2008 Woodie Awards
Club hockey seeks ACHA recognition
Nick Dyer
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Maine Sports
The University of Maine has added another club to their ever-growing list of sports. Last week, the UMaine Club Ice Hockey Team was added to the list of club sports by the Student Senate. This will give players who have been playing hockey all their lives a chance to compete competitively in the sport throughout college.
"We started the club up because there are so many kids on campus that have played competitive ice hockey their entire lives, and when they get here, there is nothing but stick-and-puck a couple times a week at the Alfond for kids to keep playing," said Reid McLaughlin, who proposed the idea for the team along with Brendon Esquibel.
The team, which went before the Student Senate and the Recreational Department Committee for approval, will not begin playing competitively until next year when it will finally be recognized to join conference play.
"Next season we will join the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Actual games will be played this winter against league and non-league opponents willing to play us," McLaughlin said.
Before the team can be accepted into the ACHA next year, it will have a lot to accomplish in the remainder of this year to get ready for the upcoming season. The team, which has not held practices yet, will spend the second semester practicing at the Alfond Arena and playing scrimmage games against other schools.
"We will start practicing after Thanksgiving break and the only money that players who do join the team will have to pay is $5 every time we practice," McLaughlin said.
Unlike the Club Roller Hockey Team, which plays all their games away, the Club Ice Hockey Team hopes that when they be recognized by the ACHA next season, they will be able to play home games at the Alfond Arena in front of passionate UMaine fans.
"This season, we are not sure if we will be able to afford to play games at the Alfond, but we hope to have at least one game this season there," McLaughlin said. "When we do receive money from Student Government for our first season in the ACHA next season, we will definitely be pushing for home games at the Alfond, as they should be."
The Roller Hockey Team, who is in the middle of their fourth season as a recognized club, might take the greatest hit by the approval of the Club Ice Hockey Team.
"I have a feeling that it will have a huge impact on the Roller Hockey Team in a negative sense because of the fact that almost everyone on the Roller Hockey Team is an ice hockey player first and foremost. The Roller Hockey Team will probably lose a good number of players to the ice hockey team," said Carey Gustanski, president of Club Roller Hockey.
For years, the only outlet for students looking to play competitive hockey was on the Roller Hockey Team, but this will give students who are used to the fast-paced game of ice hockey a chance to keep their passion going.
"This will be a great opportunity for players here on campus to play competitive hockey in a league that we think we should be very competitive in," McLaughlin said.
"We started the club up because there are so many kids on campus that have played competitive ice hockey their entire lives, and when they get here, there is nothing but stick-and-puck a couple times a week at the Alfond for kids to keep playing," said Reid McLaughlin, who proposed the idea for the team along with Brendon Esquibel.
The team, which went before the Student Senate and the Recreational Department Committee for approval, will not begin playing competitively until next year when it will finally be recognized to join conference play.
"Next season we will join the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Actual games will be played this winter against league and non-league opponents willing to play us," McLaughlin said.
Before the team can be accepted into the ACHA next year, it will have a lot to accomplish in the remainder of this year to get ready for the upcoming season. The team, which has not held practices yet, will spend the second semester practicing at the Alfond Arena and playing scrimmage games against other schools.
"We will start practicing after Thanksgiving break and the only money that players who do join the team will have to pay is $5 every time we practice," McLaughlin said.
Unlike the Club Roller Hockey Team, which plays all their games away, the Club Ice Hockey Team hopes that when they be recognized by the ACHA next season, they will be able to play home games at the Alfond Arena in front of passionate UMaine fans.
"This season, we are not sure if we will be able to afford to play games at the Alfond, but we hope to have at least one game this season there," McLaughlin said. "When we do receive money from Student Government for our first season in the ACHA next season, we will definitely be pushing for home games at the Alfond, as they should be."
The Roller Hockey Team, who is in the middle of their fourth season as a recognized club, might take the greatest hit by the approval of the Club Ice Hockey Team.
"I have a feeling that it will have a huge impact on the Roller Hockey Team in a negative sense because of the fact that almost everyone on the Roller Hockey Team is an ice hockey player first and foremost. The Roller Hockey Team will probably lose a good number of players to the ice hockey team," said Carey Gustanski, president of Club Roller Hockey.
For years, the only outlet for students looking to play competitive hockey was on the Roller Hockey Team, but this will give students who are used to the fast-paced game of ice hockey a chance to keep their passion going.
"This will be a great opportunity for players here on campus to play competitive hockey in a league that we think we should be very competitive in," McLaughlin said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Curt Carleen ' 77
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:15 PM EST
This is great news! The varsity team's slow start notwithstanding, this means Black Bear hockey fans will have twice the fun! I go to a lot of club games at the University of Rhode Island near where I live and it is great hockey. (Continued…)
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