COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey and the American Collegiate Hockey Association announced today a five-year extension of their partnership centered around supporting playing and coaching opportunities for men and women in non-varsity college hockey across the United States.
The agreement includes sustained support of the annual ACHA National Championships by USA Hockey while both organizations will continue to work together to field Men’s and Women’s National University Teams to compete in the World University Games.
The ACHA includes over 500 men’s and women’s teams playing non-varsity college hockey in five divisions at colleges and universities across the United States. The organization has grown from 15 teams in 1991 to its current status today.
“We look forward to what the future will bring with the continuation of our long-standing partnership with the ACHA,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “As our sport has continued to grow, the ACHA has provided an important outlet for women and men to play hockey on college campuses all across the country.”
“The ACHA is proud to continue and solidify the relationship that currently exists with USA Hockey,” said Paul Hebert, president of the ACHA. “Our member institutions and, most importantly, the thousands of student-athletes that play ACHA Hockey annually will continue to reap the benefits of the solid partnership between USA Hockey and the ACHA. We look forward to working closely with USA Hockey in the years to come and to developing new opportunities to promote the ACHA, USA Hockey and the game of hockey itself.”
ABOUT USA HOCKEY
USA Hockey Inc., founded on October 29, 1937, and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., provides the foundation for the sport of ice hockey in America; helps young people become leaders, sometimes even Olympic heroes; and connects the game at every level while promoting a lifelong love of the sport. With more than one million players, coaches, officials and volunteers that span all 50 states, USA Hockey serves as the National Governing Body for the sport in the United States and has important partnerships with the NHL, United States Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation. For more information, visit usahockey.com.
ABOUT THE ACHA
The ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth of collegiate hockey programs nationwide. The ACHA identifies standards, which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level. The ACHA shall emphasize academic performance, institutional sanction, eligibility criteria, standards of play, and opportunities for national competition. The ACHA promotes all aspects of collegiate hockey stressing the personal development of individual athletes as well as national recognition for member organizations. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
