The University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey team will be part of a late-season tournament that debuts in 2026, UAF Athletics announced Monday.
The United Collegiate Hockey Cup will bring together the five independent (not residing in a conference) Division I hockey teams for a tournament at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri from March 5-7.
The participating programs are UAF, UAA, Lindenwood, Stonehill and Long Island University. The latter three are all new to the NCAA Division I level within the past half-decade. UAF has played all four other programs in recent years. The five-team tournament will include a play-in game, with all teams guaranteed at least two games over the three-day competition as they compete for the United Collegiate Hockey Cup.
“The passion and dedication of these student athletes deserves to be highlighted,” UAF Director of Athletics Brock Anundson said via release. “This tournament is about creating meaningful postseason opportunities and demonstrating the strength of these hockey programs in the NCAA landscape. We’re grateful to Lindenwood and the St. Louis community for hosting this inaugural event.”
Tickets for the United Collegiate Hockey Cup will go on sale Aug. 1, 2025.
The schedule of the tournament does not appear to affect teams’ ability to compete in the 16-team NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship tournament, which typically begins in late March, should they qualify.