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O F F THE D R AW p U S A H O C K E Y N E W S , P E O P L E & P R O G R A M S The ECHL's opening night on Oct. 16 features the debut of the expansion New Mexico Goatheads, who return profes- sional hockey to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, for the first time since 2008-2009, when they host the Idaho Steelheads. AHL The AHL's regular season begins with eight games on Oct. 2 — the earliest start date since the 2009 season. All 32 teams will be in action on Nov. 7 — 90 years to the day after the first games in league history were played on Nov. 7, 1936. The Hershey Bears and Springfield Thunderbirds will square off in a matchup of the league's two longest AHL histories. The Carolina Hurricanes begin their defense of the Stanley Cup on Sept. 29 against the Florida Panthers as part of a tripleheader broadcast on ESPN to begin the 2026-27 season. SEPT. NHL PWHL Celebrating its 52nd year, the NAHL is the oldest USA Hockey-sanctioned junior hockey league and will begin its season on Sept. 11 with the Maryland Black Bears, the 2026 Robertson Cup champion, taking on the Philadelphia Rebels. All 36 NAHL teams will play in the 23rd annual NAHL Showcase on Sept. 23-26 at the Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. NAHL ECHL OCT. LET'S DROP THE PUCK DIV. I MEN'S COLLEGE Men's college hockey returns Oct. 2, and the University of Denver will raise its 2026 NCAA National Championship banner to the rafters of Magness Arena prior to its official home opener against the University of Michigan on Oct. 16. DU has won a NCAA record 11 national titles. Professional, College And Junior Hockey Teams Set To Hit The Ice The ACHA has been providing non-varsi- ty options for college students to play hockey at the collegiate level since 1991. Students in 49 states will start hitting the ice in September across the ACHA's five divisions. The PWHL had not released its 2026-27 schedule as of press time. The fourth season of the PWHL will feature 12 teams, including four expansion fran- chises: Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose. SEPTEMBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 9 ACHA PHOTOS COURTESY OF Getty Images; University of Wisconsin, Sioux Falls Stampede Women's college hockey begins Sept. 18, and the University of Wisconsin will begin its pursuit of a third consecutive national title when it begins the season on the road against the St. Lawrence Saints on Sept. 25-26. The University of Minnesota Duluth is the last team to win three straight national championships. DIV. I WOMEN'S COLLEGE The USHL's 25th season as USA Hockey's only Tier-I junior league begins with each team, including the 2026 USHL Clark Cup cham- pions Sioux Falls Stampede, playing two games during the 11th annual USHL Fall Classic (Sept. 16-20) in Chicago. USHL WATCH: USHL 2026 Fall Classic Schedule Release Gvl5tVwm2p4