Lindenwood’s men’s ice hockey program is close to heading to the Division I level starting 2022-23, according to the New England Hockey Journal’s Jeff Cox.

Lindenwood’s women’s team has been playing in Division I since the 2011-12 season, and had also previously played in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

During the men’s time in the league, the Lions enjoyed plenty of success. They had won the ACHA three times, and had finished in second place three times as well. This season, head coach Rick Zombo’s squad is already 6-0-0. 

This move comes just over a year removed from the opening of the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, the new home of Lindenwood hockey. Since its opening, the arena has held hockey games at levels ranging from college to youth leagues, and events as large as the 2020 All-Star Alumni Game.

In addition to these past and current events, the Ice Center is also used by the St. Louis Blues as their practice facility.

In the future, the arena will be the home of the 2022 ACHA National Championships and the 2024 NCAA Men’s Division 1 Ice Hockey Regionals. 

The men’s team will continue to play at the ACHA level for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, and then the following 2021-22 campaign before officially moving the following year.