Ranking the Top 10 Matchups for the Hokies this Season
- Chris Pierce
- Aug 11
- 8 min read
Following a successful 2024-25 season, the Virginia Tech Hokies aim to carry their momentum into the new year, facing both familiar and new challenges. Below, we've listed the top 10 most eagerly awaited matchups for Tech this season, which we believe everyone will agree on... or at least we hope so.
10. Rider Broncs
Last season, the Broncs and Hokies squared off three times. The first two meetings took place early October in New Jersey, where Tech dominated Rider 10-1, followed by a Saturday matinee one-goal victory. Both squads would not meet again until the first round of the ACCHL playoffs, where the Hokies once again matched up with the Broncs, and took a nail-biting 3-2 win thanks to captain Gavin Peduzzi's late third-period heroic goal. With both teams set to see each other again this upcoming season with two games at The Lot, expect two storylines. For Rider, it is simply to get revenge on the Hokies after being swept. Losing senior goaltender Trevor Giwerowski and forward Cole Schnider makes things a little more difficult for the Broncs, especially in a stacked ACCHL Premier division. That said, don't count the Broncs out entirely, as this team has proven countless times in the past to be a threat, winning the 2023-24 ACCHL regular season championship and making the trip to regionals two years in a row since joining the league. For the Hokies, their goal for these two games in December is to build momentum, in terms of league and regional seeding, heading into Winter Break. After their series against the Broncs, Tech will not step onto the ice for almost five weeks before returning to action against High Point.
9. West Virginia Mountaineers
The Black Diamond Trophy rivalry returns this season as the Hokies take on the Mountaineers twice during their 2025-26 campaign. Over the last few seasons, we have seen this rivalry skyrocket to new heights with flashy highlights, record-breaking performances, and, importantly, tightly contested games down to the wire. This season, a new layer is added to this already highly anticipated matchup as West Virginia in the offseason became one of three newly promoted teams in the ACCHL Premier Division. What does this mean? Only the fact that these two games, which will be played on the road for the Hokies, will count towards the playoffs and potential regional seedings. Last season, Tech swept West Virginia in Vinton, outscoring the Mountaineers 13-2 in dominant fashion. Expect a good fight between these two teams, in a series now more meaningful than ever.
8. UNCW Seahawks
The team that knocked the Hokies off their high horse in mid-January last season comes in eighth on this list. This is no shade towards the Seahawks; they are a competitive team led by the 2024 ACCHL Coach of the Year and bring back a roster that could have a good shot at a regional appearance. Last season, the Seahawks split with the Hokies in Vinton, handing them a gruesome defeat hours after Tech found out it was ranked number two in the ACHA Southeast region. Obviously, the loss knocked the Hokies out of the auto-bid position but gave the team momentum heading into the final weeks of the season, where they would end up fighting for a spot at regionals. For the Seahawks, the 2024-25 season brought positive light in many areas, including their willingness to stay in games with tough competitors like NC State, Tech, and UNC. Rich Brouwer and his squad will look to be one of the top clubs in the newly transformed ACCHL Premier Division, with four out of their top five scorers presumably returning. They will duel with the Hokies in Wilmington at the end of October.
7. High Point Panthers
Old foes meet once again, yet under new circumstances. In January, the Hokies will return from Winter Break at home as they welcome a familiar face in the High Point Panthers to The Lot for two games. After not facing one another last season, both teams will look to spark a fire that had been previously lit as, with the Panthers' promotion to the ACCHL M2 Premier Division for the 2025-26 season, the Hokies will clash with HPU at least twice. Unlike last season, where the Hokies faced the Tar Heels outdoors over winter break, there will be aforementioned five weeks in between not only home games, but divisional games for Tech. On the other hand, the Panthers last season once again proved their drive towards success. Legendary Head Coach Don Starcher always finds sucess with his players, and is one of the reasons why HPU is considered one of the best developmental clubs with three straight Rookie of the Year winners. The Panthers, after claiming the ACCHL Commodore's Cup, climbed to the AAU National Title game last season, where they fell short to Florida Atlantic. A rivalriy renewed, these two teams will clash once again in what is expected to be a great showdown.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
There is a first for everything, and shockingly enough, the 2025-26 season will feature the Hokies and Volunteers facing off for the first time. The Vols, previously a part of the College Hockey South (CHS) and AAU, arrive as part of the ACCHL's expansion into the south as part of the league's M2 Southeastern Conference along with Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. Taking a step down from AAU D1, the Vols will have to adjust to life in ACHA M2 and will do so immediately by taking on the Hokies on September 26 in Vinton. Last season, Tennessee punched its ticket to nationals, where the club fell short against Buffalo, ending an impressive season. The Vols are led by last season's CHS D1 Coach of the Year, Drew King, along with an impressive barrage of players, fans, and possibly the wildest broadcast crew in the nation. For Tech, this game can be the start of a new rivalry with Tennessee, one that can last for years to come.
5. UNC Tar Heels
A season ago, the Hokies and Tar Heels were division rivals. Now, with expansion and promotion within the league, both teams no longer find themselves competing for the same trophy. As with North Carolina, promotion to ACCHL M1 has them looking down on the Hokies, who remain at the M2 level. Yet, this does not mean the rivalry has to end as the first weekend of October welcomes the Tar Heels to The Lot for two games against the Hokies. Last season, UNC and Tech faced off twice, the most memorable game being in Charlotte outdoors (Tech won 6-0), as the Hokies cleanly swept the Tar Heels. This year, UNC returns a solid portion of its lineup, including its top six scorers from last season. The key for the Tar Heels will be their goaltending against the Hokies, who look to have another great offensive season.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Much like Tennessee, Georgia's inaugural 2025-26 season in the ACCHL consists of a matchup with the Hokies outdoors in Charlotte, NC, at Truist Field. A pinpoint game on the schedule, Tech will head back out into the night sky on November 21, 2025, to take on the Bulldogs. Last season, the Hokies participated in their first-ever outdoor game in Charlotte as they dismantled the North Carolina Tar Heels on the back of senior Ian Kee's shutout performance. In what was the most anticipated game in program history, the Hokies took care of business and succeeded dominantly. This season, the club returns outdoors, with the event being held earlier, just before Thanksgiving, with a matchup against Georgia as part of the ACCHL Outdoor Series. The Bulldogs, who were also CHS M1, join the ACCHL M2 Southeast Conference in a switch that boosts the ACCHL as one of, if not the best, leagues in all of college hockey. In what should be another historic game for the Hokies, they will look to remain undefeated come November outdoors in Charlotte.
3. NC State Icepack
Even though the new ACCHL M1 division might prevent the Hokies and Icepack from facing each other multiple times during the year, it doesn't signify the conclusion of one of the most intense rivalries in Tech's 40-year history. It does not matter what time of the year these two teams play, beginning, end of season, or playoffs, the level of competitiveness is always at an all-time high when Tech and State clash on the ice. Last season, the Icepack stole the home opener against the Hokies in what ignited a program record 13-game win streak for Tech up until November. Both would meet again in late January for a home-and-home that was split before another matchup in the semi-final round of the ACCHL playoffs, where Tech would be victorious and split the season series with State. That said, the introduction of the new ACCHL M1 division does give a degree of separation to this rivalry, though a late September matchup says otherwise in what should be a great test for the Hokies to begin their season. Not only does NC State have an experienced squad, but over the last few seasons, they have become a household name in college hockey. A win over the Icepack can solidify Tech as a real threat to the entirety of the M2 division, especially in the early stages of the season.
2. Ohio Bobcats
In what was a crushing two-overtime loss to the Bobcats in the first round of the ACHA Southeast Regional tournament, Virginia Tech's historic season ended on a sour note. The echoes of heartbreak in the Hokies' locker room following the game have long resonated throughout the offseason in a "what could have been" mindset. What if the Hokies had kept the lead throughout the third? What if the team could have scored in one of the two overtime periods? All of those lingering thoughts from last season will factor into 2025-26 as the Hokies will look to take the next step further in the program's goal of making it to nationals in St.Louis. The road, though long, comes with confronting past challenges, which include a trip in January to Athens, Ohio, to take on the Bobcats in a rematch. Furthermore, the timing of the matchup could not be more critical with potential regional and national berths being at stake during the weekend series.
Why Ohio? The Bobcats, after defeating Tech in the first round, went on to beat Miami, securing their spot at nationals, where they would ultimately fall and have their season end. A strong, well-coached team led by Jimmy Schwinne, the Bobcats are rounded with talent, including First Team TSCHL All-Conference goaltender Matt Zazon, who earned the win against the Hokies back in February. Look for this matchup to be one of, not the most highly anticipated, games on the Hokies' schedule this season.
1. Liberty Flames
It is no secret as to why the Flames take the number one overall spot on this list. After nearly a decade, the two in-state rivals will face each other four times this upcoming season, with their first meeting coming on opening night in Vinton. Similar to the Bobcats, the Flames are coming off a Nationals appearance in which they failed to make it out of the group stage. Additionally, over the offseason, the team lost its head coach, Ben Hughes, as he was promoted to the D1 squad as an Assistant Coach. Taking over for the Flames this season is M2 Assistant Head Coach Christian Garland (pictured), who will be handed the keys to a successful and storied program with hopes of reaching nationals once again this season.
This will not be an easy feat for the Hokies to overcome, although these four games will provide Tech with ground on where they stand in the national title picture. Liberty is a strong opponent, considered to be among the first tier of D2 teams in the nation. If the Hokies can secure a split or possibly a season series win against the Flames, the resume for an auto-bid to nationals may speak for itself. Moreover, with NC State, Kentucky, and Louisville all promoted to the D1 level, the path becomes clearer to achieve the goal that has been out of reach for 40 seasons.
What do you think of the list? The Hokies open their season with a home-and-home series against Liberty September 12-13. For more information on game and opponent dates, check all Virginia Tech Ice Hockey social websites.
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