The official start of Tennessee State hockey might be put on hold for now, but the program is receiving financial support from the NHL.
TSU will play during the 2026-27 season, “a move made in close collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL), the Nashville Predators, and College Hockey Inc.,” the school announced in a news release after the program failed to reach a fundraising goal.
The program was initially expected to take the ice as a club team for the 2024-25 season and achieve NCAA Division I status by the 2026-27 season. However, the university changed its plans, intending to jump straight to Division I for the 2025-26 season.
Despite the setback, Tennessee State hockey is expected to get a $250,000 grant from the NHL and the league’s players’ union Industry Growth Fund, including continuing assistance from the Nashville Predators.
“Working closely with the NHL and the Predators, we agree that an additional year will provide the program with the time and resources it needs to launch at full strength and with long-term financial success in mind,” said TSU President Dwayne Tucker.
With the additional preparation period, TSU aims to strengthen its recruiting, facility planning, staff development, and fundraising efforts, the school said. University officials note this will lay the groundwork for a sustainable program, while also matching a broader push to introduce hockey to new, diverse communities.
“We continue to look forward to helping to make the Division I hockey dream a reality at Tennessee State,” said Bill Wickett, CFO of the Nashville Predators. “We applaud University leadership, led by interim President Tucker, for its desire to ensure that when the Tigers step on the ice for the first time, they are doing it for a long time, and we pledge to walk hand-in-hand with that leadership in making it happen.”
The NHL and NHLPA’s Industry Growth Fund have played a pivotal role since the project’s inception, helping finance an initial feasibility study and continuing to attract new investment.
“Deferring the inaugural season of TSU Tigers hockey to 2026-27 is the right step,” said Kevin Westgarth, NHL Vice President of Hockey Development & Strategic Collaboration. “TSU has faced challenges before and always met them and come back stronger, and we expect hockey to be the latest chapter of that story. We have faith in President Tucker’s vision.”
College Hockey Inc. has worked with TSU since the 2021 feasibility study that explored bringing varsity hockey to the university, offering continued guidance as the project moves forward.
“College Hockey Inc. remains fully supportive of Tennessee State’s commitment to adding men’s ice hockey to its athletics program,” said Sean Hogan, Executive Director of College Hockey Inc. “We’re excited to work closely with TSU as it prepares to launch and to see the impact this historic initiative will have on both the university and the growth of college hockey.”
