NASHVILLE, TN — In a city known for country music and honky-tonks, a new rhythm is echoing through the heart of North Nashville: the sharp glide of skates on ice.
Tennessee State University is making history — not just in Music City, but nationwide — as the first historically Black college or university HBCU to launch a NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey program. Expected to hit the ice in the 2025–26 season, the move signals a powerful shift in both the sport’s reach and the university’s evolving athletic ambitions.
“This bold move builds upon the TSU legacy that we had envisioned for the institution as a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs, with a continued commitment to excellence,” says TSU President Dr. Glenda Glover.
The origins of the program trace back to 2020, when the NHL and NHLPA awarded a feasibility grant to TSU to explore building a hockey program. What started as an exploratory conversation quickly gained momentum.
By 2023, TSU made national headlines during the NHL Draft in Nashville, officially announcing its intent to launch a men’s hockey team.
Initially expected to begin as a club team, TSU accelerated its vision. Backed by corporate partners, alumni, and a wave of national support, the university committed to debuting as a full NCAA Division I program — making sports history.
Nashville has quietly evolved into a southern hockey stronghold, thanks largely to the success of the Nashville Predators, who have built one of the most passionate fanbases in the NHL. Youth hockey leagues, adult recreational teams, and fan events like “Preds Plaza Parties” have made the sport a cultural fixture — even in a region historically rooted in football and basketball.
Now, with TSU joining the mix, the city’s hockey landscape is expanding in both diversity and depth.
Meet the Coach: Duanté Abercrombie
Duanté Abercrombie is a a trailblazer both on and off the ice.
Abercrombie, 38, brings a unique blend of playing and coaching experience, along with a powerful mission to grow hockey within underrepresented communities. Raised in Washington, D.C., he has spent years in junior hockey leagues and development programs, including roles connected to the NHL.
For Abercrombie, this is a full-circle journey.
“This is honestly what I’ve been doing this for,” says Abercrombie. “I wanted to play professional hockey, I wanted to coach at the professional ranks and I’ve done both of those at different levels, but I wanted to do it so that I would be able to build a platform, to be able to go back to neighborhoods like mine, where I grew up, and help individuals coming from situations like mine.”
TSU’s hockey program marks the first Division I team at a Historically Black College or University, making Abercrombie’s leadership a landmark moment for diversity and inclusion in collegiate hockey.
With Abercrombie leading the charge, TSU is not only launching a new sport but also pioneering a culture of opportunity, representation, and excellence.
In early 2024, TSU welcomed its first official commit, Xavier Abel, a 22-year-old defenseman from Toronto with dual Canadian-Jamaican heritage. For Abel, choosing TSU was about more than ice time — it was about impact.
Abel is helping TSU shape the identity of the team — one focused on discipline, cultural pride, and proving that hockey truly is for everyone.
The launch of a hockey program at TSU doesn’t just add another sport to the schedule, it introduces new training styles, recovery needs, and performance benchmarks for student-athletes.
Hockey players must build explosive power, endurance, and agility, often blending off-ice strength training with on-ice skill drills, mobility work, and mental preparation. TSU is investing in upgraded training facilities, athletic therapy, and strength and conditioning staff to meet those demands.
To learn more and keep up with the team, schedule, and tickets visit their website and follow them.
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