ACHA events back to ‘Heartland of Hockey’

Image: Enterprise Center, Stephen Yeargin, CC BY-SA 2.0

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for non-varsity collegiate hockey in the United States, announced recently that it has selected St. Louis (Missouri, US) as the site for the ACHA National Championships presented by FloHockey (a live and on-demand hockey streaming platform) in 2025, 2027 and 2028.

‘St. Louis Blues’ stated that the ACHA will also have an option to bring the event to St. Louis in 2026.The culminating event of the ACHA season will be hosted by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the St. Louis Blues.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is an organization of almost 450 colleges and university-affiliated programs which provides structure, regulates operations and promotes the quality of collegiate ice hockey throughout United States. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth and development of college hockey programs nationwide. The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and entered its 33rd season in September 2023.

St. Louis (US)-based the St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately-funded nonprofit organization that grows, strengthens and moves St. Louis forward through sports. The organization uses the power of sports to enhance the area’s quality of life and generate economic and social benefit for the St. Louis region.

New York (US)-based the National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams – 25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season.

The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference.

The St. Louis Blues have been a part of the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1967. During more than 50 years of operation, the organization has established itself as one of the premier professional sports franchises in the country. With a Stanley Cup, 10 division titles, a President’s Trophy, and more than 20 former team members enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Blues have etched one of the most storied histories in the NHL. Through their history, the Blues have hosted more than 35 million fans and have invested millions in the St. Louis community via Blues for Kids, the team’s charitable foundation.

The Enterprise Center is an 18,096-seat arena located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Its primary tenant is the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL).

‘St. Louis Blues’ further stated that each of the announced editions of the ACHA National Championships presented by FloHockey will be played at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

The 4,500-capacity Centene Community Ice Center is a multipurpose facility in Maryland Heights, Missouri in greater St. Louis. It is located off Highway 141 near Hollywood Casino St. Louis and the 20,000-capacity Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Built at a cost of $83 million, the complex opened in September 2019.

The Centene Community Ice Center previously hosted the 2022 ACHA National Championships and will host the upcoming 2024 ACHA National Championships presented by FloHockey from March 7^th through March 17^th, 2024. The 2025 ACHA National Championships presented by FloHockey will be played from March 13^th through March 25^th, 2025 at the Centene Community Ice Center.
 
The dates for each of the upcoming ACHA National Championships events in St. Louis, including the option year of 2026, are as follows:

• The 2024 ACHA National Tournament – March 7^th-17^th, 2024;
• The 2025 ACHA National Tournament – March 13^th-25^th, 2025;
• The 2026 ACHA National Tournament (Option Year) March 12^th-24^th, 2026;
• The 2027 ACHA National Tournament – March 11^th-23^rd, 2027; and
• The 2028 ACHA National Tournament – March 9^th-21^st, 2028.

 
The Centene Community Ice Center, which opened in September 2019 and is managed by the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation, is the practice facility for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues as well as the home of Lindenwood University’s (private university in St. Charles, Missouri) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs.

The St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation was set up to provide individuals from across the St. Louis region – with an emphasis on its youth – with the opportunity to develop their skills in ice sports in a setting that fosters personal growth and excellence. As St. Louis’ flagship ice sports facility, the Centene Community Ice Center ensures the region’s ability to attract major ice sport events and tournaments that contribute to economic development and job creation while strengthening ice sports throughout their communities. In these and related endeavors, they champion the value inherent in ice sports: Commitment, good sportsmanship, teamwork, personal integrity, and respect for others and self.

Indianapolis (US)-based the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student-athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States and Canada. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges and helps over 500,000 college student-athletes who compete annually in college sports.

The Maryville University Hockey Center (hockey rink) in nearby Chesterfield, Missouri, hosted overflow games and practices during the 2022 ACHA National Championships and will do so again for the ACHA’s future National Championship events.

Commented Craig Barnett, ACHA Executive Director, “Based on discussions with the team representatives at the recent ACHA Annual Meeting regarding locations for our National Championships for 2025 and beyond, our members clearly enjoyed the hospitality and convenience offered by St. Louis. Knowing that, it just made perfect sense to seek a longer-term commitment in St. Louis at the Centene Community Ice Center. The St. Louis Sports Commission and the St. Louis Blues are committed to hosting the ACHA’s marquee event, and we trust the ACHA student-athletes, coaches and fans will have a tremendous s experience on and off the ice in the Heartland of Hockey.”

Added Chris Roseman, St. Louis Sports Commission Senior Vice- President, “A tremendous partnership has developed with the ACHA, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Sports Commission, and our two outstanding venues to make the St. Louis region a recurring, popular host of the ACHA National Championships. Along with the local hockey community, the Centene Community Ice Center and the Maryville University Hockey Center, we are proud to welcome the ACHA back to the Heartland of Hockey in 2025 and beyond, and we will deliver a first-class experience for these excellent men’s and women’s collegiate hockey clubs to compete for a national title in St. Louis.”

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• American Collegiate Hockey Association
• St. Louis
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