University of Georgia Ice Dawgs: A History of Hockey in Athens

The University of Georgia (UGA) Ice Dawgs hockey team has a rich history, starting from its humble beginnings as a club sport to its current status as a prominent and well-supported program within the university. This article explores the team's origins, its growth and achievements, its impact on the Athens community, and its future aspirations.

The Genesis of the Ice Dawgs

The University of Georgia Ice Dawgs hockey team was established in 1987 by team founder Larry Hall and a group of students who wanted to start a new tradition in Athens. The team's formation marked the beginning of a new era for hockey in the region, providing an opportunity for students to play the sport they love at a high level.

League Competition and Rivals

The Ice Dawgs compete in the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC), now known as College Hockey South (CHS), of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and play under NCAA rules. Georgia faces off against familiar SEC opponents including Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU & South Carolina. The team also competes against other southern opponents including Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State, and many of the other teams in the South region of CHF Division III.

The Ice Dawgs face-off against ten (10) SEC opponents including east division rivals Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Other opponents include cross-state rival Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State, and many of the other 38 teams in the South region of ACHA Division III.

Home Ice Advantage: From Duluth to The Classic Center

For many years, the Ice Dawgs faced a significant challenge: the lack of a dedicated home ice rink in Athens. Before 2014 the Ice Dawgs had to travel to the Atlanta Ice Forum in Duluth, where games were played in front of few and without the atmosphere that exists at Georgia’s matches today. This meant that the team had to travel to the Atlanta Ice Forum in Duluth for home games, a significant distance from the UGA campus. Games were played in front of smaller crowds, lacking the vibrant atmosphere that a home venue could provide.

However, this changed when the Ice Dawgs found a home at The Classic Center. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,197 in what is now called the Akins Ford Arena, signifying the start of a new style of entertainment in Athens. The inaugural game at Akins Arena was played on April 9, 2014 in front of a sellout crowd of 2,197 as the Ice Dawgs defeated Georgia Tech 6-3.

The move to The Classic Center marked a turning point for the program. The team had a rink a stone's throw from campus, and it paid off in a big way. “We've gone from having a handful of fans at a home game in Atlanta to our first home game here with an attendance of over 2,000,” UGA General Manager Henry Oddi said. “The relationship comes with a lot of responsibility to be good stewards to the Classic Center. That's a responsibility we're glad to take on because we've always wanted to be part of the Athens community.

The Ice Dawgs have called The Classic Center home since April 9, 2014, in a 6-3 victory over Georgia Tech. It wasn’t long before the Ice Dawgs’ home established its value. During the 2015-16 season, their second full season at The Classic Center, the Ice Dawgs won their first South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship. They continued by winning two of the next three SECHC championships, as well as qualifying for back-to-back American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 3 National Championships in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

The Challenge of the Foundry Pavilion and the Promise of a New Arena

However, in late January or early February of every season, the Ice Dawgs have to move across the street to The Classic Center’s Foundry Pavilion, an outdoor venue that eliminates some fan attraction due to cold weather and less seating. But soon enough, the Ice Dawgs won’t have to use the Foundry Pavilion.

In July 2019, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission added a proposal to provide $34 million toward the construction of a new arena at The Classic Center to the Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax 2020 project list. Voters approved the project - one with a larger permanent seating capacity of 5,500 - when they passed the SPLOST 2020 referendum in November. This gives the Ice Dawgs a permanent home for games and creates a significant advantage for future players, as they won’t have to resort to practicing on the local YMCA field before the ice rink is put together. The new arena will remain within walking distance from North Campus.

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“The arena is going to validate and put a big stamp on what we’re trying to build,” head coach Rick Emmett said. “Players from coast to coast will take notice about being able to play a club sport that has the facilities that we’ll have.”

UGA Hockey Foundation

The UGA Hockey Foundation is a 501-C3 Non-profit and provides students at the University of Georgia the opportunity to play high level hockey, the sport they love.

A Thriving Fanbase and Community Impact

With over 1,500 fans selling out nearly every home game, UGA Hockey is by far the most attended Club Sport at the University. The Ice Dawgs have created a new passion in the Athens area that can expand once the arena is built.

“The arena will certainly further the excitement for our fan base,” Emmett said. “People will want to come and see what the venue is all about, to be a part of that and see what our Ice Dawgs have to offer.”

Success on the ice also met with success off the ice. The team gives back to the community as well. When vying for the Thrasher Cup in Savannah, they visit and provide some smiles to kids in local hospitals. They raise funds for breast cancer research every year and partner with the military in a Teddy bear toss that provides cuddly toys to kids in need. This year the Ice Dawgs will partner with Nuci’s Space to provide mental health care and other resources to those in need.

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Financial Challenges and Support

The team has an operating budget of nearly $200,000. This goes to ice rink rental, equipment, travel, coaches salaries, recruiting and marketing. The school will provide the team $900 this year, up from $600 the year before. $900 only pays for about 2.5 hour of ice time! Many teams in the leagues get far more than that, up to $40,000 from their school. The Ice Dawgs get very little revenue from ticket sales, as most revenue pays for the ice time.

Key Figures in Ice Dawgs History

Several individuals have played pivotal roles in the success and growth of the UGA Ice Dawgs program:

Larry Hall: The founder of the Ice Dawgs team, who laid the foundation for hockey at the University of Georgia.
John Hoos: The Georgia hockey program made great strides under the leadership of John Hoos. The Birmingham, Michigan native played high school and junior hockey before coming to Athens, where he played for the Ice Dawgs as both a center and a defenseman. He was named a College Hockey South All-Star four times, and set school records for points per game and career points that remained intact for over a decade. In 2011, SECHC Commissioner Sarge Day created the John Hoos Coach of the Year Award in recognition of Hoos’ accomplishments, including eleven winning seasons and seven appearances at national tournaments.
Rick Emmett: In April, 2016, Rick Emmett was named head coach of the Ice Dawgs for the 2016-2017 season. Emmett served as assistant coach during the team’s 2015-16 SECHC Championship-winning season. The 2018-19 season, the team continued to improve under the tutelage of Rick Emmett.
Brian Daley: In July, the team announced that Brian Daley was joining the coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2019-2020 season. On April 4, 2020, the team announced a major change in their coaching staff. Assistant coach Brian Daley was named Head Coach for the 2020-2021 season.

Memorable Seasons and Achievements

The Ice Dawgs have experienced several successful seasons and achieved significant milestones throughout their history:

2015-16: The Ice Dawgs won their first South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship. The Ice Dawgs finished the 2015-16 season with a 20-2 record. The ACHA rankings predicted the team was a contender for the SECHC Championship in Nashville. The Ice Dawgs earned two victories to qualify for the final round of the Championship: 11-0 against Auburn University and 3-0 against Vanderbilt University. They played the University of Florida for the No. 1 title and won 7-4. While in Nashville, the team also participated in a rehearsal for the NHL All Star Skills Competition. The team qualified for ACHA Regionals in Orlando, Florida. They earned a 3-1 victory against Christopher Newport University.
2016-17 and 2017-18: The team qualified for back-to-back American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 3 National Championships. The 2016-17 season marked the 30th anniversary of the UGA Hockey Team. The Ice Dawgs had an overall record of 24-1-0-1 and won their seventh Thrasher Cup at the Savannah Hockey Classic in dramatic fashion.
2018-19: The Ice Dawgs captured the 2019 SEC Hockey Conference Championship. The Ice Dawgs entered the SECHC Tournament as the #1 seed based on their conference play during the regular season. They defeated Tennessee by a score of 11-0 in the first game, then shutout Arkansas 4-0 in the semi-finals and faced off against Ole Miss in the Championship Game. The Ice Dawgs fell behind 2-0 but battled back with four unanswered goals to capture the SECHC title.

Individual Recognition

Senior Carter Penzien was named the ACHA Men’s Division III South Region MVP, and was also named to the All-South Region First Team. He was joined by sophomore teammate Kyle Harris, who also received All-South Region First Team honors.
Sophomore Christopher Santa Maria was named the SECHC tournament MVP, while Ice Dawgs head coach Rick Emmett was named the season’s Coach of the Year and Ryan Bray took home SECHC MVP honors.
In early November 2014, the ACHA National Select Team announced that Alex Carey was selected for the 2014-15 team that will travel to Europe in late December.

Other Milestones

2013-14 also brought another first for the Ice Dawgs. Shelby Saponari became the first female to make the opening season roster for the Ice Dawgs. Emily Barber became the second female to make the season opening roster in 2017-18. Emily's father, Scott Barber, played on the inaugural hockey team in 1987.

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