By Abby Doperak · KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the Class of 2026, the familiar routine of home games, locker room speeches and postgame celebrations is coming to an end. As…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the Class of 2026, the familiar routine of home games, locker room speeches and postgame celebrations is coming to an end.
As the Ice Vols take the ice for their final home weekend of the season, seniors Myles Jackson and Kyle Oakley, alternate captains Tyler Iles and Kyle Stober, and captain Connor Frazer are playing not only for wins, but for the memories they have built together throughout their college careers.
What began as a group of strangers has grown into a tight-knit group of lifelong friends after several seasons together.
“I came here not knowing what I wanted to do,” Stober said. “I was playing baseball before. All the guys were very welcoming, and they have been my best friends for the last three years. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Between memories at the Knoxville Coliseum during home games, practices at Cool Sports Icearium and time spent together off the ice, the senior class cherishes its extensive time on the road the most.
“This team has given me a lot of chances to leave the state,” Jackson said. “To travel the country and meet new people within our Tennessee organization and outside of it. It has given me a lot of opportunities to have fun outside of the classroom and outside the rink.”
One trip to stand out above the rest: the team’s journey to Savannah, Georgia, in 2025, where the Ice Vols won the Savannah Classic Championship. Beyond competing in high-level games, the trip allowed players to bond with one another and with their families away from the rink.
Iles believes that experiences like those help translate to stronger chemistry on the ice. He encourages both current and incoming players to soak in every moment.
“Really enjoy every second of the hockey season on and off the ice,” Iles said. “They go by quick. Cherish every moment off the ice, because I really believe that it affects the team play on the ice.”
Countless hours spent together have solidified bonds that will last well beyond college. Many players said their college experience would not have been the same without the Ice Vols program.
“What makes this team special is how we all come together 2 hours a week to practice,” Oakley said. “Spend every weekend with each other, go to different events with each other. We all are like brothers. We have fights, we argue, we make up the next day. There’s nothing like it.”
During their time with Tennessee Hockey, this class has seen the program undergo significant change. Most notably, the seniors will be the final group to have both played alongside and been coached under head coach Drew King.
“Seeing where we started my freshman year, off of where Drew King left off, compared to now is so much different,” Frazer said. “It’s a whole team buy-in, and I think that is something that will carry with me into my professional career.”
In a previous interview, King expressed his appreciation for the senior class and its ability to adapt during periods of transition.
“They made the transition so much easier on me,” King said. “They’ve done a really good job transitioning from teammate and friend to leader and coach.”
As the seniors prepare for life after college – whether entering the workforce, attending graduate school or relocating – their connection to Tennessee Hockey remains strong.
“I am going to be a grad student here,” Frazer said. “I am thrilled to be a part of it and thrilled to be accepted. I am excited to see these guys when we all grow up together.”
Though they will part ways at the end of the semester in May, their shared experiences will continue to bind them for life. The lessons learned, friendships formed and memories made in orange and white will remain a constant, ensuring that no matter where life takes them, they will always be Ice Vols.