Today Arkansas Hockey announced their 2023-24 season schedule. In 2022-23 the Hogs went 28-5 in regular and postseason play. Over the course of the season Arkansas retained the Battle of the Ozarks Trophy by winning their regular season series against Missouri State, fell short in their defense of the MACHA conference crown to eventual conference champion Mizzou, and were eliminated from the National Tournament by eventual National Champion Michigan. It was the fourth season in a row the Hogs qualified for the National Tournament, and eighth overall.
For 2023-24 Arkansas will play 31 regular season games against both familiar conference rivals and a few universities they will be meeting on the ice for the first time. The Hogs will start the season off at home against Oklahoma State University for the first meeting between the two schools. Next will be a tough test on the road against ACHA DI Oklahoma. The two teams split their last series in 2021-22.
Conference play begins early, as the team hits the road to visit a familiar foe in Dallas Baptist to finish out the opening month of the season. Arkansas has never lost to DBU, but will look to get off to a hot start in conference play after splitting their opening conference series to Missouri State last season.
The month of October will see Arkansas host MACHA North and Central programs, Illinois State and The University of Nebraska. While Arkansas and Nebraska will be very familiar foes, it will be the first time ISU and the UofA meet on the ice at ACHA DIII.
The schedule doesn’t let up in November as the Hogs open the month on the road at bitter rival Mizzou. Last season Arkansas and Mizzou would split their regular season series, but the Tigers would get the best of the Razorbacks in the MACHA semifinals following a huge comeback in the third period. Next, for the sixth consecutive season, Arkansas will compete in the Route 66 Showcase hosted by Missouri State in Springfield, MO. Arkansas has won the event twice and went undefeated last season, ultimately losing out to host Missouri State on tie-breakers. This season Arkansas will hit the ice against Purdue, The University of Michigan-Flint, and Ferris State University. Arkansas swept Purdue at home and shutout Ferris state in the Route 66 last season. Arkansas finishes the month of November with the opening series of the Battle of The Ozarks against Missouri State. Arkansas looks to defend their trophy and claim the fish for a third consecutive season.
Arkansas will finish their season series against MACHA South rival DBU after the Thanksgiving break, giving the Hogs a good idea of where they stand for MACHA Tournament qualification heading into the semester break. Arkansas will finish the fall semester by hosting MCHA powerhouse Saginaw Valley in a exciting Thursday and Friday series at the Jones Center. Saginaw Valley finished the 2022-23 season ranked just ahead of Arkansas in the top 5 of the final national rankings, and is a frequent participant in the ACHA National Tournament. The two programs have never met in ACHA regular season play.
Following the semester break, Arkansas hopes to find their stride early in the spring as January sees them jump right back into divisional play with home series against Mizzou and a road series against Missouri State with the Battle of the Ozarks Trophy, and quite possibly, the MACHA South division title on the line. The MACHA South has been the leagues most difficult and consistent division as of late, with Arkansas besting Missouri State in the 2022 championship game, and Mizzou taking down Nebraska for the 2023 championship. All three programs qualified for the National tournament last season going a combined 5-2-2.
Arkansas is in for another tough test leading into the conference tournament, as they host ACHA DI Iowa State to open the month of February. If qualified, the Razorbacks would hit the road for St. Louis the following weekend, looking to win their second MACHA title February 9th-11th.
After their conference tournament, Arkansas will participate in two exhibition series against ACHA DII Drury University and the University of Texas, in what they hope are tune up games for a fifth consecutive National Tournament appearance. The series against the Longhorns will be the final home contests of the season as the Hogs celebrate senior night against one of the universities most historic rivals.
The ACHA National Tournament will be hosted by Centene Ice Center in St. Louis, MO March 7th-12th.
All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale, AR. Tickets are available at the door and are 5$ for general admission. All Friday night games begin at 7:30 PM and all Saturday games begin at 3:15 PM. All home series are also broadcast for free on the teams youtube channel.