Restoring The Rink: University of Alabama-Huntsville

The pool of eligible players for NCAA Division I hockey swelled last fall with the addition of CHL players. Despite the increase, the number of teams at the Division I level has dropped to 63, with American International College joining the Division II ranks. Restoring The Rink examines programs that have gone defunct and their viability in today’s market.

History: The University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers were a bastion of NCAA Hockey in the southeastern United States. The Chargers have a rich history dating back to the 1980s. Like many other programs, they started as a club team. Huntsville advanced to Division II, winning two NCAA Championships in 1996 and 1998 before joining Division I full time in 1998-99. 

A member of the former College Hockey America, the Chargers were a part of the conference from 1999 until its men’s division disbanded in 2010. The team remained independent and survived an initial COVID-19 related attempt to cut the program. After one last season in 2020-21 backed by public funding, the Chargers suspended their program starting with the 2021-22 season. 

Hockey Impact: The Chargers have made an indelible mark on pro hockey. Their existence was a driving force for Washington Capitals forward and Huntsville native Nic Dowd’s love of the game, growing up watching Alabama-Huntsville NCAA Hockey. Dowd is one of just three Alabama born players to suit up in the NHL. The second of those three is former Charger captain Jared Ross, an alumnus of the Philadelphia Flyers. Alabama Huntsville was the home of veteran NHL goalie Cam Talbot, who played from 2007-10. 

Despite being from Scarborough, ON, Gavin Morgan raised his family in Huntsville, AL. Morgan was a Charger Assistant Coach from 2011-20 and is a veteran of over 500 professional games. His son Tanner is part of the next generation of Alabama hockey players as a member of the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. 

Market Viability

Based on the numbers, it’s a no brainer to bring NCAA DI hockey back to Huntsville. On the professional side, the Single A Huntsville Havoc has set the standard for their league. They consistently are at or near the top in SPHL attendance, leading the league with a 2025-26 average of nearly 6,500 fans. If a Single A minor league team can draw over 6,000, an NCAA squad could easily meet or exceed those numbers. Add in an NIL collective and donations for funding, and Changers could get right back in the collegiate mix. 

Nic Dowd summed up the Huntsville fan environment to Sammi Silber back in October. “Hockey's on people's radars down there, and they enjoy watching it."