By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The University of Alabama Frozen Tide club hockey team will play many more games at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena this season, and will see several upgrades at the facility through an agreement between the team and the city.

Pelham Mayor Gary Waters and Frozen Tide coaches and players met at Pelham City Hall on Sept. 4 to sign the agreement, which will bring a dedicated Frozen Tide locker room to the Civic Complex.

Through the agreement, the team also will host nearly twice as many home games at the Civic Complex compared to past years, will have more ice time for practice and will offer a public learn to skate program in conjunction with Andrews Sports Medicine.

In addition to the 16 Frozen Tide home games, the Civic Complex also will host the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference in February 2014 and the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III national championship in 2015.

The Division III championship features 16 teams each year, and the Frozen Tide has qualified for the tournament each year.

“We are making some big improvements to the Civic Complex for both hockey and ice skating,” Waters said, noting attendance has been increasing at Frozen Tide games the past few years. “The Frozen Tide is an up-and-coming team.”

This season, the Civic Complex also will sell beer in the concession stands during Frozen Tide home games, Waters said.

“We aren’t going to change our family friendly environment, we just want to have something for those who want to enjoy a beer during the game,” Waters said.

The Frozen Tide is set to start its season on the last weekend in September against the Fort Benning, Ga., hockey squad.