In 2008, UT student Leif Benner and founding head coach Dr. Steve Kucera established the UT hockey program with the support of UT's administration and students.  As a new program, UT joined the ranks of established South Region M3 ACHA powerhouse programs at FGCU, UCF and USF.   UT hockey played its first ACHA games in Daytona against Embry Riddle in September of 2009 and completed its first full season that year.  In the first few years of UT hockey, USF would regularly schedule UT, but FGCU and UCF waited for UT to establish itself as a growing program that could compete with them.   The first time UT played FGCU in their second season, in just a single early fall exhibition game, UT lost 15 - 0 and it would be a few years before FGCU would include UT again on their schedule.  Now, UT hockey faces these top notch programs 4 times a year in what has become a fiercely competitive rivalry that makes for an exciting hockey game any time UT steps on the ice against these and its other opponents.

Fast forward to 2019 and UT enters its 10th season of ACHA hockey with an impressive list of accomplishments that include 3 appearances at ACHA M3 National Tournament in the past four seasons; finishing the season ranked in the top 15 every year for the past five seasons, including twice being ranked #2 in the South Region; a SCHC conference championship and former ACHA standouts and UT alums Matt Antonacci and Jake Peterson having been named ACHA All American skaters while skating for UT. 

UT hockey is respected on and off the ice, both for the academic accomplishments of its student athletes and everyone's desire to donate their time and energy giving back to the university and Tampa community.   From attending elementary school classes to read to the class of a former coach's son to their charitable work supporting the College Diabetes Network, breast cancer awareness and Movember, UT hockey skaters and managers work set a high bar for exemplary leadership in working hard to do good for and give back to their community.

The future is bright for UT hockey, thanks to the dedication and commitment of all of its skaters, their on and off-ice leaders, its highly talented volunteer staff, its dedicated coaching staff and most importantly its many fans.  We look forward to a highly competitive group of young men working hard to show their fellow skaters and the coaches their best in the upcoming tryouts.  Those who earn a coveted roster spot will nurture the camaraderie and brotherhood that is essential to the development of a team of young men, all of whom are all mutually committed to each other, their fans and the university they call home.

We hope to see you this upcoming season at our home rink, the Clearwater Ice Arena to cheer the team on. The Boys are Back in Town and on the ice for their ACHA home opener against conference rival the University of Miami on September 13 at 9:00 pm!  Admission is free for UT hockey home games.

- Coach Kucera