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Idaho Falls Selected as 2026 NCDC Dineen Cup Championships Hosts

The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is excited to announce that the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) will host the 2026 Dineen Cup Championships in Idaho Falls at the Mountain America Center. This is a first for not only the Eastern Idaho venue but will be the first time this prestigious event will take place in the Mountain Division since its inception. This event will take place at the Mountain America Center in April 2026, with confirmed dates and game times to be released in the future. Tickets for this event will also go on sale next hockey season, with both full playoff packages and single game tickets available for purchase.

“The NCDC is excited to have its National Championship hosted outside of the East Coast for the first time,” said NCDC Deputy Commissioner Tony Zasowski. “This shows the tremendous growth and strength of the league to play in a great city and venue in Idaho Falls.”

Erik Hudson, General Manager of the Mountain America Center and the Idaho Falls Spud Kings excitedly states, “Having been a member of the NCDC for the past two seasons, we have seen the success this league has had as a whole, and it is quite impressive. Competing for a Dineen Cup, the highest honor in the NCDC, is a right that our team does not take for granted here in Idaho Falls. Being selected as the host for the 2025-2026 Dineen Cup is a true privilege, not only for our team, but for the best fans in junior hockey at the Spud Kingdom in Idaho Falls. The Mountain America Center will provide for a world class venue, to showcase some of the best talent in tier II junior hockey, as well for scouts around college hockey to come recruit. We look forward to the planning process of this event and continuing the success of the NCDC as a whole. Go Spud Kings!”

About the Dineen Cup

The Dineen Cup earned its namesake after the late coach Gary Dineen, a driving force in raising the profile of U.S. junior hockey, especially in the northeastern U.S. that had traditionally been dominated by prep school hockey. The Dineen Cup began with the National Collegiate Development Conference’s inception in 2017-18. Learn more at ncdchockey.com/playoffs.

Past Champions

  • 2018: Islanders Hockey Club
  • 2019: Boston Junior Bruins
  • 2020: No event; COVID-19
  • 2021: Jersey Hitmen
  • 2022: Jersey Hitmen
  • 2023: P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
  • 2024: South Shore Kings

Past Hosts

  • 2018: Lawler Rink | Merrimack College | North Andover, Mass.
  • 2019: New England Sports Center | Marlborough, Mass.
  • 2020: No event; COVID-19
  • 2021: Revolution Ice Centre | Pittston, Penn.
  • 2022: Ice Vault | Wayne, N.J.
  • 2023: Northwell Health Ice Center | East Meadow, N.Y.
  • 2024: Foxboro Sports Center | Foxboro, Mass.
  • 2025: Ice Vault, Wayne, N.J.

About Mountain America Center

After opening in November 2022, the Mountain America Center is Eastern Idaho’s gateway for live entertainment! This community gem provides 27,000 square feet of event space within the arena space, along with an additional 11,000 square feet of meeting space in the Blue Cross of Idaho Conference Center. The Mountain America Center hosts the Idaho Falls Spud Kings, a USPHL Junior 

A ice hockey franchise, and hosts a multitude of unique events with the ability to seat 6,000 guests. Our venue welcomed over 250,000 visitors through our doors in our first year of operation, and our dedicated staff strives to provide all guests with a unique and unforgettable experience with each visit. For more information about the Mountain America Center, visit www.mountainamericacenter.com

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