Tennessee State University is prepared to become the first Historically Black College and University to field a collegiate hockey team, the school revealed Wednesday ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville.
Just two hours before the draft, which is being held at Bridgestone Arena for the first time since 2003, TSU athletic director Dr. Mikki Allen announced the Tigers will field a men’s club hockey team in 2024-25, with the intent to achieve NCAA Division I status by 2026-27. Allen did not say specifically when a women’s hockey team will be introduced, but noted that TSU will assemble a women’s team after the men’s is established.
Still, the historic feat has been a collective effort. Allen spearheaded the charge for HBCU hockey with the NHL, Nashville Predators CEO Sean Henry and the NHL Players’ Association. On stage Wednesday in the superpod rehearsal area at Bridgestone Arena, Allen, TSU President Dr. Glenda Glover, NHL Vice President/Hockey Development and Strategic Collaboration Kevin Westgarth and former NHL player Anson Carter and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman fielded questions about HBCU hockey.
“Together, we celebrate the power of collaboration as we dismantle barriers, diversify the game, and propel hockey into a new era of inclusivity,” Allen said in a press release. “This partnership serves as a catalyst, driving change and ensuring that the game we love embraces the beauty of diversity. With Tennessee State University, the NHL, and the Nashville Predators working hand in hand, we have the potential to reshape the future of hockey and inspire generations to come. Together, we will forge a path towards a more inclusive and united hockey community.”
Why hockey for Tennessee State?
The path toward Wednesday’s ground-breaking announcement spans two years. In May 2021, TSU announced a feasibility study, which the Predators financed, to explore costs, requirements and local interest in hockey on the HBCU campus. By February 2022, TSU and the Predators collectively announced a fundraising campaign titled, “TSU Friends of Hockey Fundraising Team.”
The fundraiser was installed to support student-athlete scholarships, an on-campus venue, as well as travel and equipment. Allen said in February that the on-campus venue would store at least one sheet of ice. Allen elected not to disclose a fundraising figure at the time.
TSU is in search of a Director of Club Hockey Operations, who will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the program. The director will be responsible for student-athlete recruiting, as well as fundraising and finding corporate sponsorships. Until an appointment has been made, TSU assistant athletics director Nick Guerriero will handle the program.
Where will Tennessee State play hockey games?
The Ford Ice Center in Bellevue is home of grassroots hockey in Nashville. But will TSU play there? It’s unclear.
Allen said there are “ongoing conversations” about the possibility of an ice rink or hockey facility on the TSU campus, or elsewhere.
“There’s a lot of ice in this city,” Allen said.
Black hockey pros react
Carter and PK Subban, both of whom are Black, co-chair the newly-formed NHL Players Inclusion Coalition. Carter played for eight NHL teams between 1996-2006. Subban played three of his 13 seasons for the Predators.
Each understood the significance of Wednesday.
“He’s ecstatic,” Carter said of Subban. “He understands what HBCUs mean and he also understands what hockey means here in Nashville.”
For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at [email protected]. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State ice hockey program will be first for HBCUs