2026 Dineen Cup Championship Information
The 2026 NCDC Dineen Cup Championship is set for April 24–28 at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where four teams will compete for the league title. Representing their divisions are the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (Atlantic), Grand Junction River Hawks (Mountain), and South Shore Kings (New England), joined by host team and defending Dineen Cup Champion, Idaho Falls Spud Kings.
In addition to the championship trophy, this year’s title team will earn a significant reward, with $5,000 awarded to each player on the 26-man championship roster, totaling $130,000.
The postseason also features the NCDC Playoff NIL Awards, with $10,000 distributed among top performers. Members of the All-Tournament Team (six players) will each receive $1,000, while the Playoff MVP will earn an additional $4,000.
2026 Dineen Cup Championships Schedule
Dineen Cup Championship – April 24-28, 2026 (all times MDT)
All Games To Be Played At Mountain America Center, Idaho Falls, ID
Double Elimination Format
April 24
2:00 PM – Grand Junction River Hawks vs. P.A.L Jr. Islanders
7:00 PM – Idaho Falls Spug Kings vs. South Shore Kings
April 25
2:00 PM – 0-1 vs 0-1 (Elimination)
7:00 PM – 1-0 vs 1-0 (Winner advances to Final)
April 26:
7:00 PM – 1-1 vs 1-1 (Elimination / Winner advances to Final)
April 27:
7:00 PM – 2-1 vs 2-0 (Final #1)
April 28:
7:00 PM – 3-1 vs 2-1 (Final #2, if necessary)
* = The Mountain Division representative in Game 1 will be either the Mountain Division Champion if the Spud Kings do not win the division championship, or the Mountain Division finalists if the host Spud Kings are the division champions.
About Mountain America Center
After opening in November 2022, the Mountain America Center is Eastern Idaho’s gateway for live entertainment! This community gem provides 27,000 square feet of event space within the arena space, along with an additional 11,000 square feet of meeting space in the Blue Cross of Idaho Conference Center. The Mountain America Center hosts the Idaho Falls Spud Kings, a USPHL Junior
A ice hockey franchise, and hosts a multitude of unique events with the ability to seat 6,000 guests. Our venue welcomed over 250,000 visitors through our doors in our first year of operation, and our dedicated staff strives to provide all guests with a unique and unforgettable experience with each visit. For more information about the Mountain America Center, visit www.mountainamericacenter.com
About the Dineen Cup
The Dineen Cup earned its namesake after the late coach Gary Dineen, a driving force in raising the profile of U.S. junior hockey, especially in the northeastern U.S. that had traditionally been dominated by prep school hockey. The Dineen Cup began with the National Collegiate Development Conference’s inception in 2017-18. Learn more at ncdchockey.com/playoffs.
Past Champions
- 2018: Islanders Hockey Club
- 2019: Boston Junior Bruins
- 2020: No event; COVID-19
- 2021: Jersey Hitmen
- 2022: Jersey Hitmen
- 2023: P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
- 2024: South Shore Kings
- 2025: Idaho Falls Spud Kings
Past Hosts
- 2018: Lawler Rink | Merrimack College | North Andover, Mass.
- 2019: New England Sports Center | Marlborough, Mass.
- 2020: No event; COVID-19
- 2021: Revolution Ice Centre | Pittston, Penn.
- 2022: Ice Vault | Wayne, N.J.
- 2023: Northwell Health Ice Center | East Meadow, N.Y.
- 2024: Foxboro Sports Center | Foxboro, Mass.
- 2025: Ice Vault, Wayne, N.J.