Korea University Men’s Hockey Tour vs ACAC Breaks International Boundaries

Breaking New International Boundaries: ACAC Announces 2024 Korea University Men’s Hockey Exhibition Tour to Evaluate Imminent ACAC Membership Application

January 5, 2024 - In a groundbreaking move, the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to unveil a Korea University (KU) Men’s Hockey Exhibition Tour taking place from January 12-31, 2024. The six-game series promises to be a showcase of the growth of ‘Canada’s game’ in one of Asia’s hottest hockey markets, as well as a celebration of Canadian-Korean international sport friendship.

The Korea University ‘Tigers’ from Seoul will face off against six ACAC Men’s Hockey teams in an illuminating exhibition tour across Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan. A key purpose for the tour is to facilitate an assessment of Korea University hockey whose membership application to compete in ACAC hockey is currently under review. The KU Men’s Hockey program is proposing to relocate to Alberta for 6 months annually to compete as a full member of the ACAC Men’s Hockey league beginning the 2024-25 season. A decision about the application will be announced in May 2024 following the ACAC’s Spring General Meetings. Although these games are played in the midst of the ACAC regular season schedule, they will solely be competed on an exhibition basis this year.

Mark Kosak, Chief Executive Officer of the ACAC, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I know our student-athletes are excited about this but I truly hope local hockey fans will find this as interesting as we believe it will be. How often do we get an opportunity to see a visiting Asian hockey program in Canada?"

KU Men's Hockey Exhibition Tour Schedule

The tour presents a unique opportunity for hockey fans and players alike to evaluate the quality of Korean hockey against elite Canadian post-secondary hockey competition. For those who cannot attend the games in-person, all the action will be streamed on ACACTV where an all-inclusive tour package can be purchased for just $19.99. 

This international series stands as a testament to the ACAC's commitment to growing the game of hockey and providing unique educational experiences for ACAC student-athletes. The high quality of ACAC hockey is expected to attract a broader audience, particularly engaging South Korean hockey fans eager to witness the competitive level of their Korean student-athletes against elite Canadian competition. The exhibition tour additionally provides a valuable introduction to international competition for ACAC athletes exploring hockey careers overseas after graduation. And the South Korea contingent is certain to relish this visit, taking in the beauty of our country and the hospitality of Canadians.

Terry Ballard, ACAC Men’s Hockey Convenor, echoed the sentiment, stating, "This is an outstanding opportunity for our student-athletes to play Korea University and expose them to a true international hockey experience, and we are excited to be able to provide this level of competition to the great hockey fans of Canada. This is a rare chance to watch exciting international hockey live at this level."

As the ACAC and Korea University teams meet on the ice, this exhibition tour shines the spotlight on the emerging growth of hockey in Asia. Fans and curious observers are encouraged to secure an all-inclusive ACACTV tour package for just $19.99 and witness ACAC history in the making!

About ACAC

The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.

For additional information, contact:

Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca 

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