The official begin of Tennessee State hockey is likely to be placed on maintain for now, however this system is receiving monetary help from the NHL.
TSU will play in the course of the 2026-27 season, “a transfer made in shut collaboration with the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL), the Nashville Predators, and School Hockey Inc.,” the college introduced in a information launch after this system failed to succeed in a fundraising objective.
This system was initially anticipated to take the ice as a membership staff for the 2024-25 season and obtain NCAA Division I standing by the 2026-27 season. Nevertheless, the college modified its plans, intending to leap straight to Division I for the 2025-26 season.
Regardless of the setback, Tennessee State hockey is anticipated to get a $250,000 grant from the NHL and the league’s gamers’ union Trade Development Fund, together with persevering with help from the Nashville Predators.
“Working carefully with the NHL and the Predators, we agree that a further yr will present this system with the time and assets it must launch at full power and with long-term monetary success in thoughts,” stated TSU President Dwayne Tucker.
With the extra preparation interval, TSU goals to strengthen its recruiting, facility planning, employees growth, and fundraising efforts, the college stated. College officers notice it will lay the groundwork for a sustainable program, whereas additionally matching a broader push to introduce hockey to new, various communities.
“We proceed to stay up for serving to to make the Division I hockey dream a actuality at Tennessee State,” stated Invoice Wickett, CFO of the Nashville Predators. “We applaud College management, led by interim President Tucker, for its want to make sure that when the Tigers step on the ice for the primary time, they’re doing it for a very long time, and we pledge to stroll hand-in-hand with that management in making it occur.”
The NHL and NHLPA’s Trade Development Fund have performed a pivotal position because the challenge’s inception, serving to finance an preliminary feasibility research and persevering with to draw new funding.
“Deferring the inaugural season of TSU Tigers hockey to 2026-27 is the correct step,” stated Kevin Westgarth, NHL Vice President of Hockey Improvement & Strategic Collaboration. “TSU has confronted challenges earlier than and at all times met them and are available again stronger, and we count on hockey to be the most recent chapter of that story. We place confidence in President Tucker’s imaginative and prescient.”
School Hockey Inc. has labored with TSU because the 2021 feasibility research that explored bringing varsity hockey to the college, providing continued steering because the challenge strikes ahead.
“School Hockey Inc. stays absolutely supportive of Tennessee State’s dedication to including males’s ice hockey to its athletics program,” stated Sean Hogan, Government Director of School Hockey Inc. “We’re excited to work carefully with TSU because it prepares to launch and to see the affect this historic initiative may have on each the college and the expansion of school hockey.”
