Creighton’s club hockey team is a major factor in some students’ decision to attend this university and it often greatly impacts the individuals involved.
The members of Creighton’s hockey team only have positive thoughts about the program. Sophomore Parker Revier said he was looking for a college that offered him the chance to play club hockey.
“Hockey on Creighton’s campus played a major role on my decision to attend Creighton,” Revier said. “I knew that I wanted to play club wherever I attended, and Creighton was the only school that had everything that I wanted!”
Senior Lee Noel also shares similar beliefs. He was looking for a school with great academics, but ultimately chose Creighton after hearing they offered club hockey.
“I found out that Creighton had a club hockey team and knew it was a perfect fit for me,” Noel said.
The hockey team participates in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and plays about 15 games a year. Their current record on the year is 1-11. The lone victory came against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in a 4-3 overtime thriller.
The makeup of the club hockey team is not something you are used to seeing in collegiate athletics. Currently, the team doesn’t have tryouts and consists of only 12 players, two of which are goalies. The team also includes two graduate students, only one senior, and an assortment of underclassmen.
Noel believes one reason the club hockey team struggles to get more participants is because of the cost. Each player pays about $800 a year, which is actually pretty low compared to other schools. Another difficult aspect of the club is that it is mostly student-run. He said that Creighton club sports provide some money, but it is up to the players after that.
“There really is no adult supervision,” Noel said. “We [the players] are responsible for hotels, buses, creating the schedule and ordering jerseys.”
The members of Creighton’s hockey team put these struggles behind them and make the most out of the opportunities they are presented with. Sophomore Owen Kane said playing club hockey has taught him how to deal with adversity.
“Our team has been thrown a lot the past two years since I’ve been here,” Kane said. “Even with all the shenanigans we have had to deal with, the guys on this team have continued to push hard and compete every time we step on the ice.”
Revier said that this club will have a lasting impact beyond the results on the ice.
“Playing club hockey at Creighton as a freshman last year allowed me to find a group of really smart and outgoing guys,” Revier said. “It enabled me to assimilate into Creighton’s campus with no problems.”
“It’s been a great experience,” Noel added. “I don’t have enough good things to say about my experience with the hockey team.”
Noel said he believes the foundation is there and hopes the hockey team can continue to grow in the future.