BYU Teases Return of Hockey Team After 5-Year Hiatus

The school disbanded the hockey program in 2022 due to Title IX concerns.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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BYU's former hockey team, which competed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, posted a cryptic message on Instagram hinting at a big announcement about the potential return of the program after being disbanded in 2022.

Why it matters

The return of BYU's hockey team would be a major development for the school's sports landscape and the local ACHA club hockey scene in Utah, which includes teams from other state universities.

The details

BYU's hockey team was disbanded in 2022 after the school's Student Life Vice President cited Title IX constraints and a desire to not be involved with a non-officially sponsored university group. The team had been competing since 1996, first as a non-official club and later as an ACHA affiliate. Several other Utah schools, including the University of Utah, Utah State, UVU, and Weber State, currently have ACHA hockey teams.

  • BYU's hockey team was disbanded following the 2021-22 season.
  • On February 12, 2026, the BYU Hockey Instagram account posted a teaser about a 'big announcement coming tomorrow'.

The players

BYU

The private university located in Provo, Utah that previously sponsored a hockey team that competed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

Julie Franklin

BYU's Student Life Vice President who announced the decision to disband the hockey team in 2021, citing Title IX constraints and a desire to not be involved with a non-officially sponsored university group.

American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)

A club hockey league with programs across the United States and Canada, including several other Utah-based schools like the University of Utah, Utah State, UVU, and Weber State.

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What they’re saying

“Students have a wide variety of interests. The university is able to facilitate involvement in some of those, but not all. For several reasons, including Title IX constraints, the university has chosen to not sponsor its own ice hockey team. We also believe it is not helpful to the university to be engaged in an arrangement with a group that is not officially sponsored by the university.”

— Julie Franklin, BYU Student Life Vice President (Email to BYU hockey team officials)

What’s next

BYU is expected to make a formal announcement about the potential return of its hockey team on February 13, 2026.

The takeaway

The return of BYU's hockey program would be a significant development for the school's sports offerings and the regional ACHA club hockey scene, potentially reigniting a rivalry with other Utah universities that have maintained their own club teams over the past five years.