ACHA CANCELS 2020 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

TROY, Mich. – (March 12, 2020) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association, the governing body for non-varsity college hockey in the United States, announced today that out of an abundance of caution due to public health concerns regarding coronavirus (COVID-19), it has canceled its upcoming 2020 National Championship Tournament which was set to begin at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas on March 19.

The tournament, which would have crowned National Champions at all five divisions of ACHA play (Men’s Divisions 1, 2, and 3; Women’s Divisions 1 and 2), was also scheduled to hold games at the Children’s Health StarCenters in Plano, Texas and McKinney, Texas over the course of the ten-day event.

“We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel our National Tournament,” said ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett.  “However, the safety of our teams and student-athletes is of paramount concern.  With the recent actions taken by USA Hockey and other major sports leaders, together with the uncertainty regarding the current public health situation, we felt it necessary to be proactive and take this preventative measure to mitigate, suppress, and delay the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).  The ACHA apologizes for any inconvenience; however, we believe we are acting in the best interests of the ACHA’s student-athletes, their families and fans, by taking this extraordinary action.”

“We are extremely grateful to our tournament hosts and sponsors, the Dallas Stars, the Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the City of Frisco, for their support of our event over the past two years,” said Barnett.  “We’re also very thankful to all of the ACHA staff, volunteers, and coaches for their dedication and continued support of ACHA student-athletes and the organization itself.”

The ACHA will continue to provide regular updates regarding the coronavirus and its impact on the ACHA’s upcoming events, including the Men’s Division 3 All-Star Challenge event in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania and the 2020 ACHA Annual Meeting in Naples, Florida.

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