Cal Ice Hockey | 2026-2027 Season

The Cal Ice Hockey Team, founded in 1918 and officially recognized as a Varsity Team in 1928, has a distinguished history. After a hiatus during World War II, the program reemerged as a Club Sport and has been competing in the PAC-8 conference since 1996. Our program has consistently excelled, qualifying for the PAC-8 Playoffs and the ACHA Western Regional Tournament, and a nearly undefeated 27-1-0 season in 2024/25. With projected expenses of $200,000 for the 2026/27 season, contributions are crucial for our organization’s growth and sustainability. As the only group in our league without a salaried head coach, your charitable gift enables us to offer a competitive stipend and reduce our $5,000 per player dues, making the team more accessible to talented players.

The 1918 Cal Ice Hockey Team

Without on-campus ice training facilities, your backing helps cover the steep off-campus ice rental charges of $700 per hour, allowing us to increase practice frequency, improve skill levels, and schedule ice slots that better support student academics. Additionally, your funding helps offset high travel costs for league away games and enables us to compete against higher-ranked ACHA teams, enhancing our regional and national standings. Your assistance covers broadcasting fees, ensuring that family, friends, and fans can watch our games remotely. Donations help us purchase essential equipment, update jerseys, and hire professionals for photography, videography, and marketing. 

Celebrating our win in the Big Freeze with Oski (PC: Spencer Lee)

Based on previous budgets and our current plans, we expect to spend approximately 200k in the 2026-2027 season. The majority of our budget is dedicated to rink fees, which cover the costs of renting ice time for practices, games, and travel. Our budgeted expenditures are shown in the graph below.

All estimates are rough only, and actual expenditures may vary. 

 

At UC Berkeley, we don't just face challenges—we build our resilience upon them. Our team's limited financial resources have forged an unmatched discipline and grit that define who we are. Our 6 a.m. practices are a testament to this spirit; while our competitors train three or four times a week, we maximize every moment of our two sessions, driven by a commitment to excel both athletically and academically at a world-class institution. We don't train less; we train smarter, with more heart and hustle. While our ambition has always outpaced our budget, your support can bridge that gap. Your contribution will directly fund more practice time, provide access to better resources, and eliminate the financial barriers that stand between us and the national stage. We invite you to invest in a story of passion overcoming limitation and join us in building a legacy of excellence that proves what the Berkeley spirit can achieve.

Hyping up the crowd during intermission (PC: Spencer Lee) 

All things considered, the most important goal of this fundraising campaign is to expand our impact on the surrounding community. Specifically, our team hopes to invest time and money in hockey outreach events with projects like charity games, summer camps, and youth team mentoring. In closing, your donation will go a long way to help both the team and the communities of Berkeley and Oakland. 

The team standing with the Oakland Bears youth program for the national anthem

Check out our social media!

     Facebook: @cal_icehockey

     Twitter: @calicehockey

     Instagram: @calicehockey

Website: https://calicehockey.com

Feel Free to Contact Us!

liam.collins@berkeley.edu

team@calicehockey.com

Want to make your gift by check, donor-advised fund, or employer matching program? We are happy to help! Please email calcrowdfunding@berkeley.edu and include how you would like to support this project. Our team will provide the appropriate instructions, coordinate gift processing, and help ensure your contribution is credited to this campaign whenever possible. 

An anonymous donor has generously matched $1,000 in gifts to the Cal Ice Hockey team, as a part of their fall crowdfunding campaign. Thank you for fulfilling their match!