SAINT CHARLES, MO (KMOX) - Next fall, for the first time in four decades, the St. Louis area will have a Division One men's college hockey program.
Lindenwood University, which announced last month that its other sports programs would move to D1, will become the first local men's hockey team competing at the highest level since St. Louis University returned to the club level in 1979.
Lions Coach Rick Zombo tells KMOX one of his first challenges as an independent, will be scheduling, "We're fortunate that there's a lot of Division One programs that do want to play us, do want to play Lindenwood. Not only is it geographically perfect, but it's also an opportunity for the fraternal order of coaches to infuse more and more teams at a real special sport and level."
Lindenwood, which is coming off its fourth American Collegiate Hockey Association national championship, will become the 63rd D1 hockey program.
The Lions will play their home games at the Centene Community Ice Center.
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