After a long summer, players have rejoined their teams on campus and are gearing up to hit the ice for the first time in the 2024-2025 season. With an action-packed opening weekend, teams have a clean slate and look to start strong in their season openers.
Game of the Week: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (D2) vs. University of Florida (D1)
The first game of the week of the new season is an interstate matchup featuring the University of Florida Gators and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Ice Eagles.
Game one of the weekend series will occur Friday at 7:00 p.m. EST at Daytona Ice Arena.
The Gators are looking to start this season like they ended the one prior: with a win. They come into the season as the defending Division 2 AAU College Hockey National Champions; however, they have jumped from Division 2 to Division 1 this season.
The Ice Eagles are coming off a season full of highs and lows. They finished the season with an overall record of 10-14-2. Despite making it to the national tournament in March, the team could not make it out of pool play.
But it’s a new season. Every team is back on a level playing field.
Game two will be Sunday at 1:45 p.m. at Community First Igloo in Jacksonville, Florida.
This week’s game of the week will be streamed on YouTube. Watch the game here.
University of South Carolina (D1) vs. University of North Carolina (ACHA)
Another National Champion is set to hit the ice this weekend when the South Carolina Gamecocks hit the road to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels.
This is a first-time matchup between the two teams. The Tar Heels are members of the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (AACHL) and compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2.
Despite entering the national tournament ranked No. 7, the Gamecocks conquered the odds and went undefeated to be crowned AAU College Hockey D1 champions. Forward John Riggins returns for his junior season fresh off winning Most Valuable Player at the national tournament as he hopes to lead the Gamecocks offense to a solid start to the season.
The Tar Heels finished with an overall record of 18-7-1 last season and are now playing under new head coach Steven Rice, a retired NHL veteran. They opened their season this past week with a 3-1 win over the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons.
The Tar Heels cruised through their season opener, outshooting the Demon Deacons 32-18
The first game is set for Friday, Sept. 6, at the Orange County Sportsplex, with puck drop at 10:15 p.m.
University of Alabama (D1) vs University of Alabama-Huntsville (D2)
The University of Alabama Frozen Tide opens their season at home with an in-state series against the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers.
The Frozen Tide will be led by defenseman Matthew Keoshkerian and center Dylan Dreveny, who both represented College Hockey South as part of the gray team at the All-Star Challenge in the spring.
Alabama was invited to the AAU D1 Nationals but did not advance out of pool play.
The Chargers made it out of pool play at D2 nationals as a wild card team before their playoff run ended. With all-star goaltender Cameron Crawford graduating, the Chargers must be strong defensively to keep the puck out of their net.
Game 1 of the series begins Friday, Sept. 6, at 6:45 p.m. CDT at Pelham Civic Center. Black Dog Hockey will stream the game.
Georgia Tech (D2) vs Florida State University (D3)
After facing off on the gridiron in Dublin, Ireland, the Yellow Jackets and Seminoles shift their rivalry to the rink for a pair of games in the Atlanta metro area. Georgia Tech’s football team scored the victory over Florida State in Dublin, and the hockey team looks to follow suit as they kick off their 2024-2025 campaign.
Despite the Yellow Jackets' winning finish to the regular season last year, the team did not advance to the national tournament. Seven seniors graduated last season, leaving the Yellow Jackets to look to newcomers for production.
The Seminoles finished with an overall record of 7-9 last season but had finished strong with a 4-0 shutout to end the season against Lynn University.
The series will occur at the Atlanta Ice Forum on Friday, Sept. 6, and Saturday, Sept. 7, at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Auburn University (W) vs Georgia Southern University (W)
Georgia Southern University's women’s team is slated to make its College Hockey South debut Sunday, Sept. 8, against the Auburn University Tigers.
The Ice Eagles will be led on the ice by Lena Whitwell, the team's founder. GSU student and long-time hockey player Lilah Dima, who has 20+ years of experience, will coach behind the bench.
The Tigers, entering their third season as a team, hope to build upon two strong developmental seasons. Allison Forsythe (26) led the way for the Tigers last season with four goals and three assists in just six games played.
The game will be played at Columbus Ice Rink at noon EST.
ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 30-school, 50 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.
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