AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION TO HOLD INAUGURAL ACHA FALL FACEOFF INVITATIONAL IN LAKE PLACID
Twenty-four teams from five ACHA divisions to compete at Lake Placid’s Olympic Center
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (April 15, 2026) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association is proud to announce the inaugural ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational will take place in historic Lake Placid, New York, from September 18-20, 2026, featuring 24 teams from five ACHA men’s and women’s divisions.
The 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational will consist of 36 games played over three 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.
Each team participating in the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational will 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.
All participating ACHA teams will play at least one game at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena during the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational.
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.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase ACHA hockey in an extraordinary setting,” said ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett. “Lake Placid has a very special, revered meaning in the world of hockey and we expect the participating teams will appreciate the significance of being able to play our great game in such a venerable location. Thank you to the Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Town of North Elba, and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, for partnering with the ACHA to provide such a wonderful opportunity and experience for our ACHA student-athletes.”
The six ACHA Men’s Division I teams participating in the 2026 ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational are Davenport University, Drury University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 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.
The game schedule, including game times and location, will be released at a later date. For more information, 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
