From TSCHL
UC RETURNS TO #THET AFTER FOUR YEARS..
CINCINNATI, OH – The Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL) is excited to welcome back the University of Cincinnati. The Bearcats will return to the TSCHL for the 2023-2024 season after a four-year hiatus.
Cincinnati’s success while in the TSCHL is well documented – claiming regular season banners in 2017 and 2019 and competing in the ACHA Southeast Regional Tournament in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The 2019 Bearcats’ qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division II National Tournament, sweeping pool play, and earning a spot in the Final Four. Despite losing in the Final Four to Florida Gulf Coast, Cincinnati’s deep postseason brought them national notoriety.
“The Bearcats played a huge role in putting the TSCHL on the map and elevating it to one of the premiere conferences in all of the ACHA. This is where they belong. This is their home, and we are ecstatic to have them back,” stated TSCHL Commissioner Tim Driscoll when making the announcement.
During their hiatus from “The T”, Cincinnati’s success continued. The Bearcats qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division II Southeast Regional Tournament in all three years, bringing their consecutive appearance streak to six and counting. Prior to being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cincinnati was slated to compete in the 2020 ACHA Men’s Division II National Tournament.
Over the few years absence, it has felt, at times, as if Cincinnati never left. The Bearcats have remained a staple in numerous TSCHL teams’ schedules, including nine games against five TSCHL teams this season.
Head Coach, Taylor Ley, commented, “The Bearcats are excited to rejoin the TSCHL and compete against our closest rivals. The ability to play top teams in the country, on a regular basis, while competing for a championship is an opportunity our players are looking forward to.”
“On behalf of Bearcat players, past and present, the University of Cincinnati looks forward to the consistent high-level competition that has been the hallmark of the TSCHL since its inception,” Cincinnati’s General Manager, Van Oler, added.
Cincinnati will compete as the sixth team in the South Division, putting the league at a total of 11 teams.
(Originally published at https://www.tschockeyleague.com/news_article/show/1244941)
