The club ice hockey team has several obstacles to overcome, including inexperience and conflicting ideas to turn its 2–8 season around. Despite these roadblocks, the South Hill squad is developing young talent and maintaining a positive outlook.
The Blue and Gold have only two wins this season, against Cornell University and Syracuse University. Senior Mark Mcauliffe, team president and captain, said the number of young players on the team, and the time it has taken for them to adjust to a new style of play, is why the team has struggled so much this season.
“It’s a matter of getting [the younger players] used to the style of play, which is a little bit different than the kind of hockey they’ve played in juniors or high school.”
The style of play at the collegiate level is a rough, hard-hitting, gritty style — which has become the team’s trademark, Mcauliffe said.
“It’s a little more clutching and grabbing,” Mcauliffe said. “A little more cheap stuff goes on. You have to get used to it or you’re going to have a hard time.”
Senior team member Cody Herbert said it is essential for the inexperienced players to get accustomed to the tough playing style the Blue and Gold display on the ice.
“With everyone coming from different backgrounds, it’s a matter of trying to get the team to adapt to one playing style,” Herbert said. “We’re starting to get there slowly but surely.”
Aside from players’ physicality on the ice, the South Hill squad prides itself on something else — independence. While Head Coach Brad Buell leads the team, the amount of control the players have is far greater than in any varsity sport team.
“The team is run by the players,” Mcauliffe said. “We’re in college, so [Buell] tries to let us be our own team. He’s there to help us out, and he’s there to put stuff together for us, but he still wants us to have ideas and make ourselves better.”
However, with that freedom comes conflict among the players about what the team should be doing on the ice. Mcauliffe said coming together as a team is a tough problem, but the Bombers are making strides to overcome that.
“There are a lot of conflicting ideas of how we want to break out of the zone or do a power play,” he said. “But last weekend we went away and stayed overnight in a hotel. It kind of helped us bond and come together.”
Herbert said another important asset to bonding as a team is practice. Though practice time is limited, he has seen the team come together.
“We only usually practice two days a week, but when we do get practice time, it’s important,” he said. “We can already see the bonds beginning to form. Guys are starting to go out together and have a good time. We’re definitely showing promise.”
Despite the team’s losing record, sophomore Josh Getzoff said the team’s commitment and dedication is proof that it is driven enough to make improvements.
“The kids who are playing club hockey are a lot more committed than kids in high school,” Getzoff said. “If you play in college that means you love the sport and you love the game.”
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