LAKE PLACID, N.Y.— The University of Utah Skatin’ Utes (ACHA DI) return to action this weekend in the ACHA Lake Placid Fall Faceoff Invitational in Lake Placid, New York, from September 18-20, 2026. The Skating Utes will take on North Carolina State, Lehigh and Missouri State in this inaugural showcase in the historic Olympic Ice Center.
THURSDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Thursday, Sept. 17 | 6 p.m. MST
Utah (0-0-0) vs. North Carolina State (1-0-0)
Location: Lake Placid, NY | 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
Game Center: Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
SCOUTING THE ICEPACK
The North Carolina State Icepack opened up their 2026 season with a 4-2 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies. Icepack’s Jack Ammon netted two goals and an assist for three points to start the season. Icepack’s Noah Fitzsimons and Gian Khani also netted a goal each to close out the game. Notably, NCSU’s Daniel Prazma had a three-point night with assists on the Khani and Fitzsimons’ goals.
In the crease, Goaltender Pieter Bartelse finished with a 0.917 save percentage, allowing two goals on 24 shots. Bartelse ended the 2026-27 season with a 9-1 record, only allowing 19 goals out of 225 shots and tallying one shutout.
North Carolina State is coached by Nagib Ward, who enters his first season with the Icepack.
FRIDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Friday, Sept. 18 | 4:15 p.m. MST
Utah (0-0-0) vs. Lehigh (2-0-0)
Location: Lake Placid, NY | USA Rink
Game Center: Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS
The Mountainhawks started their season hot with a 2-0 series win against Sacred Heart Pioneers to start their season. Mountain Hawks’ Devin Gosciak and Connor Wohlfahrt currently lead the team in points with four each. Gosciak totaled three goals and one assist in the series against the Pioneers, while Wohlfahrt contributed one goal and three assists.
Last year’s leading scorers return to the Mountain Hawks lineup in Jesse Heinberg, Matthew Nacinovich, Zach Gruber, and Gosciak, as all four reached the points column this weekend.
Both netminders saw action this weekend for the Mountain Hawks. On Friday night, Lehigh netminder Demetri Condolios stopped 24 of 25 shots on the night. On Saturday, Lehigh’s Emerson Popil turned aside 35 of 36 shots across 60 minutes to secure the victory.
The Mountain Hawks are coached by Josh Hand, who enters his tenth season with the program.
SATURDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Saturday, Sept. 18 | 8:10 a.m. MST
Utah (0-0-0) vs. Missouri State (0-0-0)
Location: Lake Placid, NY | 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
Game Center: Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Missouri State Bears will open up their season in the ACHA Lake Placid Fall faceoff against the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks before facing the Skating Utes. The last time the Bears and Utes met was Utah’s 2025-26 season home opener, where the Utes won with a 7-1 win on Friday night and a 1-0 victory on Saturday to clinch the series victory.
Returning for the Bears are Hunter Bulger and Duke Boccardi, who both led the team in points in the 2025-26 season. Bulger had 22 goals and 23 assists for a combined 45 points. Meanwhile, Boccardi netted 10 goals of his own and added 34 assists for a combined 44 points.
In the crease, the Bears have returners Artur Dzhilavyan and Brady Govero, and added newcomer Dalton Elliott to the roster. Last season, Govero had a 0.916% save percentage with 38 goals allowed out of 453 shots on net.
The Bears are coached by Tom Winkler, who enters his fourth season as head coach with Missouri State.
LOOKING AHEAD INTO 2026-27 SEASON
The Skating Utes are coming off an exceptional 2025-26 season after ending the year with an overall record of 16-10-1 and #13 in the final ACHA M1 National rankings. They will kick off their season campaign at the ACHA Lake Placid Fall Invitational, going against North Carolina State, Lehigh University and fellow WCHL foe Missouri State. The games against North Carolina State and Lehigh will be the first time these teams have met on the ice in program history.
Utah’s offensive team sees the return of Paul Waldhauser and Gion Coray. Waldhauser ended the 2025-26 season averaging 1.64 points per game with 15 goals and 26 assists across 25 games. Coray contributed 11 goals and 26 assists for a total of 37 points. Coray also led the Utes in power-play goals with seven.
Between the pipes, Utah’s Garrett Fuller, Joey Greilich and Tyus Pratley return for the 2026-27 season. Fuller finished the 2025-26 season with a 10-5 record and a 0.909 save percentage. Greilich went 5-4 in 11 games with a 0.902 save percentage and recorded one shutout for the Utes.
The Utes are coached by Morgan Feenie, who enters his sixth season with the program.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can catch all Skating Utes action on the team’s social media. (Instagram: @utahhockey, Twitter/X: @utahhockey, Facebook: www.facebook.com/universityofutahhockey)