The University of Michigan–Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) is a public university in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded in 1959 with a gift from the Ford Motor Company, it was initially known as the Dearborn Center, operating as a remote branch of the University of Michigan. The branch gradually developed into a fully-fledged university over the years. Upon receiving its own accreditation in 1970, the university changed its name to the University of Michigan–Dearborn, while still adhering to the policies of the University of Michigan Board of Regents.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a college ice hockey association. The ACHA's purpose is to be an organization of collegiate affiliated programs, which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes quality in collegiate ice hockey. The ACHA currently has three men's and two women's divisions and includes approximately 450 teams from across the United States and Canada. Most ACHA teams offer few athletic scholarships and typically receive far less university funding. The ACHA offers an opportunity for college hockey programs that struggle with large budgets and Title IX issues, as an alternative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) financial structure.