UNC Hockey set to play outdoor game against Virginia Tech this season

The 2024-25 season for UNC club hockey is lining up to be one of the most exciting in program history.

Over the past year, significant changes have been announced for the future of North Carolina hockey, which is currently more popular than ever. The most significant of these changes is the club's decision to move up to the Division One level for the 2025-26 season. This move and the preliminary approval for the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League to add a Division 1 conference signifies a new era for UNC club hockey, full of potential and excitement. 

In late December, the club also announced its plans to design and build a 20 million-dollar rink in Chapel Hill so the UNC hockey team could have a permanent home. The new rink will seat over 2,000 fans and solidify hockey's promising future in North Carolina.

The latest news for the future D1 club came with their schedule announcement, revealing that the club will face Virginia Tech at Truist Field in Charlotte, NC, on Saturday, January 4th, for a thrilling outdoor hockey game. This unique event promises to be a highlight of the season, adding an extra layer of excitement for the fans.

The baseball stadium, with a max capacity of 10,200, is home to the Charlotte Knights, a Triple-A Minor League baseball team. It will be converted into a rink for the early January matchup.

While UNC Hockey isn't as popular as other athletic programs, such as the basketball or football team, with the addition of Hokie fans that should make the trip to Charlotte, the two clubs should have no problem filling the stadium.

In February 2023, the Tar Heels club hockey program took on NC State in Raleigh's Carter-Finley Stadium with help from the NHL's Stadium Series, drawing a crowd of over 20,000.

The outdoor game is just the next chapter of the incredible and exciting story of the UNC club hockey team, which finished the 2024 season with an 18-7-1 record.