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It may not be a scholarship sport in Athens (here’s to hoping that changes, one day) - but that doesn’t mean that UGA Club Hockey Program - aka the Ice Dawgs are not in a position that they are accustomed to - jockeying for another strong push into the postseason.
While the Ice Dawgs are currently the South Region’s fifth-ranked team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association rankings among Division 3 teams, a more immediate prize awaits this weekend in Nashville with the SEC Championships. Officially known as the SEC Hockey Conference, it pits teams from SEC-member schools. Georgia and Ole Miss share the best overall record at 18-3 overall with the Rebels conference mark being 8-2 compared to the Dawgs 6-1.
Here, the goal is simple for Georgia, the tournament’s top seed. Win or finish strong enough to bolster its ranking and jockey for position in the ACHA national tournament field to return there for the third year in a row. The win would also be Georgia’s second conference title in three years.
The tournament, staged at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, Tenn., kicks off for Georgia at 1:15 on Friday against Tennessee. The winner plays the winner of Florida and Arkansas at 6 pm on Saturday with the championship and third-place games on Sunday. A clash against Florida would enable the Dawgs to avenge their only conference loss of the season and one of three overall setbacks this year.
Go Ice Dawgs!