Lehigh University Athletics
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY WINS 2025-2026 ACHA MEN’S D1 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
5/20/2026 11:01:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey (ACHA D1)
The 2025‐2026 American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division I Community Service Award goes to Lehigh University, as selected by ACHA Men's Division I leadership and staff.
In Fall 2025, twenty-six student-athletes from Lehigh Hockey volunteered at the Bethlehem Running Festival, a three-day event featuring five races and approximately 2,400 runners in Bethlehem, Pa. The Lehigh Hockey student-athletes operated a water station during the event, helped set up tables, water containers, and trash bins along the course, and prepared cups filled with water and UCAN for the runners. As participants passed by, the team distributed water and electrolytes while offering encouragement and support to help keep runners motivated. At the conclusion of the event, the Lehigh Hockey volunteers worked together to clean up by collecting discarded cups, gathering trash bins, disposing of extra water, and packing up the tables.
The Lehigh University hockey team continued its tradition of supporting a local special needs athlete from the Lehigh Valley Polar Bears by welcoming him as an honorary team member for the 2025-2026 season. This season's special needs athlete, Richard, regularly attended Lehigh Hockey practices and games, received signed jerseys, and developed meaningful relationships with the players. In turn, the Lehigh Hockey team proudly supported Richard by attending his special needs hockey games. Additionally, the Lehigh Hockey team traveled to the PPL Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., where Richard's high school hockey team was playing their first playoff game and celebrated his achievement of being able to play in a state playoff game after the contest. Richard became a large part of the Lehigh University hockey team's culture and his constant enthusiasm and positive presence at games and practices brought the Lehigh Hockey team even closer together.
Throughout the 2025-2026 season, Lehigh University hockey student-athletes also participated in practices for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms youth hockey teams. Lehigh players played an important role in keeping practices organized and ensuring that each young athlete remained active, engaged, and continuing to build their skills. Lehigh Hockey team members helped demonstrate drills, offered guidance during activities, and supported the volunteer coaching staff in maintaining a structured and productive practice environment. Beyond helping run drills, Lehigh players embraced the opportunity to serve as mentors, building positive relationships with the youth players and encouraging their passion for the game. By sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for hockey, the Lehigh student-athletes created a fun and supportive environment that helped young athletes develop both their skills and their love for hockey.
Lehigh University hockey also organized a Little Leaders Program, in which young players from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms youth organization were given the opportunity to take part in the Lehigh Hockey game-day experience throughout the 2025-2026 season. During warmups, the Little Leaders joined the Lehigh team on the ice, skating alongside players and getting a firsthand look at the preparation and excitement leading up to puck drop. The experience continued during pregame introductions, when each Little Leader was paired with one of the Lehigh starters and remained with them on the ice as the starting lineup was announced. For the Lehigh players, the Little Leaders Program was a rewarding opportunity to serve as role models and help inspire the next generation of athletes within the Lehigh Valley hockey community.
In March 2026, every member of the Lehigh University hockey team volunteered at the Dewey Fire Company, a volunteer fire department located in Hellertown, Pa. During this event, the Lehigh student-athletes helped clean and organize common areas, power-washed the deck, removed cracked and peeling paint from the walls, and completed several other maintenance tasks and projects around the firehouse that would otherwise take valuable time away from the volunteers' emergency response duties. The experience not only helped improve the appearance and functionality of the fire company, but also gave the Lehigh Hockey team members a greater appreciation for the dedication of first responders, especially those who volunteer their time.
Other community events the Lehigh University hockey team participated in during the 2025-2026 season were Shinny USA at the Steel Ice Center in Bethlehem, Pa., Lehigh University's annual Bed Races, Lehigh University's annual Turkey Trot, and the Lehigh University Pace the Prez event, a weekly four-mile run hosted by Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble, which allowed team members to connect with university leadership and fellow members of the Lehigh community in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
The University of Arizona was named as the first runner-up for this year's ACHA Men's Division I Community Service Award while Missouri State University was the second runner-up. Central Michigan University received Honorable Mention recognition.
Lehigh University, along with the other Division winners will be the finalists for the 2025-2026 ACHA National Community Service Award, which will be announced at the 2026 ACHA Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
