WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Acadia University's Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that Acadia University has been awarded hosting rights for the 2022 U SPORTS Men's Hockey National Championship, referred to as the University Cup following the pandemic cancellation of the 2020 University Cup in which Acadia was the host.
This will be the fifth consecutive U SPORTS National Championship to be hosted by Acadia, beginning with the 2016 women's soccer championship, the 2018 Final 8 men's basketball championship, the 2018 women's rugby championship, the 2020 University Cup and this season's National final in men's hockey.
Acadia University will partner with Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A) to stage the University Cup in 2022, with the Acadia Axemen serving as hosts.
S|E|A is no stranger to attracting U SPORTS championship events to Nova Scotia's capital. The Halifax-based company has partnered with Acadia University for the 2018 Men's Basketball Final 8 and last season's cancelled University Cup event at the Scotiabank Centre.
Chris Larsen, President Sports & Entertainment Atlantic, said, "We are honoured to be entrusted by our partners at Acadia and U SPORTS to complete the circle from the unfinished 2020 University Cup. Larsen continued, "Hockey fans throughout Nova Scotia and beyond will again be entertained by these outstanding student-athletes as the eight best university hockey teams from across the country will face off at Scotiabank Centre for the National Championship."
University Cup has been previously hosted twice by S|E|A, bringing record numbers of fans for the University Cup into Scotiabank Centre, including setting the attendance record for any U SPORT championship when 43,513 fans attended the 2016 University Cup.
"We are so thrilled to be partner with S|E|A and Acadia University to host the top athletes from across the country for the U SPORTS University Cup," said Carrie Cussons, president & CEO of Scotiabank Centre. "We know it will be action-packed tournament that will bring loud and loyal fans to Scotiabank Centre and create a buzz and excitement in our downtown. We can't wait to host in 2022!"
The Axemen, who captured two national championships during the 1990s and have been a perennial Top 10 program over the last two decades, will host the men's hockey national championship for the first time. Acadia's President and Vice-Chancellor, Peter Ricketts, said that the right to host the University Cup is a reflection on the program's success.
"Acadia and all AUS hockey fans will be thrilled that we will host the U SPORTS men's hockey championship in Halifax in 2022. We thank U SPORTS and its membership for allowing Acadia and our partner, Sports & Entertainment Atlantic, to bring the U Cup back home," says Acadia President and AUS Board Chair, Dr. Peter Ricketts.
Under Axemen head coach Darren Burns for the past 19 seasons, the Axemen have not missed post-season play in the last 16 years. Burns views the hosting opportunity as a show of confidence in Acadia's program and the great local and provincial fan interest in U SPORTS hockey.
"Our program is very excited for the opportunity to host this prestigious event. Our players and staff realize how important this is to our university, alumni and our fans here in the valley and we look forward to the challenge of vying for a national championship," said Burns.