TWO ADDITIONAL TEAMS APPROVED TO AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I FOR 2026-2027
A Record 83 Teams Will Compete in Men’s Division I Next Season
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (November 20, 2026) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), announced today that two additional teams have been approved for Men’s Division I for the 2026-2027 season: Farmingdale State College (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Conn.).
Farmingdale State College and Sacred Heart University currently field ACHA teams at both the Men’s Division II and Men’s Division III levels, while Sacred Heart also fields a team at Women’s Division II.
Farmingdale State College and Sacred Heart University have been accepted as members of the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL), joining current members Canisius University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, and University at Buffalo.
“The current college hockey landscape is dynamic and continues to evolve,” said Craig Barnett, ACHA Executive Director. “The addition of these teams to Men’s Division I, and specifically to the NECHL, is sensational. We look forward to seeing what each program brings to the top men’s division in the ACHA.”
With the addition of Farmingdale State College and Sacred Heart University, there will be a total of 83 teams playing ACHA Men’s Division I in 27 states during the 2026-2027 season.
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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 560 colleges and university-affiliated teams representing 48 states provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide. With approximately 16,000 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 35th season in September 2025. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
