Frozen Tide releases 2016-2017 Alabama Hockey schedule

The Frozen Tide's season does not begin until early September, but the schedule has been finalized, and there are some real doozies on here:

2016-2017 Alabama Hockey Schedule

The Alabama Hockey Club has released their 2016-2017 season schedule. The schedule will include a team record 38 regular season games, and will span 177 days from start to finish. This is the program’s second season competing at the Division I level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). The team will open its season in Charleston, WV on September 9th, 2016 with a matchup against the West Virginia Mountaineers, a team Alabama defeated three times last season.

The team will play a second game against the Mountaineers on September 10th, 2016 to conclude its opening weekend. Alabama has won four of its last five season opening games. The home opener for the Alabama Hockey Club will be on October 7th, 2016 at the Pelham Civic Complex in a matchup with the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, a team Alabama has not seen since November of 2008. Other home matchups in the first semester include Vanderbilt, UAB, and an additional game with Middle Tennessee State on November 11th, 2016.

The Tide renew their acquaintance with Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Auburn this season. They also travel for an outdoor game in Buffalo during a the Canisius Tournament, make trips to Ames, Norman, and a visit to historic Annapolis to face the Naval academy. The team's home ice is still at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Last season's transition to ACHA DI had its ups and downs, to be sure. But, trust me, after speaking with new head man John Bierchen, there is a lot to look forward to over the coming years as far an influx of talent, the schedule, and the program's long-term plans to becoming a full-fledged NCAA scholarship sport.

Goal Tide.