Through Mekhi Abbott
Particular to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
Tennessee Surrounding College (TSU) continues to crack farmland on a historical travel to turn into the primary traditionally Lightless faculty or college (HBCU) to grassland a Nationwide Collegiate Athletic Affiliation Category I ice hockey group. Along some help from the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL), the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation and the Nashville Predators, the TSU Tigers have already named their legitimate head schoolteacher, unveiled their jersey and won their first legitimate loyalty from a student-athlete.
TSU held an legitimate press conference to announce the plan in June 2023. Their first legitimate season as a sanctioned Category I program is deliberate to start in 2025-26. On April 18, TSU named Duanté Abercrombie as the pinnacle schoolteacher of the Tennessee Surrounding Tigers ice hockey group.
“I am incredibly excited to embark on building this program, supported by God, my family, TSU students, alumni, and all those eagerly awaiting this moment,” mentioned Abercrombie in a press release courtesy of TSU Athletics. “I firmly believe that one day, TSU will be recognized not only as a powerhouse on the ice but also as a program whose student-athletes leave a profound legacy on the world, enriched by the lessons learned at TSU.”
Abercrombie was once raised in Washington, D.C., and was once mentored by means of hockey legend Neal Henderson, the primary Lightless guy to be inducted into the USA Hockey Corridor of Popularity. Abercrombie attended Gonzaga Faculty Top College and graduated from Hampton College, the place he was once a observe and grassland athlete previous to retiring because of an shock. Nearest faculty, Abercrombie in short performed skilled hockey in each the Pristine Zealand Ice Hockey League in addition to the Federal Hockey League.
Nearest his profession as a qualified hockey participant, Abercrombie moved onto training, together with stints together with his alma mater Gonzaga and Georgetown Preparatory College. In 2022-23, Abercrombie was once a member of the training team of workers for NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs group.
“We are no longer doing club play in 2024-25. We are going right into D1 play for 2025-26,” Nick Guerriero instructed the AFRO. Guerriero is the laborer athletic director of communications and inventive content material at Tennessee Surrounding.
On Jan. 19, TSU were given their first legitimate loyalty from an ice hockey lease, Xavier Abel. Abel performed at Drury College and scored 12 targets in 34 video games, together with 3 game-winning targets. Abel was once recruited by means of Guerriero.
In July, the Tigers were given their 2nd loyalty from ahead Trey Fechko. In October, Trey’s brother Marcus Fechko additionally dedicated to Tennessee Surrounding. Since, the Tigers have additionally signed ahead Greye Rampton, goaltender Johnny Hicks, Grady Hoffman and four-star ahead Bowden Singleton. Singleton flipped his loyalty from North Dakota to Tennessee Surrounding. Guerriero mentioned that TSU has a “few” alternative recruits that they’re ready to announce right through their November signing duration.
“I think it’s important to invest in these unorthodox sports for Black athletes because it allows Black children to have more opportunities to play sports in general,” mentioned Zion Williams, a 2024 Gettysburg Faculty graduate and previous collegiate athlete. “The more opportunities that children have, the better. They won’t feel like they are boxed into one thing or sport.”
Put up Perspectives: 28
