After winning the College Hockey Southern Division III championship in February, the team traveled to Pennsylvania last weekend and played five tournament-style games, winning all five games and advancing to the national championship game. The team played against Florida Southern College and won by an astonishing score of 10-0. Goalkeeper Harlan Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player after shutting out all attempts by his opponents, and Elian Estulin was named MVP.
The University Hockey team, led by head coach Tomas Imero and captain Christopher Krugelis, fought hard to rebuild this year. The players and coaches felt it was a sign of their resiliency and determination to turn things around from a losing season and win the Division III national championship. At the beginning of the season, Coach Imero asked his team to agree. He was guided by his own actions and sacrifices. Imero, who retired from the FDNY, now commutes from New York to Miami every weekend for practices and games. “This season was dedicated to her niece Eva, who lost her battle with leukemia at age 16, which makes this team and this championship even more special,” Imero says.
Club sports in the Department of Wellness and Recreation are student-led and an important part of the university's culture. “Club sports mean so much to me and have given me memories that I will always cherish,” Kourgelis says. When you think of Miami, you might not think of ice hockey, but this team has shown its tenacity this season. Next year, the team will move to AAU Division II and continue to compete at the highest level.
“I am extremely proud of this team. They stayed focused, remained professional, and delivered a dominating victory throughout the AAU Championship in Pennsylvania. We honor them on campus. We look forward to that,” said Patricia Whiteley, senior vice president for student affairs and alumni engagement. To celebrate the victory with the team, the Department of Wellness and Recreation will host a celebration on the Lakeside Patio on Thursday, March 21st at 2 p.m.
Congratulations to the men's ice hockey team for winning the AAU College Hockey Division III National Championship. Click here to learn more about our journey to winning a championship.
