Alabama Hockey Teams Struggle with Remote Facilities

Long commutes and limited practice times hinder Alabama's club hockey programs.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Alabama's men's and women's club hockey teams face significant challenges due to the distance between their campus in Tuscaloosa and the nearest ice rink, located 60 miles away in Pelham. The teams must compete for limited practice times at the Pelham Civic Complex, which is also home to a professional team and junior league squads. The late practice hours and long commutes have created safety concerns and impacted the teams' ability to develop chemistry and skills.

Why it matters

Alabama's hockey programs are at a significant disadvantage compared to other Southeastern Conference schools that have on-campus or nearby rinks. The remote facilities make it difficult for the teams to practice regularly and effectively, hindering their competitiveness and player development. This issue highlights the challenges facing non-revenue sports at universities without dedicated athletic facilities.

The details

Alabama's men's D1, men's D3, and women's D1 hockey teams all practice at the Pelham Civic Complex, which is an hour drive from the Tuscaloosa campus. The women's team can only practice once a week at 8 p.m., while the men's D1 team practices twice a week starting at 9:15 p.m. and the men's D3 team practices at 10 p.m. This limited and late-night ice time makes it difficult for the teams to develop chemistry and skills compared to opponents who have access to on-campus rinks. The teams also struggle to find space at the Civic Complex, which hosts the Birmingham Bulls professional team and multiple junior league squads.

  • In 2024, the Akins Ford Arena opened in Atlanta and became home to the University of Georgia's men's hockey team.
  • In 2009, the Alabama men's D1 team lost sophomore Steve Filo in a car accident while traveling from practice in Pelham back to campus.

The players

Freya Seneski

A sophomore on the Alabama women's hockey team.

Mike Fairbanks

Head coach of the Alabama men's D1 ACHA hockey team.

Tayla Lucas

The director of internal affairs for the Alabama men's D1 hockey team.

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What they’re saying

“We can't practice more than once a week. It's very difficult. It takes a lot longer in the season for us to connect on the ice and know how each other plays.”

— Freya Seneski, Sophomore, Alabama women's hockey team (The Crimson White)

“Most of the high-end teams we play have their own rinks, so they're practicing every day, and we're only able to practice twice a week. We have to work harder.”

— Mike Fairbanks, Head coach, Alabama men's D1 ACHA hockey team (The Crimson White)

“I worry about the kids. We've had some accidents in the past where kids trying to get to practice get hurt.”

— Mike Fairbanks, Head coach, Alabama men's D1 ACHA hockey team (The Crimson White)

“Unfortunately, we believe people complained and it became a big issue at the rec center. It's almost like we're feeling a little bit unwelcomed on campus.”

— Tayla Lucas, Director of internal affairs, Alabama men's D1 hockey team (The Crimson White)

“Just having something closer for us and easier to access, even if we weren't skating as a team but skating with a few teammates or on our own would make a huge difference.”

— Freya Seneski, Sophomore, Alabama women's hockey team (The Crimson White)

What’s next

Alabama Athletics did not respond to requests for comment regarding potential plans to address the hockey teams' facility challenges.

The takeaway

Alabama's hockey programs are at a significant competitive disadvantage due to the remote location of their practice facility, which creates safety concerns, limits practice time, and hinders team development. This issue underscores the challenges facing non-revenue sports at universities without dedicated athletic facilities.