Clarksville Will Host Veterans Day Cup Tournament
The annual hockey event brings four college teams to the Ford Ice Center this November.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Hockey
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College Hockey South will hold its sixth annual Veterans Day Cup on November 14-15, 2026. The four-team tournament will take place at the Ford Ice Center in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Why it matters
The tournament serves as a key platform for College Hockey South to honor military veterans through competitive collegiate athletics. Opening matchups will determine the schedule for the championship and third-place games.
Middle Tennessee State University enters as the defending champion after securing a 13-1 victory in the 2025 title game. Kennesaw State University enters the series with an average of 4.75 goals allowed per game.
The players
College Hockey South
This organization oversees competitive collegiate hockey programs across the southern United States.
Middle Tennessee State University
The university fields a competitive hockey program that won the 2025 Veterans Day Cup.
Kennesaw State University
This institution operates a collegiate hockey team that finished as the 2025 championship runner-up.
Austin Peay University
This university participates in collegiate hockey and is based in the host city of Clarksville.
Eastern Kentucky University
The university maintains a collegiate hockey program that will participate in this year's tournament.
The details
The event features Middle Tennessee State University, Kennesaw State University, Austin Peay University, and Eastern Kentucky University. These four programs will compete over two days to decide the final rankings, with the tournament structure prioritizing high-stakes matchups on the concluding day.
Timeline
November 14, 2026: Opening tournament games occur.
November 15, 2026: Championship and third-place games take place.
Season Trajectory
This tournament serves as a major benchmark for regional rankings as teams compete to improve their standing before the remainder of the season. Success here offers a momentum boost for programs like Austin Peay as they navigate their 2026-27 schedule.
The tournament schedule forces a quick turnaround for teams, placing immense pressure on depth and goalie rotations during the two-day event. For observers, the championship outcome provides a direct indicator of which programs are positioned to lead the regional standings moving into 2027.
The takeaway
The Veterans Day Cup highlights how regional collegiate hockey fosters both athletic development and military appreciation. Spectators should monitor the defensive metrics of participating teams, as tight scheduling often leads to high-scoring outcomes in the final round.
What happens next
Kennesaw State University and Austin Peay University are scheduled to play a follow-up match in Clarksville on January 29-30, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local matchups on the Hockey section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MTSU Sidelines.
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