By Martin Davis
Staff Writer
After a successful first season, the Sewanee Ice Hockey Club is back. Founded in the late fall of Vanderbilt, Belmont, Trevecca Nazarene, and MTSU. 2014, the crew was able to play competitively in a league against several schools with historically strong hockey traditions. These teams included The club went on to beat each of the colleges, marking not only a historic start for ice hockey as a sport as Sewanee, but establishing it as a potentially strong one. Games were played at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, TN, roughly a 45-minute drive from the mountain.
The team lost senior players Charlie Jackson and Ben Clune. Clune, the captain of the team, was key in providing energy both on and off the ice. Even so, the team has moved forward and filled the roles. Stepping up this season, Jack Grimm (C’19) has been key in filling the gap. Grimm is a hard-nosed forward with the speed and skill needed for goal-scoring as well as the physicality for getting to loose pucks. Henry Pipes (C’17) is another positive influence this season; get-ting the puck in deep into the offensive zone and making selfless passes, his actions are yielding great results. Thanks to team commitment, the loss of only two seniors the year before, and the addition of several freshmen, the roster now sits at 24 members. The club currently plays in a men’s league at the A-Game Sportsplex Franklin, TN. With the close of the previous league at the Ford Ice Center, the club is using this year to finish the prerequisites for joining the ACHA, the American Collegiate Hockey Organization. The ACHA, after its founding in 1991, has been the premier college hockey league for the nation, hosting some of the nation’s best college club teams for division one, two, and three. Division three teams include Citadel, Tulane, Vanderbilt, and others. After this year, the Sewanee Ice Hockey Club should be eligible to join the league.
The Sewanee Ice Hockey Club plays every week at the A-Game Sportsplex in Franklin, TN. Games are every Sunday between 5 and 6 o’ clock. Come and give your support.