WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross Athletics and the Legends Global-managed DCU Center are pleased to announce they have teamed up to bring college ice hockey to the DCU Center this fall. The Cross City Classic will take place in downtown Worcester on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Holy Cross Crusaders host national powerhouse, the University of Maine Black Bears, in a non-conference matchup.
The contest is part of a two-game weekend series that commences at the Hart Center Rink on Friday, Oct. 2. Tickets for the weekend series will go on presale on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with public on-sale at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
"We are grateful for another opportunity to team up with the DCU Center and provide our community the experience of elite collegiate ice hockey," Holy Cross Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Kit Hughes said. "We look forward to creating an atmosphere at the DCU that showcases Worcester as a hockey town, and energizes our fans in and around Central Massachusetts with such a quality, early season match-up. From a student experience and community investment standpoint, this game is something that has my team and I truly excited."
"The DCU Center is proud of its longstanding partnership with the College of the Holy Cross, which has brought Division I basketball and hockey to the venue and supported our hosting of multiple NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Regionals, most recently in March 2026," said Amy Peterson, General Manager of the DCU Center. "We're excited to welcome the Crusaders back to downtown Worcester for what promises to be an unforgettable night of college hockey for the student-athletes, coaches, fans and entire community."
Maine finished the 2025-26 season with a 18-14-3 record, reaching the Hockey East playoffs. Holy Cross finished the year with a 18-18-2 record, earning home ice for the first round of the Atlantic Hockey tournament.
The two teams last met on Oct. 10-11, 2025, at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine, where Maine took both games of the series. Maine holds a 6-2 lead in the all-time series dating back to 1977.
"We are excited to build our relationship with the DCU Center and the Worcester Railers while playing a top tier college hockey program, the University of Maine, in the heart of our city," said Holy Cross men's ice hockey coach Bill Riga. "We look to continue to bring our brand of hockey into the community and truly become Worcester's college hockey team."
Holy Cross stands 3-3 all-time in men's ice hockey games at the DCU Center, with the most recent contest coming on October 9, 2021, against Boston College.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Holy Cross men's ice hockey season are on sale now, and will include a ticket to the game at the DCU Center.
Single-game tickets for all remaining home games will go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 12 p.m. For further details, fans can email tickets@holycross.edu or call the Ticket Office at 844-GOCROSS.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS
Holy Cross boasts 27 NCAA Division I teams as members of the Patriot League, Atlantic Hockey Association and the Women's Hockey East Association. Holy Cross' athletic teams are tied for first in the nation with an overall graduation rate of 99 percent, the second straight year in which the Crusaders have led the nation and the 15th consecutive year at 97 percent or higher.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS
The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts — the second-largest city in New England — is among the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,100 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition, and is one of only 85 colleges in America that meets 100% of students' demonstrated financial need. Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society since its founding in 1843 by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.
