We never have icy conditions here in South Florida, but UHockey seems to be fine without it. The University of Miami Club men's ice hockey team didn't need frigid weather to advance to the Division III Nationals as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The team heads to West Chester, Pennsylvania to compete in the biggest tournament in history. Last weekend he won the DIII College Hockey South Championship, and the team moving to Division II next year is poised to win it all.
After overcoming many obstacles to get to this point this year and finishing last season with a 1-17-1 record, the team was ready to rebuild and do what it does best. It started with overwhelming interest in tryouts in the fall of 2023, which allows for a large and talented freshman class of players to participate. The returning players showed strong resiliency and appreciation for the game, which spread to a new group of strongmen, finishing the regular season with 16 wins and earning the top seed at Nationals.
University club sports are completely student-driven, from budgeting to booking, with the club's electronic board running everything. They not only practice and condition with the team, but also take care of all the logistics. Chris Krugelis, president of the men's club hockey team, was ready to take on the job of running a club sport because of his passion for the sport of hockey. “As club president, one of my main goals for this year was to change the culture of the team. Previously, this club was seen as something to do in your free time and not taken very seriously. This year, with the help of other leaders on the team, we have been able to transform this club into a close-knit group. We all show up every week and perform to the best of our ability. We feel it is our obligation to each other to perform. This attitude has allowed us to turn our program around and represent the University of Miami with pride,” Kourgelis said. I am.
Within the Department of Wellness and Recreation, club sports programs are managed by the Federation of Club Sports (FCS), which establishes guidelines and policies that all registered club sports must follow. This is where individual teams can work together to create a general program that fits the needs of the student body. Billy Cincotta is the FCS president this year and is a two-sport athlete himself. “These clubs not only gave me the opportunity to continue competing, but they also provided a community. Some of my best memories from college are with my teammates,” he says. . Coincidentally, the FCS president of Men's Hockey is also a long-time member of his team and is thrilled with how far the team has come.
The team will be recognized by Coach Meyer at the girls basketball game Thursday night at 6 p.m. Let's all come together and cheer on our fellow Canes as we wish the men's ice hockey team great success at the national championships.
