Inaugural seasons usually include growing pains, tough moments, and a lot of losing. Alabama’s Women’s hockey team may have had some growing pains and challenging moments, but not much losing.
A year ago, the thought of Women’s hockey at the University of Alabama was merely an idea; fast forward to this year, and they were the first College Hockey South team to clinch a spot in the Women’s Playoffs. The Frozen Tide haven’t tiptoed their way into College Hockey South; they dove right into the deep end and circled their competition.
Team President and co-founder Morgan Grzybowksi spoke on her expectations coming into the season: “(the founders) honestly didn’t know what to expect. All we could do is hope there would be some interest and we could pull a team together” Grzybowski said. “The outcome has been beyond anything I could have imagined”
Entering the postseason, Alabama is 11-2, with the only losses coming to the 2024 College Hockey South championship game participants (Tampa and South Carolina). The Frozen Tide avenged their loss against South Carolina, winning the season series two games to one. However, Alabama has yet to beat the defending College Hockey South champion Tampa Lady Spartans.
This doesn’t diminish their season's accomplishments so far; in fact, it's quite the opposite. Although Tampa’s Women’s team is only a couple of years old, it has proven to be a juggernaut in College Hockey South, and Alabama has been side-by-side with them in the standings throughout their first season.
Alabama has been anchored by breakout forward Claire Carson, who has lit up the scoreboard all season. Carson leads Alabama in scoring and is in the top five in every major College Hockey South offensive category, including second in points (41), second in goals (26), and third in assists (15).
“I think that having such a solid team has really helped me produce the way that I have” Carson said. “We truly do care about one another and that carries on and off the ice”
Carson is one of four Alabama skaters who averages a point per game. The Frozen Tide also sports forwards Samantha Lantz (27 points in 13 games), Anna Zahorchak (18 points in 13 games), and Katherine Sabre (13 points in 12 games).
Lantz also credits her teammates, and the instant bond they created as the spark for her success: “it feels like we’ve been playing together forever so every time I hear someone mention it’s our first year I get surprised”.
Alabama's balance and depth of offense show that they aren’t just a team stumbling into a winning season; they’re dominating their competition. Through 13 games, the Frozen Tide has a goal differential of +60, meaning they have beaten their opponents by an average of over 4.5 goals per game.
This superb inaugural season has earned Alabama the two seed in the Women’s playoffs this weekend and a bye to the semifinals. The Frozen Tide will play the highest remaining seed on Saturday.
Carson talked about the anxiety and excitement level heading into the postseason: “I think it’s going to be a challenge for sure but if we keep up how we’ve been playing then (her nerves) should die down pretty quick!”
The College Hockey South Women's Division playoffs will take place from February 7-9, 2025, at the Akins Ford Arena in Athens, GA. For more information, visit 2025 Women’s Division Playoffs.
ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 30-school, 50-team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.
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