Belmont Park, N.Y. – September 30, 2026 -- Long Island University, the New York Islanders and UBS Arena will launch the Empire State Holiday Invitational, a four-team NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament set for December 28-29, 2026, at the Islanders' home arena in Belmont Park. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 2 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.
Four Division I programs will compete over two days at UBS Arena
The inaugural tournament features LIU, Army West Point, Ferris State University and St. Lawrence University. Play opens December 28 with St. Lawrence facing Ferris State at 3 p.m., followed by LIU against Army West Point at 7 p.m. All four teams return to the ice on December 29 for a second day of competition.
LIU commits to annual host role under expanded Islanders partnership
LIU will serve as the tournament's permanent host institution, competing every year as the event becomes a fixture on the college hockey calendar. "We want this to become an event that our teams, fans and the hockey community look forward to every year," said Brendan Riley, LIU Men's Hockey Head Coach. The tournament forms a centerpiece of the broader strategic partnership linking LIU, the Islanders and UBS Arena.
Partnership builds on existing LIU-Islanders infrastructure ties
LIU's Division I men's and women's hockey programs already play home games at Northwell Health Ice Center, the Islanders' official practice facility. The relationship was reinforced when Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky visited LIU as part of the university's Centennial CEO Speaker Series, during which LIU hockey players named him Honorary Captain for the 2026-27 season.