2025-26 Season Week 6 Preview

Week 6 of College Hockey South action brings fresh faces, familiar foes, and pivotal early-season matchups across the league. From a marquee debut in the M3 division to cross-city rivalries in women’s play, the weekend promises no shortage of drama and high-level hockey.

Game of the Week: South Florida (M3) at Florida Gulf Coast (M3)

The spotlight falls on Fort Myers as the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles make their long-awaited College Hockey South debut against the South Florida Bulls.

FGCU joins CHS this season after competing as an independent in the ACHA, finishing the 2024–25 campaign with a strong 15-9-1-2 record. Now, the Eagles step into the conference spotlight looking to earn their first official CHS victory — and they’ll have to do it against one of the division’s most potent offenses.

South Florida enters the series riding a wave of momentum after a dominant showing against UCF last weekend. Forward Jacob Duhaime, the CHS 2nd Star of the Week, lit up the scoresheet with five goals and three assists across the two-game set, bringing his season total to nine goals.

With the Ice Bulls sitting second in the M3 standings and the Eagles eager to make history in their conference debut, this weekend’s matchup could set the tone for both programs moving forward.

• Game 1: Friday, Oct. 10 – 6:00 PM ET (Hertz Arena)

• Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 11 – 8:30 PM ET (Hertz Arena)

Tampa (M2) at Tennessee (M2)

A heavyweight M2 clash headlines Knoxville this weekend as the Tampa Spartans visit the Tennessee Ice Vols.

The Ice Vols are seeking to turn the corner after a challenging start, having been outscored 10–1 in their opening two contests. They’ll look to build off a morale-boosting win over Alabama’s M1 squad last week to gain traction against the reigning National Champions.

Tampa, meanwhile, continues to roll. The Spartans have opened the season with four straight victories and currently sit atop the CHS M2 standings as the only undefeated team in the division. Their depth and balanced scoring have made them the team to beat early on.

Expect a hard-fought series as Tennessee looks to defend home ice and Tampa aims to extend its dominant run.

• Game 1: Friday, Oct. 10 – 10:20 PM ET (Knoxville Civic Coliseum)

• Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 12 – 1:15 PM ET (Knoxville Civic Coliseum)

Tampa (W) at South Florida (W)

The current queens of the CHS Women's South Division are set to battle in this cross-city rivalry — as the Tampa Lady Spartans take on the USF Lady Ice Bulls in a battle for first place in the CHS Women’s South Division.

The Bulls come in red-hot after outscoring Miami 19–2 across two games last weekend. Chloe Valente continues to be the heartbeat of USF’s offense, notching 11 points in the series with five goals and six assists.

Tampa has also been rolling offensively, tallying 19 goals in two games against Florida State. The Spartans now face their toughest challenge yet as they prepare for their first true road test of the season, following their early success at the Columbus Classic in September.

With Tampa sitting atop the division at 10 points and USF close behind with six, this series could go a long way in shaping the playoff picture.

• Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 11 – 7:00 PM ET (AdventHealth Center Ice)

• Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 12 – 2:30 PM ET (Nest Hockey Academy)

Florida Southern (M3) vs. Jacksonville (ACDC)

The weekend also brings an intriguing out-of-division series as the Florida Southern Moccasins host the Jacksonville Dolphins.

For Florida Southern, the mission is clear: get back in the win column. The Mocs’ only victory this season came in their opener — a decisive 9–2 win over Florida (ACDC) — before running into powerhouse opponents in Tampa and South Florida.

Jacksonville, meanwhile, has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2025–26 season. The Dolphins currently sit tied for first in the ACDC division and are looking to bounce back after back-to-back losses to Florida Tech. Despite being a first-year program, JU has quickly proven it can compete with anyone in the South.

This series offers both teams a valuable chance to reset and build momentum heading into the heart of the schedule.

• Game 1: Friday, Oct. 10 – 7:30 PM ET (Lakeland Ice Arena)

• Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 11 – 8:15 PM ET (Lakeland Ice Arena)

Looking Ahead: Battle at the Beach Tournament

As October hockey heats up, all eyes are turning toward the upcoming Battle at the Beach Tournament in Fort Lauderdale. The event will feature top-tier matchups and electric atmospheres as CHS programs collide in one of the most anticipated weekends of the season.

Fans can read more about the tournament here and purchase tickets through the College Hockey South Shop. Weekend passes are $25, single-day adult tickets $20, and child/senior tickets $15.

Catch every game live on the College Hockey South YouTube Channel, and stay tuned for more updates as the road to the Battle at the Beach continues.

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.