PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Acrisure Arena, home to the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Coachella Valley Firebirds, an affiliate of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Seattle Kraken, is proud to announce the hosting of the 1st Annual Coachella Valley Cactus Cup 2025, showcasing exciting NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey series. Featuring participating teams including The University of Massachusetts-Lowell, known as the River Hawks, Michigan Technological University, the Huskies, College of the Holy Cross, the Crusaders, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the Mavericks, this inaugural matchup, college hockey fans can experience the excitement of seeing these teams face off on the ice in the iconic greater Palm Springs area. 

The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, Jan. 3, with Holy Cross taking on Omaha at 3:30 p.m. and Michigan Tech playing UMass-Lowell at 7 p.m. PT. The action continues Saturday, Jan. 4, with two more games starting at the same times. The losers of both Friday matches will compete at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the winners will face off at 7 p.m. on Saturday. 

“We are thrilled to host the inaugural Coachella Valley Cactus Cup 2025 at Acrisure Arena,” John Page, senior vice president of Acrisure Arena and Coachella Valley Firebirds commented. “This tournament will feature some of the nation’s most exciting NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey teams, providing fans with an unparalleled experience of high-stakes hockey action. The matchups are set to be intense, showcasing the competitive spirit of college hockey at its finest. We can’t wait to see these teams compete and showcase their talent on our ice.”

“We are truly excited to offer our fans an opportunity to attend the Cactus Cup tournament in Palm Springs, California,” said Norm Bazin head coach of UMass-Lowell. We have teams from four different conferences so it should be hockey for all involved. I know these non-conference games will give River Hawk Nation more to be excited about with the upcoming 2024-25 season.”

“We are very excited to be playing in Palm Springs, California, for this tournament,” Mike Gabinet, head coach of the Mavericks continued. “Having seen the success and enthusiasm of the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, I know this will be one of the best destinations to watch NCAA hockey. Looking forward to sharing this experience with our athletes and fans.”

“We are excited to be headed to the Cactus Cup next winter in Palm Springs, California,” said Holy Cross head coach Bill Riga. “It will be a great opportunity to compete against three great college hockey programs in an unconventional setting that will allow us help to spread the Holy Cross hockey brand and the overall college hockey product all the way to the West Coast. Should be a great weekend and we are looking forward to it.”

“Michigan Tech is excited to travel west for the Cactus Cup,” Joe Shawhan, head coach of Michigan Tech stated. “It’s a great opportunity for our team to play high-quality non-conference opponents, and we have a large alumni base in the area who are looking forward to watching the Huskies in their backyard.”

PRESALE

Presales will be open to the respective teams, students, and alumni from Tuesday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to Thursday, April 18, at 10 p.m. All other fans can participate in the presale from Thursday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

TICKETS

Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, April 19, at 10 a.m. PT at ticketmaster.com, the official ticketing provider of Acrisure Arena. Tickets for the COACHELLA VALLEY CACTUS CUP 2025 provide access to both games scheduled for each day, allowing fans to enjoy a full day of exciting NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey action with just one ticket.