College Hockey South
College Hockey South (CHS), formerly known as the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC), is a non-varsity ice hockey conference in the Southern United States. The conference plays in Division 2 and Division 3 of the Collegiate Hockey Federation (CHF). The member clubs of College Hockey South are member universities of several different conferences in NCAA athletics.[1][2]
| Formerly | South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC) [2008-2021] |
|---|---|
| Conference | CHS |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Commissioner | Kyle Knell (2022) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| No. of teams | 28 |
| Region | Southeastern United States |
| Official website | CHS official website |
On February 11, 2022, the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference rebranded as College Hockey South.[3]
Teams
After the 2012–13 season Arkansas moved from the South Region of Division 3 to the Pacific Region but remained a member of the ACHA.[4]
Following the 2014–15 season, both Arkansas and Alabama moved up to ACHA Division 1. Alabama discontinued their participation in the SECHC in 2015, but returned to the conference in 2021.
On January 2, 2023, College Hockey South announced the addition of a women's division beginning in the 2023-2024 season. The division will consist of women's teams from Auburn, Miami, South Florida, and Tampa as well as the teams of Georgia and South Carolina which are both currently being formalized.[5]
Men's Division II
| Division | School | City | State | Founded | Joined | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname[6] | Home Arena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Division | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | 2008–09 | 2014–15 | Public | 38,320 | Crimson Tide | Pelham Civic Center |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville | Alabama | 1950 | 2018–19 | Public | 9,000 | Chargers | Wilcoxon Ice Complex | |
| Auburn University | Auburn | Alabama | 1856 | 2010–11 | Public | 24,530 | Tigers | Columbus Ice Rink | |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | 1911 | 2018–19 | Public | 21,913 | Blue Raiders | Ford Ice Center | |
| University of Mississippi | Oxford | Mississippi | 1848 | 2009–10 | Public | 23,838 | Ice Rebels | Midsouth Icehouse | |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Tennessee | 1873 | 2008–09 | Private / Non-sectarian | 13,537 | Commodores | Ford Ice Center | |
| East Division | Clemson University | Clemson | South Carolina | 1889 | 2018–19 | Public | 24,387 | Tigers | The Pavilion / Bon Secours Wellness Arena |
| University of Georgia | Athens | Georgia | 1785 | 2008–09 | Public | 34,885 | Ice Dogs | Akins Ford Arena | |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta | Georgia | 1885 | 2019-20 | Public | 28,000 | Yellow Jackets | Atlanta Ice Forum | |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw | Georgia | 1963 | 2018–19 | Public | 35,000 | Owls | Atlanta Ice House | |
| University of South Carolina | Columbia | South Carolina | 1801 | 2008–09 | Public | 27,488 | Cock Hockey | Plex Indoor Sports | |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville | Tennessee | 1794 | 2008–09 | Public | 27,739 | Ice Vols | Knoxville Civic Coliseum | |
| South Division | University of Central Florida | Orlando | Florida | 1963 | 2022-23 | Public | 70,406 | Knights | RDV Sportsplex |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Daytona Beach | Florida | 1926 | 2022-23 | Private | 33,678 | Eagles | Daytona Ice Arena | |
| University of Florida | Gainesville | Florida | 1853 | 2008–09 | Public | 49,679 | Ice Gators | Various | |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton | Florida | 1961 | 2019–20 | Public | 30,808 | Owls | Florida Panthers Ice Den | |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Florida | 1962 | 2019–20 | Private | 3,000 | Fighting Knights | Palm Beach Skate Zone | |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Florida | 1925 | 2022-23 | Private | 17,811 | Hurricanes | Pines Ice Arena | |
| University of South Florida | Tampa | Florida | 1956 | 2022-23 | Public | 50,830 | Bulls | Florida Hospital Center Ice | |
| University of Tampa | Tampa | Florida | 1931 | 2022-23 | Private | 9,304 | Spartans | Clearwater Ice Arena |
Men's Division III
| School | City | State | Founded | Joined | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname[6] | Home Arena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Daytona Beach | Florida | 1926 | 2022-23 | Private | 33,678 | Eagles | Daytona Ice Arena |
| University of Florida | Gainesville | Florida | 1853 | 2008–09 | Public | 49,679 | Ice Gators | Various |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland | Florida | 1883 | 2022-23 | Private | 30,808 | Moccasins | Lakeland Ice Arena |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | Florida | 1851 | 2019–20 | Public | 45,493 | Seminoles | Columbus Civic Center |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne | Florida | 1958 | 2022-23 | Private | 9,316 | Panthers | Space Coast Iceplex |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | Florida | 1972 | 2023-24 | Public | 16,517 | Ospreys | Community First Igloo |
| University of South Florida | Tampa | Florida | 1956 | 2022-23 | Public | 50,830 | Bulls | Florida Hospital Center Ice |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville | Tennessee | 1794 | 2022-23 | Public | 27,739 | Volunteers | Knoxville Civic Coliseum |
| University of Tampa | Tampa | Florida | 1931 | 2022-23 | Private | 9,304 | Spartans | Clearwater Ice Arena |
Former members
| School | City | State | Joined | Left | Conference left for | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | 2009–10 | 2017–18 | Dropped team | |
| Mississippi State University | Starkville | Mississippi | 2008–09 | 2017–18 | Dropped team | |
Membership timeline
Conference champions
The CHS Championship Tournament is held every year in February at the conclusion of the regular season and after the ACHA South Regionals. After the 2014–15 season the cross-divisional playoff format was abandoned. For the 2015–16 season there was just one division within CHS and the first round of the playoffs featured the #1 seed vs the #8 seed, the #2 seed vs the #7 seed, etc.
| Year | Champion |
| 2009 | Tennessee |
| 2010 | Arkansas |
| 2011 | Arkansas |
| 2012 | Alabama |
| 2013 | Arkansas |
| 2014 | Arkansas |
| 2015 | Arkansas |
| 2016 | Georgia |
| 2017 | Georgia |
| 2018 | Arkansas |
| 2019 | Georgia |
| 2020 | Ole Miss |
| 2021 | Georgia |
| 2022 | Georgia |
| 2023 | Tampa |
Venues
Venues for the teams vary from community ice rinks to civic-center sized arenas. As the conference has expanded and interest in hockey has grown in the Southern United States teams have sought larger venues for games. The 2010-11 SECHC Championship Tournament was held at the 8,500 seat Columbus Civic Center.[7] Two teams, Georgia and Florida along with in-state rivals Georgia Tech and Florida State, as well as a Thursday game played between in-state rivals South Carolina and Citadel play a yearly tournament at the Savannah Civic Center.[8]
ACHA Division 3 Nationals teams
CHS has sent 13 teams to the ACHA Division 3 National Tournament. While no CHS team has ever made it out of pool play, Arkansas in 2014 had the best success going 2-1 in their pool but losing the goals against tie breaker to the eventual champion Adrian College.
2009 Host City: Rochester, NY
- Tennessee (Finished 11th)
- Hope College (L 3-5)
- Colorado (W 7-6)
- Dordt College (L 1-4)
- Albany (W 6-5)
2010 Host City: Fort Myers, FL
- Florida (Finished 12th)
- College of the Canyons (L 3-8)
- Saginaw Valley State (L 1-14)
- Robert Morris (W 8-6)
- Arkansas (Finished 13th)
- Colorado (L 1-7)
- Hope College (L 2-5)
- Fredonia State (L 2-4)
2012 Host City: Vineland, NJ
- Alabama (Finished 16th)
- California (PA) (L 3-7)
- Hope College (L 1-9)
- Cal State Northridge (L 6-7 OT)
2013 Host City: Springfield, MO
- Mississippi (Finished 13th)
- Colorado State (W 2-1)
- Farmingdale State (L 2-5)
- Adrian College (L 0-9)
- Alabama (Finished 14th)
- Iowa State (W 4-2)
- California (PA) (L 5-7)
- Michigan-Flint (L 1-7)
2014 Host City: Coral Springs, FL
- Arkansas (Finished 7th)
- Adrian College (L 3-4)
- Neumann (W 14-6)
- Central Florida (W 6-2)
- Mississippi (Finished 15th)
- California (PA) (L 2-8)
- Davenport (L 2-10)
- Aurora (L 3-9)
2015 Host City: Pelham, AL
- Arkansas (Finished 8th)
- Fairfield (W 6-2)
- Calvin College (W 9-2)
- Florida Gulf Coast (L 1-6)
- Alabama (Finished 9th)
- Michigan State (T 4-4)
- Pittsburgh-Johnstown (W 6-1)
- Colorado State, (L 6-7 OT)
- Mississippi (Finished 15th)
- Oakland (L 4-7)
- California (PA) (L 3-7)
- Metro State (L 1-6)
2017 Host City: Columbus, OH
- Georgia (Finished 11th)
- Oakland (L 6-7)
- Bryn Athyn (L 1-6)
- Missouri State (W 7-3)
2018 Host City: Columbus, OH
- Georgia (Finished 11th)
- Nebraska (W 5-1)
- Oakland (L 4-8)
- Farmingdale State (L 7-3)
References
- "Ledger-Enquirer.com | 11/22/2010 | Georgia Tech edges Alabama for College Hockey Clash title". Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
- http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2010/11/21/1353982/college-hockey-clash-roundup-alabama.html%5B%5D
- "SECHC press release". Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- "Arkansas Razorback Hockey - Hogs switch out of South Region; find new home in the Pacific". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- "@CollegeHkySouth". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- "South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference - Teams". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- "Ledger-Enquirer.com | 02/06/2011 | College hockey: SECHC Tournament bracket released". Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- "Real SEC flavor to Savannah Tire Hockey Classic". Savannahnow.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-19.