Lynchburg's Best Kept Secret: Liberty’s Men’s & Women’s D1 Hockey teams

Award-winning men's and women's Division I programs are bringing visitors, generating economic activity and developing leaders on and off the ice.

In 2023, a report by Magnum Economics found that between 2022 and 2023, out-of-town visitors attending university-related events generated approximately 133,339 hotel room nights, resulting in $14.9 million in hotel revenue throughout the greater Lynchburg area. Athletic events played a significant role in that economic impact, and two of the standout programs contributing to it are Liberty's men's and women's Division I hockey teams, both of which compete under the university's club sports division led by Vice President Kirk Handy.

Handy, who also serves as head coach of the Men's Division I team and was named the 2025 Coach of the Year, reflected on the monumental success of both programs and shared specific examples of how that success has benefited the region. He noted that former players have gone on to start businesses throughout the greater Lynchburg area. However, some of the programs' greatest impact has come not during the hockey season, but through their summer camps, which are taking place right now.

"We've had as many as eight hockey camps over the summer that kids are coming to from all over North America," Handy said. "Not only in season but out of season, too. The camps have been going so great that we've had to implement a cap because so many people wanted to attend."

Perhaps even more significant, Handy emphasized that Liberty's approach to hockey creates a one-of-a-kind destination that attracts a unique group of individuals who might not otherwise come to Lynchburg. The program is also attracting key recruits from the NCAA, such as Zach Nicholas, who will be playing with the Flames this fall after two seasons at Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

"From our perspective, education and faith go hand in hand," Handy said. "God has given us a hockey program with an opportunity to share the Gospel, an opportunity to use that platform to make an impact through the players in our program, going overseas on mission trips, praying with visiting teams after games, and giving them packages with FCA Bibles."

Those mission trips have taken the men's Division I team to Sweden, China, Latvia, Russia, and Finland, the latter of which they have visited four times. During one of those trips, the team participated in a practice session with a 78-year-old Finnish hockey coach who, according to Handy, came to embrace the Christian faith just a few months after interacting with the team. Both the men's and women's Division I teams have participated in meaningful humanitarian projects abroad, demonstrating how athletics can be used to create positive change.

The Women's Division I team is no stranger to success either, as the Lady Flames have won a record six national championships in seven seasons. Head coach Chris Lowes was selected as the 2026 ACHA Coach of the Year, and the program has compiled an astonishing 36-0-2 record over the past nine seasons.

Handy spoke highly of Lowes and his program.

"Chris Lowes and the success of the D1 program has been unprecedented," Handy said. "He's attracted quality people and quality players and has done a fantastic job of establishing a great culture over there. He continues to lead the top program in the ACHA, and we're so thankful to have him as part of what we're doing here at LU because it makes everyone better."

Looking ahead, Handy believes the success of both Division I programs extends beyond wins and championships, noting that his team's average GPA of 3.6 reflects the programs' commitment to developing individuals who will succeed in the classroom, in their faith, in their personal lives, and on the ice.

"We want our guys to be leaders, world changers, not those who simply want to come here and fill a space," Handy said. "That's really important."

As the men's & women’s teams prepares for another upcoming season featuring  challenging schedules, the players continue remain focused on competing for  national championships. Yet even beyond trophies and titles, the enduring legacy of Liberty hockey may be found in its efforts to develop talented individuals who excel academically, express their faith with compassion, and lead meaningful lives both on and off the ice. In doing so, these programs continue to leave the Lynchburg region better off for having existed.