Utah awarded ACHA & PAC-8 Tournaments

In 2006, the University of Utah club hockey team returned to ACHA play with a rough start, winning only one game their first season. Fast forward seven years later, and the club team has never been better. The team is winning, playing in front of sold-out crowds, and now the team is receiving recognition on the national stage as well.

The Skatin’ Utes have been selected to host the 2013 ACHA West Regionals and the 2014 Pac-8 Hockey Championships, both of which will be in February of their respective years. Utah, members of the ACHA West Division and new members of the Pac-8 Hockey Conference, is coming off their most successful season as of yet, with 30 regular season wins and their first trip to Regionals last year, where they fell 3-1 to Northern Arizona on the second day of the tournament. With a #6 ranking last year along with a 2nd place finish in the conference, this honor of hosting these tournaments is another accolade for one of the league’s many rising clubs.

The tournaments will be held at the Utah Ice Sheet located at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex. The Complex is a world-class facility which served as an official training venue during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympics. The Utes have called the complex home for the past six seasons, and have seen near-capacity to sold out crowds for most of their games last year at the rink, with capacity at 2,500. This will also mark the first time ever that the Pac-8 Conference tournament will be held in Utah, as the Utes begin their second season in the conference this upcoming season.

The Utes broke a club record for wins in a season last year with 30 wins, which was tied for most in the ACHA with Florida Gulf Coast. With most of last year’s team coming back this year, the Utes look to improve on their 30-9 record and make a charge for Nationals this upcoming season.