Before there was D2 North and South, College Hockey South D2 was split into East, West and South. CHS merged the East and West divisions to create the North Division prior to the 2023-24 season. 

 

Each division has seven teams. All seven teams from the South Division are in Florida. The North Division teams are in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. 

 

Teams will be added and rearranged in CHS every year, but the North and South Divisions will be a part of the league’s organization in the long run. 

 

Viewers can debate which conference is better in the National Hockey League: Western or Eastern. The CHS equivalent of that debate is North or South. 

 

The Argument for the North by Russ Eddins

The North teams have been in the SECHC since its inception in 2008-09. They have a much bigger and greater history than the South Division’s teams. 

 

CHS North teams have played under the conference for an average of 9.7 years. That is more than double the South's 4.3 average. 

 

The North teams' longevity in the CHS makes them the iconic Division 2 teams. The South teams are too new to the conference in comparison to the North. 

 

While their presence helps CHS grow, fans should remember that the veteran North teams have stuck with the conference for over a decade. 

 

In that time, North teams have amassed over 60,000 followers. That trumps the South's combined following around 25,400. 

 

Overall, the tenure of the North teams is far greater than the tenure of the South’s, and they have more than double the number of followers. The South may have the talent advantage right now, but it comes down to who wins the D2 tournament to see which division is truly better. 

 

The Argument for the South by Taylor Hill

The Division 2 South teams have not gone without their trials and tribulations this season. Their resilience, skills and play styles have taken them to the top of the leaderboard this season.

 

The seven South Division teams are all located in Florida, creating many similarities between the teams. The South has played strongly and aggressively this season, bringing these teams to the top. 

 

After the Fall semester, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida hold first and second place on the CHS leaderboard, respectively. The offense and aggression of both teams helped them skate to the top of the board.  

 

The South has six teams in the top 20 in MyHockeyRankings (MHR) going into the tournament season, while the North only has five. Notably, FAU and UF are the top two teams in MHR. 

 

The Southern teams are excelling when it comes to both CHS points and wins. The South leads with 74 points, but the North drags behind with 71. 

 

The top three South Division teams, FAU, Florida and the University of Central Florida have 20, 16 and 10 points, respectively. In contrast, the top North Division teams, the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University and Clemson University, have 17, 15 and eleven, respectively.

 

When it comes to wins, the South Division also takes the lead. FAU is undefeated with 10 wins, Florida has eight wins and two losses and UCF has four wins, four losses, one tie and one overtime loss. 

 

The South Division’s teams showcase their top-end players who challenge the skills of the North Division through their amazing plays, goal-scoring, and exceptional passing abilities. 

 

These teams' rosters balance those players with other gritty skaters, bringing energy to throw bodies and block shots. This balance defines the team's playing style and allows them to excel against North Division teams. 

 

Overall, most of these teams have played well this season, regardless of whether they are leading in the rankings or not. 

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