only in size, but in structure and competition level, has been awesome to see over the last year with the recent rule changes,” said Dave Rathgeber, Head Coach at Montana Tech, ACHA Men’s Division II. “Capper Hockey Services capture the influx of new talent with the ACHA Prospect Showcase Series – no region is neglected with their locations, which really helps capture talent from across North America. Their showcases have been a cornerstone of our recruiting efforts, and we’ve been successful in bringing talented players to our school two years straight.”
“The ACHA showcases that Joe Caprio and Capper Hockey manage are top notch and the locations he picks provide an array of opportunities for coaches and prospects alike,” said Lindsey Ellis, Head Coach of Arizona State University, ACHA Women’s Division I. “They really help prospects and families around the country understand ACHA hockey and what our league is about on a grand scale. As coaches, we are able to showcase our program and university to prospects. The growth of ACHA is not slowing down anytime soon and these showcases play a major role in that growth.”
“Over the past year, I’ve had a great experience recruiting at the ACHA Prospect Showcases managed by Capper Hockey Services, said Matt Nelson, Head Coach at Purdue University, ACHA Men’s Division III. “We’ve identified some truly talented players – high character kids who are genuinely excited about the opportunity to join Purdue University’s ACHA program. Events like these are vital for programs like ours as the ACHA continues to grow more competitive each season. With more junior-level players choosing the ACHA route, showcases like these play an increasingly important role in helping us stay ahead of the curve and build a roster capable of competing at a national level. Just as importantly, they help connect players with outstanding educational opportunities at universities like Purdue, where they can pursue top-tier academics while continuing their hockey careers.”
“We are super excited to partner with Capper Hockey to host one of the ACHA prospect events. We believe we can help showcase the best of what the ACHA has to offer,” said Kirk Handy, Head Coach at Liberty University, ACHA Men’s Division I. “Hosting these events allows not only players to connect to programs and schools but it also allows us coaches to identify top talent that will directly impact our programs for years to come. With the landscape changing the ACHA is continuing to get more and more competitive and be a great option for those to continue their academic and athletic careers.”
Additional information about the 2026 ACHA Prospect Showcase Series, including registration instructions is available at https://www.capperhockeyservices.com/pages/register-lnbvdnfi.
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 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 entered its 34th season in September 2024. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
