UM-Flint men's club hockey joins ACHA Division I

The University of Michigan-Flint men's club hockey team announced its promotion to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I beginning with the 2025-26 season, marking a significant milestone in the program's history. According to head coach Nick Karstens, the move to the DI ranks reflects the team's commitment to excellence, dedication, and strong support from the university and the Flint community.

"Making the jump from DIII to DI has been a goal of our program for the past decade," said Karstens. "We could not be more excited. With new journeys comes new challenges and we are fully prepared to put in the work necessary to build a strong programmatic culture that not only leads to success on the ice but in the classroom as well."

With the move, the hockey team will become the seventh member of the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League, alongside Northwood University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Toledo, Western Michigan University, and Central Michigan University.

The team, founded in 2007 by Tom Garavaglia, a 2009 graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration, is a part of the Club Sports program within UM-Flint's Department of Recreational Services.

"This is a big day for UM-Flint hockey," said Garavaglia, who also serves as the team's general manager. "When we started, we were the first sports program on the Flint campus. We never could have imagined having the resources available to take this team to the DI level. This is a testament to all the players, coaches and staff that have come and gone throughout the years. They all paved the way for where we are now. Everyone that has ever been affiliated with the university, and the UM-Flint hockey program, should be extremely proud."

The ACHA was founded in 1991 and is the national association for non-NCAA collegiate hockey throughout the United States. With more than 461 college and university-affiliated teams representing 48 states and two Canadian provinces and approximately 13,000 players and coaches, the ACHA has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade. The primary mission of the ACHA is to support the growth of collegiate hockey while emphasizing academic performance, personal development and opportunities for regional, national and international competition.

"As we evaluate the changes and opportunities in college hockey as a whole, the addition of these teams is exciting," said Craig Barnett, ACHA executive director. "These schools made application with strong goals in mind, and now have the ability to compete at the highest level the ACHA offers."

"The team's student officers and coaches have been working hard toward this change," said Julia Stulock, associate director for recreation services. "It's amazing how far the team has come from just a few years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled a whole season. We're really looking forward to the new matchups and rivalries that will be built in the move to DI play."