16-05-2025
Hockey heats up in the South: SEC club teams to compete in Nashville's Frozen showcase
Hockey heats up in the South: SEC club teams to compete in Nashville's Frozen showcase The University of Texas Hockey Team has seen great success on the ice, they'll look to build off that success at the Southeastern Collegiate Frozen Showcase in 2026.
Ice hockey is gaining ground in the heart of SEC country, with club teams from several Southeastern Conference universities set to take center stage at the inaugural Southeast Collegiate Frozen Showcase in January 2026.
While the SEC and NCAA do not officially sanction the sport, club hockey programs representing Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, and Mississippi will compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division II event at the Ford Ice Center in Nashville from Jan. 9-11, 2026. The showcase highlights the rapid growth and increasing competitiveness of non-varsity college hockey across the South, with many of the team's who's institutions are of members of the Southeastern Conference having great success on the ice.
The Texas Longhorns, fresh off a standout season, are among the featured teams. Texas punched its ticket to the ACHA Division II National Championship after a dramatic run at regionals in Colorado, including an overtime victory against the University of California, Berkeley. The Longhorns' success reflects a broader surge in interest and achievement for hockey programs at SEC schools, many of which compete in the ACHA or the AAU's College Hockey South Conference.
Club hockey in the region has seen significant expansion, with College Hockey South now comprising 50 teams from 30 schools across eight states. Some SEC programs, including Ole Miss, Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama, are exploring the formation of an all-SEC hockey league, citing increased interest and recruitment. 'There's been a lot of discussion around SEC, ACHA and other options,' said Max Mona, head coach of the Vanderbilt Club Hockey team. 'We've given our players the flexibility to decide on leagues and scheduling.'
For now, the Southeast Collegiate Frozen Showcase will serve as a marquee event for SEC hockey enthusiasts, offering a glimpse of the sport's rising profile in the region and the potential for even greater growth in the years ahead.
