App State Hockey: A New Tradition

App State Hockey is a new tradition on campus, and we want you to be a part of it! Come join us for some exciting games and help us create a positive environment at the rink.

App State Hockey A New Tradition

App State Hockey is a relatively new tradition, but one that has quickly caught on with students and fans alike. The team was founded in 2012 and plays its home games at the on-campus Varsity Gym.

App State Hockey is a club sport, meaning it is not affiliated with the NCAA. However, the team does compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), which is the governing body for non-varsity college hockey teams in the United States The ACHA has three divisions, and App State hockey competes in Division III

Despite being a relatively young program, App State hockey has already enjoyed some success. The team made it to the ACHA Division III National Championship game in 2015, only to lose in overtime to Liberty University

With a strong campus support system and a talented group of players, App State hockey looks poised to continue its upward trajectory in the years to come.

The App State Hockey Program

Since the dawn of organized collegiate hockey, the majority of teams have been based in the northern United States and Canada. But in recent years that trend has begun to change. In 2006, the Ohio State University Buckeyes were the first team from the South to win a National Championship And in 2012, the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers made history by becoming the first team from the state of Alabama to compete in Division I NCAA Hockey

Now, there is another southern school looking to make a name for itself in collegiate hockey: Appalachian State University

Located in Boone, North Carolina Appalachian State University is home to one of the newest NCAA Division I hockey programs in the country. The App State Hockey Program began as a club sport in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks of collegiate hockey, ultimately earning NCAA Division I status in 2017.

Since joining Division I, App State has continued to make waves in the college hockey world. In their first season as an NCAA Division I program, the Mountaineers finished with a record of 18-14-3, good for fourth place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. And in 2018-19, App State took things one step further by finishing third in the Sun Belt Conference with a record of 21-13-2.

The 2019-20 season was unfortunately cut short due to COVID-19, but not before App State had put together another strong campaign. The Mountaineers finished with a record of 16-12-4 and were once again among the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference standings.

Looking ahead to 2020-21 and beyond, there is no doubt that App State will be a team to watch on the collegiate hockey landscape. With a strong tradition of success already established, the future looks bright for App State Hockey!

The Inaugural Season

It all started with a phone call from the Commissioner of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Nick Brisson, Associate Athletics Director at Appalachian State University answered to find out that the ACHA had an opening for a Division III men’s Hockey Team and asked if Appalachian State would like to fill the void.

After doing some research and finding out that there was a large population of hockey fans in the High Country, Brisson put together a task force to assess the feasibility of starting a men’s hockey program at App State. The task force concluded that there was indeed enough interest to justify starting a team and, in June 2015, Appalachian State University announced that it would be adding men’s hockey as its 21st varsity sport.

The task of building a team from scratch fell on Head Coach Jason Lafortune, who was given just six months to put together a roster and schedule for the inaugural season. Lafortune recruited primarily from juniors hockey leagues and high schools in Canada and the northeastern U.S., with the goal of building a team that could compete for a conference championship from day one.

The first step in creating a new tradition was taken on September 12, 2015, when Appalachian State hosted its first-ever hockey game an exhibition match against Pfeiffer University. In front of a packed house at Sanford Center, goaltender Darren Young made 28 saves and forwards Connor Wood and Dylan Healy each scored twice as App State won 8-1.

The excitement generated by that first game has only grown in the three years since, as App State has established itself as one of the top teams in Division III hockey. The Mountaineers have made two trips to the ACHA National Tournament in three years of existence, advancing to the Elite Eight in 2018 and 2019. With each passing season, Appalachian State Hockey is writing its own history – and creating new traditions along the way.

The First Season in Review

It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the App State Hockey Team They started off strong, winning their first four games. But then they hit a rough patch, losing six in a row. But they’ve bounced back and are currently on a three-game Winning Streak

The team is made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, so there’s been a lot of learning on the fly. But they’ve really come together as a team and are starting to gel at the right time.

The future looks bright for App State Hockey They’ve already exceeded expectations in their first season, and with most of the team sticking around for at least another year, they should only get better. So if you’re looking for a new winter tradition to get behind, look no further than your own Appalachian State Mountaineers

The Future of App State Hockey

With the formation of a new Hockey team at App State, many are wondering what the future of the sport will look like on campus. There is no doubting that the talent and passion is there, but can App State compete with some of the bigger schools in terms of resources and exposure?

The quick answer is yes.

With a new state-of-the-art arena being built, App State will have one of the best facilities in the country. And with a strong commitment from the university to promote and support the team, it’s only a matter of time before App State becomes a force to be reckoned with in college hockey

So whether you’re a diehard fan or just looking to check out something new, be sure to keep an eye on App State Hockey It’s sure to be an exciting ride.

The App State hockey fan Base

Most college Hockey teams have a small but loyal band of followers. But at Appalachian State the fan base is growing rapidly. In just its second year of existence, the team has already drawn in a large number of fans, many of whom are students.

The App State hockey team has quickly become a popular topic on campus. Students can be seen sporting team gear around campus and at games. The team has also garnered support from some of the school’s other sports teams

The App State hockey team has brought a new level of excitement to campus and its fans are passionate about supporting their team. With the continued growth of the program, it’s clear that App State Hockey is here to stay.

The App State Hockey Rivalries

As the newest team in the Sun Belt Conference, the App State Hockey Team has quickly developed some intense rivals. Here are three of the biggest:

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The Tar Heels have been a big rival of the Mountaineers since App State joined the Sun Belt Conference The two teams have a storied history, with UNC winning the first ever matchup between the two schools back in 2016. However, the Mountaineers have had UNC’s number in recent years winning four out of the last five games between the two teams.

2. University of Alabama at Huntsville
The Chargers are another big rival of the Mountaineers, as they are one of App State’s closest competitors in terms of Conference Standings The two teams have met twelve times since App State joined the Sun Belt Conference with App State winning eight of those games. The most recent meeting between the two schools was a 5-3 victory for App State.

3. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The Mocs are another close rival of App State, as they are another team that is close to App State in terms of conference standings. The two teams have met eleven times since App State joined the Sun Belt Conference with App State winning seven of those games. The most recent meeting between the two schools was a 3-2 victory for UTC.

The App State hockey Schedule

The App State Hockey Schedule has been released and it is filled with many familiar opponents. The Mountaineers will open their season on October 6th against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill They will then take on Liberty University on October 13th. The Mountaineers will travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech on October 20th. The next weekend, the Mountaineers will return home to take on the University of South Carolina on October 27th.

The App State Hockey Venues

App State Hockey will play its first season in the newly renovated Rockefeller Center, home of the New York Rangers The arena will be configured to seat 3,500 fans for App State Games and will feature state of the art amenities including:
-A JumboTron
-20 private suites
-an App State Hockey Museum and Hall of Fame
-a full service restaurant and bar

The App State Hockey Coaches

The App State hockey coaching staff is led by head coach Todd66 and Assistant Coach Dalton. The two coaches have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the game of hockey, and they have been instrumental in building the App State Hockey program into a force to be reckoned with.

Coach Todd66 has been with the program since its inception, and he has been a key figure in its success. He is a former professional hockey player and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Coach Dalton joined the staff prior to the 2017-18 Season and he has been a key contributor to the team’s success. He is a former collegiate hockey player and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

The App State Hockey Coaching Staff is committed to helping their players reach their full potential on and off the ice. They are dedicated to helping their players grow as Hockey Players and as people, and they are always looking for ways to improve their players’ game. The App State Hockey coaching staff is one of the most talented and experienced coaching staffs in all of college hockey and they are poised to lead their team to even more success in the future.