By Abby Doperak · KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Club Hockey is celebrating its 60 th anniversary as the new year begins. Founded in 1966, the University of Tennessee he…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Club Hockey is celebrating its 60 th anniversary as the new year begins.
Founded in 1966, the University of Tennessee helped make history by creating space for hockey in the South. As reported by Ryan Kennedy in a 2005 article for The Hockey News , the Ice Vols have been skating in orange longer than the Philadelphia Flyers.
With six decades of players and coaches passing through the program comes 60 years of stories, memories, and friendships. From trips to nationals to locker room antics and on-ice battles, the organization’s history extends far beyond the ice.
Reflecting on his time at Tennessee, former club president and player Joe Williams spoke highly of his trips to nationals, particularly his final appearance, where he got to practice near his hometown with his Ice Vol team.
“They were all different, but they were all special,” Williams said. “Each nationals trip we went on was special in some way.”
Former head coach Steve Durrigan also recalled countless meaningful memories from his time leading the program at nationals.
“It’s one great moment amongst hundreds of great moments I could talk about,” Durrigan said. “I was blessed to have such a great team and a bunch of great guys that were unbelievably good in their personal lives, professions, and even academically.”
With so much time spent together, it is no surprise that the bonds formed while wearing orange have lasted a lifetime.
“I’m super thankful and blessed that we had such a great group of guys,” former president and player Robbie Goldsmith said. “It’s one of the highlights of my life for sure, and I think most of my teammates would say the exact same thing.”
Former Ice Vols have gone on to help grow hockey in the South, play professionally, work in the NHL, and raise families of their own. Despite following different paths, many remain closely connected to the program that shaped them. The club hosts an annual alumni game to reunite former teammates on the ice, but those connections often extend well beyond hockey.
Craig Bates, who served as head coach from 1999 to 2002, said former players still refer to him as “coach” more than 20 years after his position ended.
In 2017, Bates’ younger brother and fellow Ice Vol alum, Berke Bates, passed away while serving as a Virginia State Trooper. During that time of loss, the Tennessee Hockey community rallied around one of their own.
Years after leaving the program, Bates’ Ice Vol family stepped in as if no time had passed.
What began as a small gesture – helmet stickers featuring Berke’s badge number – grew into an Ice Vols charity game in Richmond, Virginia, with proceeds benefiting a fund supporting the Bates family.
During the game, Craig’s nephew joined the team on the ice for warmups wearing Berke’s old jersey, while Craig returned behind the bench where he once stood as head coach.
Bates’ story is just one of many that illustrate how the Ice Vols community shows up for one another.
“Unfortunately, we are at the age where some of us have passed away,” former player Tag McCown said. “But it seems that the back row or two will be 30 of the boys showing up. It’s a true family.”
To this day, former teammates have raised families alongside one another, vacationed together, and continue to meet on the ice for friendly competition.
“I had met some of my best friends, still to this day,” Goldsmith said. “We did everything together. We couldn’t have been closer. It was a sports team, it was a fraternity, it was a group of best friends.”
As relationships strengthened over the years, the program itself continued to evolve.
“It’s gone through different levels through the 60 years for sure,” former president and player Jake McKamey said. “There are times where they were just trying to keep it afloat and times where you are just trying for things to keep getting better. I have been really surprised at the steps that have been taken.”
Player development has improved significantly over the decades, as has the organization’s structure. What once involved carpooling to away games has turned into coordinated bus trips and team meals, creating more opportunities for connection.
“They get on a bus now and go as a team,” former player Andy Stewart said. “They hang out as a team, and they come back on the bus as a team. I’m pretty sure there is a lot more pride and buy-in from the players because they are together.”
Each generation of players has left its mark, helping shape the program into what it is today.
“The program had struggled a little when we left to find their footing,” Williams said. “But it’s been really cool watching the success of the team. It’s all stuff that we were doing on a very basic level, so it’s cool to see a much bigger presence.”
From a small group of students seeking ice time to a professionally run organization with multiple teams, alumni say the growth has been remarkable.
“I’m so proud of it and the fact that I even have a touch of UT hockey,” McCown said. “I am beyond proud of the…