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2024-25 Season Week 15 Preview

Emma Schaeffer

Thanks to this week’s winter storm that has blasted the Southeast with chilly winds and snow, it feels like hockey weather in the South! With the weather setting the scene, it is only right that Week 15 of play will surely thrill. 


Week 15 Clinching Scenarios: 

Alabama is on the brink of claiming the final spot in the Division 1 playoffs. However, rival Auburn still has a slim chance of sneaking in. Auburn will need at least three points in their series against Tennessee to keep their hopes alive; if not, the Frozen Tide will clinch.


Games of the Week: Battle for Boca Raton
Florida Atlantic University (D2) vs. Lynn University (D2) 

The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls will play a home-and-home series against the Lynn University Fighting Knights on the East Coast of Florida, with the winner claiming supremacy in Boca Raton. 


The FAU Owls have had a stellar season thus far, ranked 2nd among all AAU Division 2 teams. With a record of 13-2-1, the Owls hope to stay at the top of their game as playoffs are quickly approaching. 


FAU is riding high off two dominant showings against Florida Southern in Week 14. Across two games against the Mocassins, Owls forward Hunter Litman tallied seven goals and one assist. If Lynn wishes to give themselves a chance, the Fighting Knights must keep a keen eye on Litman. 


Lynn currently sits 26 spots behind FAU in the Division 2 national rankings. The Fighting Knights last saw the Owls in week eight at Battle at the Beach, losing 10-4. It’s been tough sledding for Lynn in divisional games recently, recording one win in their last eight inter-division games.


The Owls will host the first game on Friday, January 24th, at 7:30 PM EST at the Baptist Health IcePlex. The Fighting Knights will host Saturday night’s game at Palm Beach Skate Zone at 7:00 PM EST. 


Kennesaw State University (D3) at University of South Carolina (D3)

The Kennesaw State University (KSU) Owls will travel to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the Gamecocks. South Carolina (USC) ranks third in the Division 3 national rankings, with KSU coming in 14th. 


With nearly two months off due to the Winter Break and three forfeit wins, the KSU Owls are entering the latter half of the season with legs almost as fresh as they were at the start. Eager to return to the ice, the Owls should not be counted out. 


KSU’s only in-conference losses this season have come against a strong Tennessee D3 team. Each of their five conference wins has been by sizable margins of victory. Their offense is formidable, firing from all angles. 


The Gamecocks are undefeated in conference play and have won all other games (except for a tie against UNC-Charlotte to kick off their season). Like KSU, South Carolina’s attack is mighty – both goaltenders must be precise and ready for anything. The offense must remain strong for either team to win, but defense will decide the game. 


The Owls and Gamecocks will face off on Saturday, January 25, and Sunday, January 26.


University of South Carolina (D1) at University of Georgia (D1) 

South Carolina will visit the University of Georgia (UGA) Ice Dawgs in Athens. The Gamecocks and Ice Dawgs met once this season in week two, ending in a 3-3 tie.  


Since that meeting, the Ice Dawgs have been nearly flawless, with just one loss:  the Savannah Hockey Classic Championship Game against the Tennessee Ice Vols. However, Georgia bounced back two days later to defeat Tennessee in overtime. 


The overtime win against Tennessee was Georgia’s first game at their new home: the Ford Akins Arena in downtown Athens, GA.


The defending national champion Gamecocks started the season 9-1-0-1 but hit a rough patch to end the fall semester. South Carolina finished 4-3-0-1 to conclude 2024 and fell from first to third in the Division 1 standings. South Carolina kicked off 2025 with a 5-3 win over Boston College.


The first game is set for Friday, January 24. The teams will meet again on Saturday, January 25. Both games will be held at Athens Arena at 7:30 PM EST. 


University of Tampa (W) vs. University of South Florida (W)

The annual invasion of José Gaspar and his band of pirates is set for this weekend in Tampa Bay, Florida. The Gasparilla Classic is held as part of the festivities. Two Tampa teams will face off to claim the booty – or victory: the University of South Florida (USF) Lady Bulls and the University of Tampa Lady Spartans. 


Just a few miles separate these familiar foes. The Lady Bulls and Lady Spartans met in Week 13, where Tampa won 3-1. At the time of their victory over the Lady Bulls, the Lady Spartans moved up in the College Hockey South standings to tie their Tampa neighbor in second place. 


The Lady Bulls have since taken second place back and have a record of 8-3. Tampa has only played six games but is undefeated. With the teams two points apart in the standings, this game will be a battle for position – and bragging rights – in the Bay Area. 


The Lady Bulls and Lady Spartans will take the ice at Nest Hockey Academy at 9:45 PM EST on Thursday, January 23. 


Clemson University (D2) at Georgia Institute of Technology (D2) 

Georgia Tech has had an up-and-down season, with an overall record of 4-11-1 but a division record of 3-2-0-1. After coming up short in both games at the Savannah Hockey Classic, the men of Georgia Tech will fight to get back in the win column. 


The Clemson Ice Tigers have just gotten their season underway. With a strong 3-1 start, the Tigers came out swinging with two massive victories in their opening weekend against the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and then an impressive series split against Middle Tennessee State last weekend.


Outscoring UAH 24-2 after two games, 14 different Clemson skaters recorded at least one goal. Ethan Callahan led the charge; he netted a hat trick in the first game and a fourth goal in the second to conclude his weekend. Teammates Santiago Diaz and Cade Heinold also stood out among the pack, earning three goals and two assists across both games.  


Clemson and Georgia Tech will face off at the Atlanta Ice Forum on Friday, January 24, and Saturday, January 25. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM EST on both nights. 


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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