CHN Staff Report
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. The five Division I independent programs have finalized plans for a postseason tournament, to be held next March 5-7.
The tournament will be known as the United Collegiate Hockey Cup, and be held at Centene Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo., the venue that hosted an NCAA Regional in 2024 and Lindenwood plays its home games.
Besides Lindenwood, the other four teams are Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Stonehill and Long Island. Notably absent from the list is Tennessee State, the Nashville-based school that has previously announced its intention to start playing this season. Due to funding concerns, that proposition, however, is still up in the air.
This has been in the works for a while, as first noted by College Hockey News during last season. And the schools got together to create postseason “independent” awards for 2024-25.
“The ability to compete for a championship is an important part of every student-athlete’s experience, and we are excited this event will provide that opportunity for each participating program,” said Stonehill athletic director Dean O’Keefe. “We appreciate the St. Louis community welcoming this inaugural event to their region, and we look forward to Stonehill being part of this Division I postseason tournament.”
The five-team tournament will include a play-in game, with all teams guaranteed at least two games over the three-day competition.
“We are thrilled to bring this tournament to the St. Louis market,” Lindenwood athletic director Jason Coomer said. “This event not only provides a competitive platform for our student-athletes but also showcases the growth and quality of independent NCAA hockey programs on a national stage.”
Added Alaska AD Brock Anundson, “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.”
Alaska was 12-14-6 a year ago, and had seasons of 17 and 22 wins the two years prior to that. Long Island finished with over 20 wins and in the 20s in the Pairwise, but will have a new coach next season; Brett Riley took the job at Ferris State and is being replaced by his cousin,…
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