FIVE ADDITIONAL TEAMS APPROVED TO AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I FOR 2025-2026

A Record 82 Teams Will Compete in Men’s Division I Next Season

UNION LAKE, Mich. – (November 11, 2024) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), announced today that five additional teams have been approved for Men’s Division I for the 2025-2026 season: Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant, Mich.); Siena Heights University (Adrian, Mich.); University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio); University of Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.); and University of Michigan-Flint (Flint, Mich.).

Four of the five institutions currently field ACHA teams, with Central Michigan University, University of Cincinnati, and University of Kentucky competing at the Men’s Division II level while University of Michigan-Flint competes in Men’s Division III.  With Concordia University Ann Arbor announcing it will cease athletics following the 2024-25 school year, the current ACHA Men’s Division I hockey operations at Concordia University Ann Arbor will transfer to Siena Heights University.

Central Michigan University and University of Michigan-Flint have been accepted as members of the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL), Siena Heights University has been accepted as a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), and University of Kentucky has been accepted as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Hockey League (ACCHL).  The University of Cincinnati will begin play as an independent.

“As we evaluate the changes and opportunities in college hockey as a whole, the addition of these teams to Men’s Division I is exciting,” said Craig Barnett, ACHA Executive Director. “These schools made application with strong goals in mind and now have the ability to compete at the highest level the ACHA offers.”

These five teams will join four other teams previously approved to join Men’s Division I for the 2025-2026 season: Hope College (Holland, Mich.); North Carolina State University (Raleigh, N.C.); University of Louisville (Louisville, Ky.); and University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.).

With the addition of Central Michigan University, Hope College, North Carolina State University, Siena Heights University, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Michigan-Flint, and University of North Carolina, there will be a total of 82 teams playing ACHA Men’s Division I in 26 states during the 2025-2026 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 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 entered its 34th season in September 2024. For more information, visit achahockey.org.