Tennessee State to be first HBCU to introduce ice hockey program

Tennessee State University made history on Wednesday by becoming the first historically black college or university (HBCU) to introduce a college ice hockey program, ESPN reported Wednesday.

The Nashville-based university teased the exciting news on social media, posting, “The first HBCU Ice Hockey team… Coming in 2024,” to its Tigers Hockey Twitter bio.

The program will be established in partnership with the Nashville Predators, the NHL and the NHLPA, with ESPN reporting Wednesday the ultimate goal is to have Division I men’s and women’s teams.

“Bringing ice hockey to Tennessee State University is a part of our continued commitment to provide our students with new opportunities and to broaden new interests in areas where they have traditionally had limited or no access,” TSU President Glenda Glover said in a statement.

Glover thanked the Predators and their ongoing partnership with TSU, noting, it “played a pivotal role in our decision to pursue this historic undertaking of starting an ice hockey program.”

The Predators partnered with TSU in 2020 as part of the school’s “$1 Million in 1 Month” campaign in honor of Black History Month. 

Nashville donated $100,000 while the campaign eventually raised close to $2 million to go towards merit and need-based scholarships.

College Hockey Inc., which works to expand the collegiate game, also conducted a feasibility study with TSU to determine the potential viability of hockey in the school’s community.

The TSU Tigers could potentially join the American Collegiate Hockey Association, a national organization for non-varsity, club ice hockey programs.

Arizona State started in the ACHA before transitioning to Division I in 2015-16. 

Although there are currently 62 active Division I men’s ice hockey programs, none of them are HBCUs — and Tennessee State is looking to change that.