JOHNS ISLAND, SC-The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) will hold its Division 1 National Tournament in Newark, Delaware March 5-9, culminating in the National Championship game at 7 PM on March 9, 2011. The fifth ranked team in the ACHA D1 current rankings, the University of Delaware, will host the games at on-campus venues Fred Rust and Gold Arenas.
The Blue Hens led by first year coach and former National Hockey League player M.F. Schurman will be skating in 13th ACHA National Championship Tournament. The Championship game on Wednesday night will take place at the Fred Rust facility, an Olympic sized ice sheet (200 x 100 feet).
Photo Courtesy University of Delaware
The Lindenwood University Lions out of St. Charles, MO who posted a 28-2-1 regular season record will seek to make it three national titles in a row despite being upset in their Central States Collegiate Hockey League Playoff Championship game last Saturday night by another participant in Newark, the third ranked University of Ohio. The Lions are also led by a former NHL player Rick Zombo in his first season behind the bench.
The ACHA and its member teams fulfill a unique role for collegiate level men and women hockey players who want to continue to play ice hockey but who do not play varsity level sports or go to schools without varsity level programs. The ACHA and its 445 member teams provide over 11,000 men and women college students the chance to continue to play competitive hockey at the collegiate level, while NCAA sanctioned hockey teams have about 3,400 men and women players skating for varsity teams.
The tournament starts on Saturday, March 5 at 10 AM and will feature eight games on both Saturday and Sunday with four games at each arena on the weekend. Following a practice day on Monday, the semi-final games will be held Tuesday March 8 at the Fred Rust Arena. Game times are at
In addition to top-ranked Lindenwood, other pre tournament favorites include: Number two ranked and three-time defending ACHA Men’s Division 2 National Champions Davenport University (31-6-4). This is the inaugural season for Coach Paul Lowden and his Panthers at the Division 1 level; Number three ranked Ohio University Bobcats (24-6-2), the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Playoff Champions; Adrian College Bulldogs (29-6-2), regular-season champions of the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League; Minot State University Beavers (24-2-3), who went undefeated during regulation time in ACHA D1 action this season; and the University of Rhode Island Rams, regular-season and playoff champions of the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League who boast a record of 30-4-1 coming into the tournament. Rhode Island may have the dean of ACHA coaches in Joe Augustine a two time ACHA Men’s Division Coach of the Year who is in his 22nd season leading the Rams.
In all, 16 teams including five squads making their first D-1 tournament appearances will skate in the event that will crown the 20th ACHA National Champion since the founding of the association. ACHA Men’s D1 Commissioner Brian Moran, himself a former ACHA player, told PHN that “I look forward to March every year, as I get to witness the best ACHA D1 teams across the
There have been six different D-1 champions over the last eight seasons. PHN will be on site for the entire tournament and will provide daily coverage of all games including the National Championship matchup.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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