Hope's American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) ice hockey team begins a new season tonight when it skates in the annual Schupan Tournament in Midland.

The Flying Dutchmen play Colorado State University at 9:15 p.m. in the first of three games this week.

On Friday, Hope faces California (Pa.) University at 5:30 p.m., then on Saturday skates against the University of Central Florida at 3:15 p.m.

The Flying Dutchmen will count on two returning all-conference players to lead them — junior forward Drew O'Brien of East Grand Rapids (East Grand Rapids HS), and junior defender Caleb Digison of Midland (Midland HS). Both made the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference West Division Second Team last season.

O'Brien and Digison are co-captains for Hope along with junior forward Rob Calvert of Ada (Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern HS) and senior forward Justin Glick of Fort Wayne, Ind. (Blackhawk Christian HS). 

Hope is coming off a 28-6-1 season in which the Flying Dutchmen advanced to the semifinals of the ACHA Division 3 national tournament.