LAKE PLACID, N.Y.— The University of Utah Skatin’ Utes (ACHA WI) return to action this weekend in the ACHA Lake Placid Fall Faceoff Invitational in Lake Placid, New York, from September 18-20, 2026. The Skatin’ Utes will take on University of Massachusetts, Michigan and Penn State in this inaugural showcase in the historic Olympic Ice Center.
FRIDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Thursday, Sept. 18 | 2 p.m. MST
Utah (0-0-0) vs. UMass (0-0-0)
Location: Lake Placid, NY | 1980 Herb Brooks Arena
Game Center: Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN
The University of Massachusetts will open up its 2026-27 season against Utah at the ACHA Lake Placid Fall Faceoff Invitational. The Minutewomen finished the 2025-26 season with a 19-8-1 record and at the top of the Independent conference standings for Women’s Division 1.
UMass forward Ivorie Arguin led the team in points with 22 on 6 goals and 16 assists. Arguin is followed by Hannah Gromko, Gromko led the team in goals with 12 and recorded 8 assists. Gromko had two power-play goals and two game-winning goals.
Between the pipes, UMass netminder Sarah Matthews returns to the Minutewomen for the 2026-27 season. Matthews recorded a 14-8-1 record over 24 games with a 0.947 save percentage and 5 shutouts. Matthews also recorded a total of 1,447 minutes for the team across the 2026-27 campaign. Minutewomen’s Sophie Shipton held a 5-0 record across six games for UMass. Shipton allowed nine goals across 173 shots on net.
Massachusetts ended the 2025-26 season ranked No. 11 on the final ACHA rankings.
SATURDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Saturday, Sept. 19 | 1:30 p.m. MST
Utah (0-0-0) vs. Michigan (0-0-0)
Location: Lake Placid, NY | USA Rink
Game Center: Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
The Wolverines ended the 2025-26 season ranked No. 14 on the final ACHA rankings with a 12-9-2 record. Michigan sees the return of two productive goal scorers in Emily Maliszewski and Katie Cummings. Maliszewski returns for her fifth year after playing in all 24 games and finishing the year with 21 points on 6 goals and 15 assists. Cummings also played in all 24 games and finished the year with 18 points on 5 goals and 13 assists.
The Wolverines have three returning netminders in Avery Schiff, Paris Heiserman and Emma Jones. Michigan added newcomer goaltender Rylee Hoffsinger to the roster this season.
The Wolverines are coached by Drew Maliszewski, who enters his first year as head coach after being in the assistant coaching position. In addition, Maliszewski has coached Little Caesar’s 19U T2 and Compuware U12 AAA.
SUNDAY’S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Sunday, Sept. 20 | 11 a.m. MST
Utah (0-0-0) vs. Penn State (0-2-0)
Location: Lake Placid, NY | 1932 Jack Shea Arena
Game Center: Click Here
Broadcast: Click Here
SCOUTING THE ICE LIONS
The Penn State Ice Lions are coming into the ACHA Fall Faceoff with a 0-2 record after falling 8-1 and 7-1 against Niagara last weekend. The Ice Lions finished the 2025-26 season ranked No. 21 in the Final ACHA W1 polls.
Penn State’s Captain Katherine Willey returns to the ice this season for the Lions. Last year, Willey led the team with 21 points on 15 goals and six assists. Willey averaged 1.24 goals per game, leading the team with her offensive playmaking.
Penn State’s goaltender Alexis Riley returns for the Lions for the 2026-27 season. Riley ended the 2026-27 season with a 6-7 record over 15 games played and a 0.920 save percentage. The Ice Lions added netminder Cecilia Keys to the roster this season.
Penn State is coached by Vince Vituccio, who enters his fourth season with the Ice Lions.
LOOKING AHEAD INTO 2026-27 SEASON
After an incredible 18-8-2 record last season, the Skatin’ Utes are opening up their 2026-27 season at the ACHA Lake Placid Fall Faceoff at the historic Olympic Ice Center in Lake Placid, New York.
Offensive playmakers returning for the Skatin’ Utes this year are Sonia Charman, Kendall Ketchum and Katherine Zeschuk. Across 28 games played, Charman averaged 1.21 points per game on 16 goals and 18 assists for a total of 34 points. Ketchum ended the 2025-26 campaign with 26 points on 12 goals and 14 assists— averaging 0.93 points per game. Zeschuk finished the year with 26 points on 9 goals and 17 assists across 28 games.
In between the pipes, Utah’s Keyauna Robinson-Prefontaine returns for the Skatin’ Utes. Across 11 games played, Robinson-Prefontaine ended the 2025-27 season with a 8-3 record, a 0.925 save percentage and two shutouts. Utah also added two more goaltenders to the roster this season in Lauren Barnum and Farrah Weaver.
Utah is coached by Rodney Stedt, who enters his fourth year as head coach. Stedt served as Assistant Coach and Goalie Coach from 2021-2023 for the Skatin’ Utes.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can catch all Skatin’ Utes action on the team’s social media. (Twitter/X: @utahWhockey, Facebook: www.facebook.com/universityofutahhockey)