Florida Gulf Coast (M3) Joins College Hockey South for 2025–2026 Season

The Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles have officially joined College Hockey South for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. The Eagles will compete in the conference’s largest and most competitive division, Division 3, which now features 19 teams.

Ryan Allamian, scheduler for Florida Gulf Coast, shared why the move to CHS made sense for the program:

“Having the ability to play teams near us that are only a bus ride away will be great to strengthen those relationships and build a competitive conference in the South.”

The M3 Eagles finished the 2024–2025 season with a 15-9-1-2 record as an independent member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). Without any conference opponents, travel was often a challenge — their closest scheduled opponent was Xavier University, nearly a 15-hour trip from Fort Myers.

Joining CHS will allow FGCU to compete more regionally and establish rivalries that energize both players and fans.

“We are super excited to create great rivalries with teams, and this will help fans get into it and create a larger following for us,” said Allamian.

CHS Commissioner Kyle Knell welcomed the addition of the Eagles, highlighting their impact on the conference landscape:

“Florida Gulf Coast brings a strong and established program to College Hockey South, and we’re thrilled to have them join us. They’ll now be part of the largest concentration of collegiate hockey in the state, as FGCU becomes the 15th Florida-based university in CHS. With Jacksonville University and Saint Leo University also set to join this season, it’s an exciting time for hockey in the Sunshine State.”

With FGCU on board, College Hockey South continues to expand its footprint while deepening its rivalries and regional competition. The 2025–2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet.

ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 30-school, 46 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.