We’re eight weeks into the College Hockey South season, and it’s time to do a standings check-up! We still have plenty of hockey to play, but let’s see what has happened two months in. Who’s hot? Who’s not? Who’s the biggest surprise?
Women’s Division
Unfortunately, the Women’s Division’s schedule was thrown into disarray by dangerous weather plaguing the Southeast. The 2024 Columbus Classic was postponed from the original date in late September to November 15th through the 17th.
In Alabama’s inaugural season, they have raced out to an early lead in the conference standings. The Frozen Tide have won five of their first six College Hockey South games, including a win over 2023-2024 conference runner-up South Carolina.
The reigning champion Tampa Lady Spartans will be heard from soon, but they have yet to play their first conference game of the season.
The top six teams in the standings advance to the playoffs.
Division 1
The reigning, defending AAU hockey kings don’t seem eager to leave their throne anytime soon.
South Carolina, the 2023-24 AAU National Champions, has claimed the top spot among Division 1 teams in the standings through eight weeks of play. The Gamecocks are unbeaten in seven College Hockey South games and have won ten of eleven outings to start the season.
Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida round out the top four. The latter two were promoted to Division 1 this season. 2024 Conference Tournament Champion Tampa trails Florida by a single point but has played six fewer conference games.
The top six teams in the standings advance to the Division 1 playoffs.
Division 2
The Division 2 standings were the least predictable heading into the season for several reasons. The additions and subtractions of players and teams during the offseason threw both the North and South divisions into a blender, and these are the results after eight weeks.
Less than a year after failing to qualify for the national and conference tournaments, the South Florida Bulls have charged out to a six-point lead in the South Division. The team six points behind, Lynn University, also missed the playoffs last season. The Knights and Bulls combined to win eleven games the entire season a year ago, but through eight weeks this season, South Florida and Lynn have fifteen wins collectively.
Eight weeks in, the North Division leaves a bit to be desired, with no teams impressing with their conference records. Vanderbilt sits in first place with six points in four games. The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders are in second place with four points, the only other team in the division with more than one conference win.
The top four teams in each division advance to the playoffs.
Division 3
We had to check our notes to ensure we weren’t reading the top three of Division 1 when putting together the Division 3 North standings because, um, it’s quite similar.
Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia occupy three of the top four spots… again.
South Carolina’s early success is of note, though, as this year is the first for their Division 3 team. The third-place team from a year ago, Kennesaw State, has yet to tally a point in the standings.
The South Division is crowded at the top of the standings, as predicted with the departure of Florida Southern and Miami to Division 2. Four teams are within four points of each other despite Florida Tech occupying first place through eight weeks.
The top five teams in each division advance to the playoffs.
*Probationary team - ineligible for conference playoffs.
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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