2025-26 Season Week 16 Preview

Next up in College Hockey South, a slate of contests that promise action and plenty of it- with teams getting their moment to shine on the big stage. This weekend makes history, beginning with the 16th edition of our Game of the Week.

Game of the Week: Embry-Riddle Ice Eagles (M3) vs UCF Knights (M3)

The UCF Knights will travel to Daytona to take on the ERAU Ice Eagles in a two-game series that promises action-packed hockey between two teams looking to rise in the CHS standings. Sitting at eighth and ninth in the CHS standings respectively, the Knights and Ice Eagles will look to put more space between themselves and the rest of the M3 field. 

The Knights will look to bounce back from their three-game losing streak to defeat Embry-Riddle, who have won three out of their last five, including a series sweep vs. UCF in early November. UCF sits at 6-8-0-1 in conference play, while Embry-Riddle is 5-5-0-1 in CHS. 

Louis DiPaolo is on the call for both games this weekend. Friday night's game can be watched on ERAU's YouTube, and Saturday afternoon's game can be watched on DSPN Live.

• Friday, Jan. 23 - 7:00 PM EST (Daytona Ice Arena)

• Saturday, Jan. 24 - 4:00 PM EST (Orlando Ice Den)

Florida State Seminoles (W) at South Florida Ice Bulls (W)

In a division dominated by the Tampa Spartans, the FSU and USF women’s teams will face off this weekend in search of ever-scarce CHS points. The Bulls sit third in the division with eight points, while the Seminoles are still searching for their first conference win and points. 

Both teams have recently struggled to find consistent offensive production, with scoring coming in spurts rather than sustained pressure. As a result, much of the responsibility will fall on their netminders, who are expected to play a critical role in stabilizing play, limiting mistakes, and keeping the game within reach while their offenses search for rhythm.

• Saturday, Jan. 24 - 7:30 PM EST (AdventHealth Center Ice)

• Sunday, Jan. 25 - 1:00 PM EST (AdventHealth Center Ice)

Florida Atlantic Owls (M2) at Farmingdale State Rams (M2)

The Owls hit the road for the first time in 2026, traveling to Long Island, NY, to take on Farmingdale State for a trio of games. 

FAU has played each of the past two weekends, sweeping Miami and splitting a pair of chippy games against USF. The competition will pick up for the Owls this weekend, with Farmingdale ranked second in the ACHA’s Northeast region. FAU will need continued production from first-year player Jackson Nieuwendyk, who has lit up the scoreboard recently. Nieuwendyk earned the second star of Week 15 for scoring five goals and adding two assists against South Florida.

This will be the second series against a CHS team for Farmingdale State. The Rams trekked to Tampa for a rematch of the AAU National Championship and split with the Spartans. 

• Friday, Jan. 23 - 9:00 PM EST (Northwell Health Ice Arena)

• Saturday, Jan. 24 - 8:30 PM EST (Northwell Health Ice Arena)

• Sunday, Jan. 25 - 2:00 PM EST (Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena)

Tampa Spartans (M2) at South Florida Ice Bulls (M3)

In what could serve as an appetizer for Gasparilla, the Tampa Spartans jog across town to face local rival South Florida for a single game on Friday.

The teams met twice before, despite being in different divisions. Tampa dominated the Ice Bulls to a score of 9-2, and then manufactured a three-goal comeback to tie USF 5-5. The intensity was aplenty between the two squads, and it’s almost certain to pick back up on Friday as well.

The Ice Bulls will have to take on Tampa without reigning MVP Grant Dietz, who will be serving a one-game suspension for a penalty in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to FAU (M2). Dietz cross-checked FAU’s Christian Cuccia in the head area, and the referee determined the play was violent enough to warrant not only a game misconduct, but also a “DQ”. Newcomer William Fliss will also be sitting out for the Ice Bulls due to a DQ, which came as a result of a late-game skirmish. 

• Friday, Jan. 23 - 8:30 PM EST (Advent Health Center Ice)

Weather Impacts Weekend Slate

A significant winter storm moving through the southern United States this weekend has forced several College Hockey South games to be postponed or canceled. With travel conditions deteriorating across multiple states, the decision was made to prioritize the safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans.

College Hockey South will continue to work closely with impacted programs to determine rescheduling options where possible. Updated dates and times will be communicated through official CHS channels once confirmed.

Below is a list of games affected by the winter weather this weekend:

Friday, January 23, 2026

• Alabama (W) vs. High Point (W)

• Ole Miss (M3) vs. LSU (M3)

• South Carolina (M3) vs. Alabama (M3)

• Tennessee (M3) vs. Vanderbilt (M3)

Saturday, January 24, 2026

• Alabama (W) vs. High Point (W)

• Clemson (W) vs. South Carolina (W)

• Georgia Tech (M2) vs. Kennesaw State (M3)

• MTSU (M3) vs. APSU (M3)

• Ole Miss (M3) vs. LSU (M3)

• South Carolina (M2) vs. Clemson (M3)

• South Carolina (M3) vs. Alabama (M3)

• Tennessee (M3) vs. Vanderbilt (M3)

Sunday, January 25, 2026

• Georgia (W) vs. Auburn (W)

• Georgia (W) vs. Auburn (W)

• Vanderbilt (M3) vs. MTSU (M3)

Follow College Hockey South on social media for Game of the Week coverage, live updates, and post-game recaps throughout the weekend.

ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 29-school, 45 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.