2025-26 Season Week 2 Preview

Week two of the 2025–26 College Hockey South season is here, and it’s packed with historic debuts, heated rivalries, and national champions hitting the ice for the first time. Let’s dive into the weekend slate.

Co-Game of the Week: Austin Peay (M3) @ Eastern Kentucky (ACDC)

The two northernmost schools in CHS square off as Austin Peay State travels to Lexington to face Eastern Kentucky.

Both teams are looking for a turnaround after missing the 2024–25 postseason. For Eastern Kentucky, the season was especially tough — losing 75% of their contests, including a winless road trip to Clarksville where they fell 6-2 and 9-2 against Austin Peay.

That series marked APSU’s debut in CHS, and while the Governors cooled off later in the year, they left a mark — leading Division 3 with 452 penalty minutes in 21 games, nearly double the next closest team. Expect intensity, grit, and maybe a little spite when these teams meet again.

• Game 1: Friday, Sept. 12 @ 7:00 PM ET (Lexington Ice Center)

• Game 2: Saturday, Sept. 13 @ 1:30 PM ET (Lexington Ice Center)

Co-Game of the Week: St. Leo (ACDC) @ Jacksonville (ACDC)

Our second Game of the Week features dueling debuts!

The St. Leo Lions enter CHS for the first time after competing last season as an independent. Though the Lions went 0-6-0 in exhibition play, forward Sebastian Powers stood out, scoring six goals and three assists in just six games.

On the other side, the Jacksonville Dolphins will take the ice for the first game in program history. They’re led by head coach Derek Lodermeier, who begins his coaching career in the same city where his professional playing career concluded. Lodermeier is the all-time leader in games played (295) for the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, the affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Will Jacksonville christen their inaugural season with a win at the Community First Igloo, or will St. Leo spoil the party and grab their first CHS victory?

• Game 1: Friday, Sept. 12 @ 10:15 PM ET (Community First Igloo)

• Game 2: Saturday, Sept. 13 @ 10:30 PM ET (Community First Igloo)

Middle Tennessee State (M3) @ Clemson (M3)

A Division 3 marquee matchup headlines in Clemson, where the defending CHS champion Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders visit the Tigers for their home opener.

This series could easily be a preview of February’s conference championship. MTSU is already battle-tested after dropping two games to UNC–Wilmington last weekend, though captain Linden Palmer impressed with four points (2G, 2A).

Clemson, meanwhile, is back to playing a full schedule for the first time since 2023–24. Limited games left them ineligible for Nationals last season, though they reached the CHS semifinals before falling to South Florida — who then lost to MTSU in the championship.

Both teams have championship aspirations, and this weekend offers an early-season measuring stick.

• Game 1: Friday, Sept. 12 @ 10:00 PM ET (The Pavilion)

• Game 2: Saturday, Sept. 13 @ 5:00 PM ET (The Pavilion)

Liberty (W) @ Tampa (W)

The Tampa Lady Spartans wasted no time testing themselves in their ACHA debut — diving straight in against the powerhouse Liberty Flames.

Tampa enters the season after back-to-back appearances in the AAU National Championship Game, now setting sail on new waters under new head coach Carlos Pineros.

Their first challenge? Liberty, fresh off a dominant 22-3-0 season in the Delaware Valley Conference.

Can Tampa’s move to the ACHA pay off immediately with a statement win, or will Liberty prove too tough in this early-season clash?

• Friday, Sept. 12 @ 7:15 PM ET (Clearwater Ice Arena)

Vanderbilt (M3) @ South Carolina (M3)

Finally, the defending AAU D3 National Champion South Carolina Gamecocks take the ice for the first time this season — after last week’s game was canceled due to Zamboni issues.

South Carolina went 23-0-1 last season, with their only non-win being a tie against UNC–Charlotte on opening weekend. That means the Gamecocks enter 2025–26 riding a 23-game winning streak.

Standing in their way is Vanderbilt, who finished 9-11-1 last season but managed to qualify for the CHS playoffs. The Commodores nearly upset South Florida before bowing out in round one and later declined a Nationals bid.

What better way to start your season than by spoiling the champs’ banner-raising celebration? That’s exactly what the Vandy boys will aim to do this weekend in Columbia.

• Saturday, Sept. 13 @ 1:15 PM ET (Flight Adventure Park)

• Sunday, Sept. 14 @ 10:30 AM ET (Flight Adventure Park)

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.