2024 ACHA Nationals Preview for Utah M1 – University of Utah Hockey

Follow the Skatin’ Utes quest for Murdoch Cup below:

March 6, 2024 St Louis, Missouri

After thousands of miles of interstate travel, 28 regular season games, 16 wins, 10 losses, 2 Overtime losses, 104 goals for, 93 goals against, a #12 seed in National Rankings, 2024 WCHL Head Coach of the Year Honors, the Utah Men’s Division 1 team is ready for the 2024 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s Division 1 National Championship Tournament. The tournament kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 9:15 AM MST with #12 Utah versus #21 Missouri State. Both teams are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey League. The Western Collegiate Hockey League leads the way with eight (of 10) of its member teams ranked, while Midwest College Hockey has four (of 7) of its member teams ranked, Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League has four (of 10) of its member teams ranked, and Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has three (of 8) of its member teams ranked.

With their first National Tournament birth since the team moved to Division 1 in 2016, the Skatin’ Utes look to harness their offensive power from point leaders #11 Che Landikusic (16G, 15A), #24 Ethan Light (13G, 15A), #29 Benjamin Mickel (16G, 9A), #15 Landon Langenbrunner (11G, 14A), #8 Jacob Slater (9G, 13A), and Captain Dylan Dix (8G, 14A). In addition to their offensive prowess, special teams have been a strength for the Utes. Through the regular season, the Utes have managed a 19.7% on the Power Play, good for 5th in WCHL, on 117 Power Play Opportunities. More impressive is their 82.0% on the Penalty Kill, 3rd in the WCHL, behind #3 Central Oklahoma and #5 UNLV.

In the pipes, Joey Greilich has had the majority of ice time. With 1406 minutes played and a 12-8-1 record, 1 shotout, and a 89.1% save percentage. The team earned regular season wins against #3 Central Oklahoma and #5 University of Nevada Las Vegas. Additionally, the team has a season split against #13 Arizona, a 3-1 record against #17 Grand Canyon, a season split versus #15 Calvin University, and a overtime decision against #14 Grand Valley State.

The 24 team tournament, now in its 33rd season of action, have a total of 14 schools that have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: •Penn State University (5 times) •Lindenwood University (4) •Ohio University (4) •Minot State University (3) •Adrian College (2) •North Dakota State University (2) •University Central Oklahoma (2) •University of Illinois (2) •Arizona State University •Davenport University •Iowa State University •Oakland University •University of Delaware •University of Rhode Island

Over the past 20 seasons, 12 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood University (4), Minot State University (3), Adrian College (2), University of Central Oklahoma (2), University of Illinois (2), Arizona State University, Davenport University, University of Delaware, Oakland University, Ohio University, Penn State University, and University of Rhode Island. The 2024 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships will be hosted for the second time at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri and hosted by the St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Sports Commission. This will be the first year of the 24-team format.

2023-2024 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #16
Rank	School Name	M1 Record	Previous	Conference
1	Minot State	26-6-1	1	INDEP
2	Adrian	26-5-0	2	GLCHL
3	Central Oklahoma	26-5-2	3	WCHL
4	Jamestown	24-8-0	5	MCH
5	Nevada-Las Vegas	23-6-2	4	WCHL
6	Maryville	23-9-2	7	INDEP
7	Liberty	19-8-1	6	INDEP
8	Ohio	23-7-4	8	INDEP
9	Niagara	19-8-1	9	ESCHL
10	Mary	22-12-1	10	MCH
11	Purdue Northwest	27-5-1	11	GLCHL
12	Utah	16-10-2	12	WCHL
13	Arizona	15-13-1	16	WCHL
14	Grand Valley State	20-8-2	15	GLCHL
15	Calvin	21-8-2	13	GLCHL
16	Illinois State	22-11-1	14	MCH
17	Grand Canyon	17-13-1	17	WCHL
18	Indiana Tech	25-9-1	18	WHAC
19	Delaware	16-8-4	21	ESCHL
20	Pittsburgh	19-12-2	20	ESCHL
21	Missouri State	13-16-2	19	WCHL
22	Colorado	13-11-2	25	WCHL
23	Indiana Pennsylvania	22-7-2	NR	CHMA
24	Oklahoma	14-12-2	22	WCHL
25	McKendree	17-13-1	NR	MCH

Full Bracket show here:

Fans can follow the Skatin’ Utes on their quest for the Murdoch Cup below:

About American Collegiate Hockey Association The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) was founded in 1991 and is the national association for Non-NCAA Collegiate Hockey throughout the United States. Our organization of more than 460 colleges and university-affiliated teams representing 48 states provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide. With approximately 13,000 players and coaches as well as countless volunteers and game officials, the ACHA has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade and continues to be a viable option for college bound student-athletes to continue playing competitive hockey nationwide. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth of Collegiate Hockey while emphasizing academic performance, personal development, and opportunities for regional, national and international competition. The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and entered its 33rd season in September 2023.