Growing the game. 

We talk about that a lot here at INHockey.net.  In fact, we spend all of our energy on exploring ideas, supporting actions, and getting our hands on information that we believe can assist in that pursuit.  Over the past year, this work has led us to realize just how many great people are working to grow the game in Indiana.  The challenge has always been that most of the Hoosier Hockey Community is working in silos across the state, with individuals and organizations doing great things but most of their efforts going unnoticed by the rest of the hockey community.  We at INHockey.net hope to change that by highlighting people and programs that are helping grow the game.  That’s why when we heard about Team Indiana fielding an all girls’ team for the very first time, we knew we had to get in touch with the architect of the current program, Coach Jack Manard.  

But aside from a number of great ideas that we’re already following up on (including an elite high school tournament here in Indiana), we did discuss the Team Indiana program as well as the growth of collegiate hockey in the state.    

Under Jack’s guidance and with the help of his Team Indiana General Manager, Katie Miller, Team Indiana has grown to include a U18 team, a U16 team, and now a Girls Team Indiana open to female players in their sophomore, junior, or senior years.  Competing in high profile tournaments such as America's Showcase, these teams have become the premier Indiana teams for players looking to extend their careers post-high school.  As Jack puts it, “It’s about creating opportunities for our kids to be seen.”  Indeed, with players like AJ Crawford from the 2017 roster headed to play in the NCAA for Trine University, they are definitely creating opportunities.  Wanting to provide those same opportunities to the state’s best female players, and often fielding questions about female players from scouts, Jack created the Girls Team Indiana and tapped Julie Sochacki to head coach.  In its inaugural America's Showcase tournament this past April, Coach Sochacki’s team won the American Showcase Championship with two players receiving tournament awards (Taylor Brandenburg received the Roger Sharrer Outstanding Defenseman award and Claire Hickey received the J.J. O’Connor MVP award).   

Although the popularity and strength of the Team Indiana program continues to grow, Jack is still trying to work around a competitive disadvantage.  As he explained it, other state high school hockey associations allow for the rostering of AAA players on their teams.  However, the Indiana High School Hockey Association (IHSHA) stipulates that Team Indiana players must be rostered on a high school team that is a member of the IHSHA.  This effectively rules out participation by elite players who reside in Indiana but play elsewhere.  We certainly see both sides of that argument and although it’s a small problem now, as hockey continues to grow in Indiana, this will likely become more of an obstacle.  Nonetheless, Jack points out that the support of the IHSHA and more specifically Dennis Jordan,  have been critical to the success of Team Indiana.  

In addition to the Team Indiana program, Jack has also been working at the local collegiate club hockey level, launching Ball State’s program and now coaching at Indiana University.  According to Jack, competition levels continue to rise as hockey has grown in Indiana.  In fact, he said the games between IU and Purdue this year were extremely competitive and showcased some great local hockey.  But D3 club hockey faces some hurdles of its own.  Most D3 teams are self-supported, meaning the universities have little to no involvement in the teams other than allowing the use of school logo’s and colors.  As we all know, ice is expensive and unfortunately, the players bear the burden of cost.  Regardless, Jack is confident that D3 hockey will continue to grow in the state, especially with the formation of the Indiana Collegiate Hockey Conference (ICHC), yet another hockey program that Jack was instrumental in creating -- the guy just doesn’t quit!  By way of the ICHC, Jack hopes these teams will be able to work together and attract more sponsors and media coverage starting with INHockey.net.

As we finished our conversation, I was so excited about the prospect of hockey’s future in Indiana, I felt like I could run all the way to Minnesota and declare Indiana as the new “State of Hockey.”  Okay, so maybe not all the way to Minnesota, but you get the idea.  If you’ve followed INHockey.net for a while, you know we tend to be bullish on hockey’s future in the state.  It’s easy to see why when there are guys like Coach Jack Manard working to grow the game and create opportunities for our players.    

You’ll be able to catch Coach Jack Manard (collegiate hockey panel) and Coach Julie Sochacki (girl’s hockey panel) at the Indiana Hockey Summit on July 22nd.  Registration for that event opens next week on INHockey.net.