IDAHO FALLS — Before hosting the Mountain Division rival Utah Outliers, Saturday night, the Idaho Falls Spud Kings gathered fans and media to make a massive announcement.
After thanking “Spud Kingdom” for its steadfast support, the team’s general manager, Erik Hudson, announced that Idaho Falls, the Spud Kings and Mountain America Center would be hosting the 2026 Dineen Cup Championships — the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) playoffs.
Between the announcement and puck drop, Hudson told EastIdahoSports.com that bringing the Dineen Cup to Idaho Falls is “a big deal” for the team and city.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “Hosting a national championship at any level is a big deal.”
2026 will mark the eighth Dineen Cup Championship — with no event held in 2020, due to COVID-19.
As it has in the past, the NCDC playoffs will bring the conference’s top four teams, along with fans and scouts to Idaho Falls for a week in April — with the dates yet to be determined. And a huge part of the decision made by the NCDC and its parent organization, the United States Premiere Hockey League (USPHL), to bring the games to Idaho Falls is the atmosphere Spud Kingdom has created — what Hudson called “the best junior hockey fans in the world.”
Tickets will not be available for purchase until dates are determined — during the 2025-26 season.
Tony Zasowski, Deputy Commissioner of USPHL, said that it was an easy decision to make Idaho Falls the first non-East Coast city to host the event.
He said that the league has been impressed with the amount of traction the Mountain Division — which includes the Spud Kings along with teams from Utah, Colorado and Wyoming — has created in its first year of existence. Add in what he called the “first-class facility” that is the Mountain America Center and atmosphere created by Spud Kings fans, and it was the clear choice.
“What it’s really about for these players is, giving them a good hockey experience. It seemed like a logical destination for the first time we’re going to host it outside of the East Coast,” Zasowski said. “I think Idaho Falls is an emerging hockey market.”
He added: “I think people are still learning what the Mountain Division is, and this is a great way to put the spotlight on it for a week in April — to bring out some of the best teams, bring out scouts and the NHL, for everyone to see how great and how special this is.”
On the ice
After the pomp and circumstance of the big announcement, the Spud Kings (26-6-2, 55) grabbed sole possession of the top spot in that Mountain Division, with a 1-0 win over the Outliers (16-12-3, 38).
Celebrating his 19th birthday, goalie Charlie Durkin dominated the night, recording 28 saves in the shutout victory.
For the most part, the defense in front of him scattered those shots put on goal. But Durkin was at his best during a power play less than two minutes into the second period.
During the two-minute penalty kill, Durkin, recently named to the NCDC All-Star Game, turned away four Utah shots to maintain the slim 1-0 advantage Idaho Falls took into the first intermission. The Outliers pushed their chips to the middle of the table for the final minute of the game, emptying the net in favor of a sixth attacker.
But they could muster just one shot on goal, which was sent away by Durkin as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Durkin was tasked with defending that one-goal lead after Tyler Atchison scored the game’s only goal off the assist from William Strickland with 2:43 remaining in the first period.
With their win, Idaho Falls jumped ahead of the Ogden Mustangs (25-7-2, 53), who lost to the Casper Warbirds (9-27-1, 19).
Leading their division, the Spud Kings trail only two teams across the three-division league — the P.A.L Junior Islands (26-6-2, 56), who lead the Atlantic Division, and South Shore Kings (29-3-2, 60), the New England Division leaders.
The Junior Islands (2023) and Kings (2024) are the two most recent winners of the Dineen Cup.
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