Students Look to form Ice Hockey Club in Reopened Rink
By Nikita Padunin, Photo Editor
Title- Ice rink reopens and forms a new club on campus!
The ice rink, which has long been a mainstay for students and members of the community, abruptly closed last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the recent news of the rink reopening, some students are now attempting to create an Ice Hockey Club that would meet at the rink.
Tyler Sullivan, an Independent Studies student, is trying to create the club.
“I played hockey my entire life and now I miss it. I know that the HVCC used to have a team, which means they have jerseys, socks and the rink. The only thing that they don’t have is a team,” said Sullivan.
He expresses that interest concerning the club has already reached 19 students so far.
Ryan Dollar, an ECM student, is also interested in the creation of the Ice Hockey Club and shares his experience.
“I have played hockey since I was a 3-year-old and it stinks when it stops right after high school because I want to continue playing.”
Sullivan wants to form the club so that they can compete against other clubs around the capital region. This isn’t possible because Student Activities won’t allow any travel currently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conversation with Alfredo Balarin, Director of Student Life Student Activities, students were surprised to learn that club creation is a lengthy procedure. “We thought that once we submit the paperwork for our club we will get it approved in like next two weeks to a month, but not 3 months,” said Tyler.
2 years ago the student senate pushed to make sure that all of the new clubs on campus start with a $1000 budget. “If we get the club approved, we want to use our budget for paying referees and arrange the scrimmage matches against other Ice Hockey clubs in the area,” said Tyler.
Anthony Denison, an entrepreneurship program, is also helping in the creation of the club, pointed out that, “Hockey is very hard, if you put the biggest person on skates for the first time, with a little push, they will fall.”
Members of the Ice Hockey club expressed interest in teaching newcomers to the sport. “In practice, we will work on footwork and stuff like that, not always play games. I find working on this ‘fine-tuning’, fun.” said Sullivan.
“If anybody else is interested in playing hockey, contact Andrew Fuda (a.fuda@hvcc.edu), our advisor. We are the club, not a team so we don’t do tryouts. The club is open to everybody, so anyone who wants to play can join the club and learn how to play hockey.”