By Brandon King
(Source HBCU Sports):
Against the backdrop of the NHL Draft, Tennessee State got on the hockey radar when the university announced it would be offering the sport, the first HBCU to do so.
It was the fruit of a 2021 feasibility study and partnerships with the NHL, National Hockey League Players Association NHLPA, the Nashville Predators, and College Hockey Inc.
Optimism abounds as Tennessee State embarks on an unprecedented journey.“Bringing ice hockey to Tennessee State University is part of our continued commitment to provide our students with new opportunities and to broaden new interests in areas where they had limited or no access, said Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Glover on Wednesday during a press conference at the site of the NHL Draft. “We appreciate our ongoing partnership with the Nashville Predators, which has played a pivotal role in our decision to pursue this historic undertaking.
“TSU has a tremendous legacy in athletics. Adding hockey to our programs will start a new chapter and build upon that legacy.”
Sean Henry, CEO of Nashville Predators, a franchise that is one of the more popular NHL teams in the South and already has a partnership with TSU, couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities.
“Launching the club team is another tremendous step forward for both the game of hockey and the sport in our community to pursue the ultimate goal,” he said. “TSU has been a great partner of the Predators for some time, and we are excited to help the work toward becoming the first HBCU to field an NCAA Division I college hockey team.”
The announcement has fueled excitement among organizations that are looking to work with the new TSU hockey program as a talent pipeline.
Malik Garvin, executive director of Ice Hockey in Harlem, an affiliate of the NHL Hockey Is For Everyone program, said that his organization will do its part to position itself as a pipeline for TSU players.
“I’m going to start sending kids there immediately,” Garvin said. “We’re going to fill their team.”
Black Hockey Mommies, co-founded by Rochelle Popyon, is an organization that was birthed out of a Facebook group that has gone on to field all-Black youth tournament teams.
“We want to encourage our kids to go to HBCUs. I think it would be so amazing for other HBCUs to not only get club hockey programs, but it would definitely be a start to having them be able to offer scholarships to our boys, she said.
Said Anson Carter, the former NHL player turned broadcaster, also pointed to the atmosphere at HBCUs, noting that his business partner went to Morehouse.
“I went to Michigan State, 60,000 strong and our homecoming is pretty fun,” Carter said. “Al took me to Morehouse’s homecoming, and it’s a whole different animal. So any recruits you have (for TSU), bring them to homecoming.”
TSU director of athletics Mikki Allen has been ambitious about forming a hockey program at the school.
“If you haven’t been to the North Nashville community, it’s a very prideful community that loves what they do,” he said. “And this city has turned into a hockey town. The people that wear gold and blue turned it there and we want to get on that train. If I was talking to a student-athlete, I’d say, ‘Why not come to Tennessee State? Why not compete for one of the most attractive cities in the country? Why not be a part of this special initiative we’re bringing to the forefront?’ I want the next P.K. Subban, the next Ryan Reaves, the next Willie O’Ree.”
