ANN ARBOR, Mich – 113,411 plus fans crammed the University of Michigan’s football stadium last Saturday to witness the Michigan Wolverines down the Michigan State Spartans 5-0 in an NCAA outdoor hockey game. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) matchup set a world record for attendance at an ice hockey game surpassing the 77,803 plus fans that watched the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship opening game between the USA and Germany in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. That game retains the record for attendance at an indoor hockey match as it was held in a domed soccer stadium.
Linesman Joe Hutek%2C Referees Andy Thackaberry and Jessie Pletch and Linesman and ACHA Division One Commissioner Brian Moran prepare for the ACHA%E2%80%99s D-1 outdoor game
Last Saturday’s NCAA matchup between the Wolverines and the Spartans however wasn’t the only college ice hockey game played on the Olympic sized ice installed in Michigan Stadium. Earlier in the week six member teams of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) were invited to play on the outdoor surface at the big house as part of an intense week of events leading up to the CCHA contest on Saturday. 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 who go to schools without varsity level programs. The ACHA and its over 500 club teams provide non varsity men and women college students the chance to continue to play competitive hockey at the collegiate level. W hile NCAA sanctioned hockey teams have about 3,400 men and women players skating for men and women’s varsity teams at NCAA member schools, the ACHA is made up of over 11,000 players and 500 USA Hockey registered teams across the US. Made up of up of club level teams the ACHA has experienced phenomenal growth over the 20 years since it was first organized. The ACHA sponsors both regular season play and stages playoffs and national championship tournaments in all of its classifications.
Michigan vs. Michigan State Womens ACHA action
On Monday December 6, an ACHA Women’s Division-1 matchup featured Michigan versus Michigan State University in a game won by the MSU women 4-3. Next up on the 7
th two Men’s D-2 club teams also skating for Michigan and Michigan State battled it out with the MSU Spartans winning by a 3-2 margin. Finally on the 8
th two ACHA D-1 teams, the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Eastern Michigan University got their chance to play in the stadium in a game won by UM Dearborn 9-3. Officials for the Michigan-Dearborn versus EMU were assigned by USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program. One of the officials had a vested interest in all of the game’s success as he serves as Commissioner for the ACHA Division One classification as well as for several ACHA D-1 Midwestern based leagues. Moran a former ACHA player in his college days was excited to be on the ice at the big stadium. “I got a big thrill out of skating in the huge stadium and being a part of the festivities. This was a big opportunity for our ACHA student athletes and a real showcase for our level of hockey.” Contact the author at
Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com Related
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