Tennessee State University to become first HBCU to introduce ice hockey program

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Tennessee State University announced Wednesday that it will become the first historically Black college and university to introduce ice hockey.

The school plans to have a men’s team playing at the club level in 2024, with a goal of fielding Division I men’s and women’s teams "in the near future."

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The Tennessee State program has been created in partnership with the National Hockey League, the National Hockey League Players' Association and the Nashville Predators. The announcement was made hours before the start of the NHL draft, which is being held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the city where the university is located.

Pucks are seen on the ice in warmups prior to the start of the game between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes on October 8, 2005 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.  (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

"Together, we celebrate the power of collaboration as we dismantle barriers, diversify the game, and propel hockey into a new era of inclusivity," Tennessee State athletic director Mikki Allen said in a statement. "This partnership serves as a catalyst, driving change and ensuring that the game we love embraces the beauty of diversity."

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Since 2017, the NHL and the players' union have sponsored feasibility studies for U.S. colleges and universities interested in exploring the addition of Division I men’s and women’s programs. The study for Tennessee State began in 2021.

Tennessee State University on January 1, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Raymond