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Why ‘Club’ Hockey Deserves YOUR Support

By Paul Evans, 08/07/17, 4:00PM EDT

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Indiana's Best Kept Hockey Secret


Kyle Kortebein of Butler Univeristy brings the puck down the ice against Notre Dame

During the long summer months of seemingly endless daylight, it’s not unusual to find a bustle of activity at parks, baseball fields, and basketball courts occurring well into the late night hours.  Yet on those cold winter nights that will soon be upon us, few venture out after the sun goes down except out of necessity.  Streets are illuminated more by the soft glow emanating from living room windows than by the blinding rays of car lights.  Parking lots become ghost towns.  And as the hours creep toward midnight, signs of life are almost non-existent…

Unless you happen to play collegiate ‘club’ hockey.

At the local rink, long after every sane person has settled comfortably down for the night, just beyond the small cluster of snow-dusted cars, the Boys (and Girls) Of Winter can be found flying around the ice — breathing heavy, sweating profusely, passionately honing their craft in front of empty seats.  The occasional burst of laughter that breaks the constant echo of steel on ice and stick on puck reminds them that this is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.  And even when a shrill whistle snaps their attention back to the work at hand, it’s easy to see why they are here.


Sophomore Brendan Lewis of the IPFW Mastodons notched 27 goals and 32 assists last season.

They work because they are warriors, and the competitive fire still burns hot.  They play because the game is still fun.

No one really enjoys ending practice when the clock is pushing single digits, but they accept it as part of the deal.  Running a rink is a business.  Public Skate sessions pay the bills.  Youth hockey and Adult leagues keep the lights on and the Zamboni humming.  But ‘club’ hockey?  The players keep the locker rooms clean because even the custodian has punched out for the night.

On a side note, it is recommended that it not be referred to as ‘club’ hockey, especially to someone who plays or coaches it.  As Al Murdoch, the long-time coach at Iowa State University (a top program in the ACHA) once stated, “Club is a four-letter word in our vocabulary.”  Although not sanctioned varsity sports according to the schools’ athletic departments, calling them ‘club’ programs belittles the effort and sacrifices made on behalf of the sport.

‘Non-varsity’ isn’t much better, although perhaps a bit more accurate.  And ‘Non-scholarship’ doesn’t really roll off the tongue, does it?  However, it’s the truth.

Unlike NCAA programs, players on ACHA teams don’t receive athletic scholarships*.  Nor do the teams receive funding from the school’s athletics budget.  Some teams may receive a modicum of support from a student recreation fund or similar account, but it doesn’t amount to much.  It’s the players themselves who fund their program, often paying in excess of $2,000 per season for the ‘privilege’ of donning their school’s colors.

Let’s not forget fundraisers, either.

Ice time is expensive.  So are buses, uniforms, hotels, meals, equipment, etc.  Not only do the players themselves pay, but they spend a significant amount of time conducting fundraisers to cover the exorbitant costs of a single season.

It may seem hypocritical that these student-athletes have to foot the bill themselves just to represent their school on the ice, but it matters not to these young men and women.  They feel it is an honor to play for the school that provides them with a quality education and the opportunity to pursue their dreams.  They chose this path.  They know that success, both in sport and in life, isn’t just handed to you.  It has to be earned.

Ask any one of them about life after college, and they’ll speak of careers in any number of fields.  Some of them might mention money, but most want to do meaningful work that makes a difference in the world.  Few talk about “going pro”, although nearly all of them will admit that at one time they had that dream.  Some will even give it a shot, latching on with a minor league teams in hopes of catching the eye of a scout or GM.  And on the very rare occasion, someone makes it.

But as every hockey players knows, eventually “all roads lead to the beer leagues.”

And yet, one can almost sense that they look forward to those days.  Gathering after work, strapping on worn out gear and mismatched uniforms, blissfully cruising around the rink as they once did as children.  For them, hockey is a part of who they are.  It has been woven throughout the fabric of their lives since their first day on skates.  It is a thread that will continue to be stitched for years to come, and one that will bind them to each other forever.

That is what makes collegiate hockey special.  These ‘big kids’ play the game for all the right reasons. Not for the big crowds or the big contracts, but for the several dozen family, friends, and classmates that care enough to show up to the games.  Yes, they play to win.  But mostly they play for each other.  Championships are nice, but relationships are far more valuable.  “My teammates are truly my family,” says Indiana University Junior Goalie Ben Seinfeld.  “On and off the ice we are always together and these are my friends and brothers for life.”

Video Courtesy of Ball State Hockey

They play simply because they love the game.  They play because they love their school.  And they play for the people who have been brought into their lives because of both.  And it shows.

In an age where sports is considered big business - where parents with more dollars than sense maneuver to get their kid on the ‘best’ teams in order to secure a scholarship, or where fathers pimp out their sons to sell their shoes and feed their egos - it isn’t merely refreshing to see sports played for pride and passion.  It is rejuvenating to the soul.  It restores faith in the notion that sports is more about character, camaraderie, and commitment than it is about contracts.

Don’t get us wrong… we’re not promoting collegiate solely on principle.  This isn’t second-rate hockey we’re talking about.  There is some serious skill on display here.  Many of these kids chose their schools because of location, desired major, or a host of other reasons.  “These are high level players that could be playing Junior hockey somewhere,” states Indiana University D3 Coach Jack Manard.  “But they chose to have a life balance of playing their favorite sport while getting a great education.”

Many more ended up in these programs simply because of the numbers.  College hockey isn’t like basketball or football.  There are fewer that 500 schools that offer collegiate hockey programs in both the NCAA and ACHA combined (all divisions).  By comparison, there are over 350 teams in NCAA Division I basketball alone!  There simply isn’t the same opportunity in hockey as there is in other sports.

However, fewer opportunities makes for deeper talent pools.  Even at the smallest of schools, coaches are able to stock their rosters with solid players.  And every so often, they manage to hook that ‘big fish’.  Yet because of non-existent funding for recruiting and marketing, coaches still struggle to attract players mostly due to a lack of awareness.  Ever heard of Dordt College? Shippensburg University?  Even at schools that nearly everyone is familiar with, such as Indiana University, the refrain is often “they have a hockey team?”

All the more reason they deserve our support.

These schools, and many more like them, offer an opportunity to play collegiate sports while obtaining a quality education, just as the ‘big’ schools do.  Teams strive to climb the ranks and move to higher levels.  Coaches teach the same skills and promote the same values.  Players work equally as hard on the ice and in the classroom.

The difference?  YOU get to enjoy some outstanding competition for almost nothing!  Most schools don’t charge for admission to their games, and when they do it’s usually just a couple bucks.  The local rink where they play is often a short drive away, typically with free parking, and not a bad seat in the house.  Concessions might be limited, but they are always reasonably priced.  And if you can’t live without the flashy Jumbotron, you’re probably not much of a fan to begin with.

But if you yearn for an exciting game of hockey - especially without draining the ATM for it - do yourself a favor and check out your local collegiate ‘club’ team.  Even if they charge for admission, you’ll still have plenty left over for the concession stand.  And if by chance the game is free, you can show your appreciation by dropping a few bucks in the donation jar on the way out.

We promise you won’t regret it … although we can’t say the same for that third hot dog.



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