The Jim Sapikowski Memorial Tournament was started in 2005, as the Carolina Invitational Hockey Tournament. From October 14-16 in 2005, UNC hosted the Inaugural Carolina Invitational Hockey Tournament. Sponsored by J5 Inc., Stirling Ventures and Tristarrr, all of Chapel Hill, the tournament was described as a "regional celebration of collegiate hockey" and was aimed at bringing talented teams together for a few days each year that would not otherwise play each other.

The 2005 invitational was made complete by attendance from teams from surrounding states, to include Kennesaw State University, University of South Carolina, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, teams which, according to Coach Sapikowski, "represented ACHA and Division II and III at its finest." He believed that it would help to bring a spotlight on collegiate hockey to a part of the country where hockey is growing in popularity, but has had limited exposure to collegiate hockey.

The Tournament was changed to the James Sapikowski Memorial Tournament after May of 2005 when Coach Sapikowski and his wife Alison passed away. The team continues to remember "Big Jim" and hopes to carry on his legacy through this tournament.

The first annual tournament, in 2005, was won by Kennesaw State but was later given to UMBC due to KSU using ineligible players and thus having to forfeit their whole season.

The 2006 tournament saw Temple, Millersville, and Penn State Altoona come to the Triangle Sportsplex for some good, exciting hockey. Penn State took home the honors of winning the tournament.

The third annual James Sapikowski Memorial Tournament in 2007 saw battles with Richmond, Vanderbilt, and South Florida. The team from Richmond took home the trophy.

In 2008, UNC faced Appalachian State, Georgia Tech, and Old Dominion University, taking home the trophy in UNC's first ever championship in the tournament.

This year, UNC will look to repeat its tournament championship against Alabama, South Carolina, Loyola, Tennessee, and Christopher Newport.

2009 Jim Sapikowski Memorial Tournament Schedule

All games are to be played at the Triangle Sportsplex.