By: Matthew Salvi, Spring 2026 Intern

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) is returning to the Nexus Center in Utica (Section III) once again to host its 21st Annual Girls Ice Hockey Regional Championship on Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21.  
 
The event is a one-division event with qualifiers from four regions. Semifinal play kicks off on Friday at 3:00 pm then the second semifinal at 5:00 pm. On Saturday at 11:00 am, winners will meet for the Regional Championship.  
 
“On behalf of NYSPHSAA and the girls ice hockey committee, we are honored to hold this event once again in a super state-of-the-art facility in the Nexus Center,” said Carl Normandin, NYSPHSAA Girls Ice Hockey State Coordinator. “Earning a spot in the NYSPHSAA Girls Frozen Four is a tremendous achievement and over the upcoming weekends of competition, these teams will have proven they represent the very best of girls ice hockey in New York State. We are thrilled to showcase this championship at a great venue and celebrate the dedication, talent, and passion of these remarkable athletes.” 
 
The Nexus Center has hosted this event since 2023 and will continue hosting through 2027. The 169,440 square foot facility opened in 2022 and is home to Utica University’s men’s and women’s teams as well hundreds of youth tournaments each year.  
 
In 2025, Adirondack United (Section 2) went home with Regional Championship title defeating two-time champion Skaneateles (Section III), 3-1.  It marked the second straight year Adirondack won the crown and will return in 2026 to go for a third. Skaneateles, which won titles in 2022 and 2017, returns to the event again along with Potsdam (Section X) and Clarence-Amherst-Sweet Home (Section VI).  
 
Tickets can be purchased online at www.gofan.co/NYSPHSAA. The cost is $13.60 (including fees) for a single day. The event will be streamed on the NFHS Network, the official broadcasting partner of the NYSPHSAA State Championships.