Tennessee State University, located in Nashville, TN is the first Historically Black College University (HBCU) to form a ice hockey team. Just announced. Further details to follow. Not sure if they start @ club level or lower division. I am researching details. Saw a picture of their jerseys on Facebook - very sharp looking.
Great news regarding college hockey
- Thread starter RickinDayton
- Start date
Addendum. Starting with club team in 2024 and hoping to eventually go Div 1. They have received lots of consulting and support from Nashville Peds, NHL, and NHLPA.
It will be interesting to see how well represented African American players will be on their team. A few years ago the specialists on the Lincoln U football team were white guys from California. A biracial former student of mine is on the golf team at an HBCU where she is the only African American- most players are from Canada and Asia.
Nevertheless- good for TSU, the Preds and NHL
Nevertheless- good for TSU, the Preds and NHL
Two of my grandsons play ice hockey in Nashville area. There are very few Black Americans playing on the teams, so your question is valid. Hopefully they can draw from around the country for their initial startup and spark interest in the minority communities around Nashville metro to build for the future. The Preds are very active in promoting and financially supporting youth hockey in the area. Right now most of the black young kids are playing football, basketball, and baseball.
It will be nice to have a team in that part of the country again, since Alabama-Huntsville went under as a result of the pandemic. Though Tennessee is closer to the core areas of college hockey and will probably be easier to convince teams to travel to as a more reasonable bus trip.
It is. Two of our grandsons were/are involved. Oldest just graduated from HS, played on his HS (county team) and also on a travel team. He is not playing in college, going into a trade but will continue to play in a fun adult rec league. His younger brother is in Preds sponsored youth hockey, beginning travel this year. Expensive sport.
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My boys play AAA hockey in eastern PA. The oldest plays some of the best teams in North America. There are some black kids (American and Canadian) that play at that level, but in reality much less than 5% of the players. TSU is starting a club team, so they won't be getting the top kids anyway.
Understand. Just hoping they will be successful in increasing interest in minority communities, translating to a successful club program which is able to eventually mive into and compete in NCAA divisional play.
The few "minority hockey communities" I am aware of (like Snider Hockey in Philly) do not produce talented players. Plenty of reasons for that. However, they do increase awareness of the sport which has tangible benefits to the hockey community in general.
In other college hockey news, Arizona St is going to be joining the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) next year.
Wandering Spectator
Well-Known Member
If you want to know what their roster will look like, go look at the baseball roster for most HBCUs.
If they're starting the program to give minority hockey players a place to come and play, than they'll struggle to field a team that's not one of the worst in the country. If they're starting the program to attempt to increase minority participation in hockey, than they'll still struggle but at least they have a commendable goal in mind.
If they're starting the program to give minority hockey players a place to come and play, than they'll struggle to field a team that's not one of the worst in the country. If they're starting the program to attempt to increase minority participation in hockey, than they'll still struggle but at least they have a commendable goal in mind.
Lot HBC related, but is anyone else surprised that Rutgers hasn't decided to move up to D1? Lots of players in Philly, NJ and NY. They probably need a big donor like we in Pegulas have to make the jump.
The hottest rumors among Big Ten schools have been Illinois and Iowa considering making the jump. Rutgers has had plenty of financial issues with their Athletic department and I can't imagine them even thinking about varsity hockey unless a big donor stepped up and basically financed the entire thing.
