Some Columbia students are frustrated to learn that the University does not have a varsity ice hockey team. For those young men still interested in competing after their high school careers have finished, one option is to join the Columbia Men's Ice Hockey Club.
Even though Columbia has no on-site ice rink, the club never fails to fill its roster with dedicated skaters. Twenty players, both undergraduates and graduate students, are on this year's team after the October tryouts.
Men's ice hockey falls under the umbrella of Columbia's club sports program, which means that it is "a student-run, student-organized activity," according to Sam Rothschild, the club's president and an alternate team captain. A student board handles all of the administrative work, from booking ice time (in Hackensack, N.J.) to hiring coaches.
Rothschild, a Columbia College senior who has been on the team his whole college career, says that the club's relationship with the University could not be more amiable. The club sports governing board provides a lot of support and financial backing for the team.
"Things have come a long way since I was a freshman," Rothschild said. "In terms of our funding from the school, we're very happy." Additional support comes from the club's extensive alumni network.
For a variety of reasons, the team only practices on the ice one time per week. Besides the high cost of ice time, there are also "realistic commitment restraints," Rothschild said. Most athletes seeking a serious college hockey program attend schools with varsity teams, and as a result, Columbia's club is largely made up of strong students who cannot commit to practicing multiple times during the school week. The team therefore runs its practices on Thursday nights, since most Columbia classes do not meet on Fridays.
In terms of competition, the Lions line up against other squads in the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference. Most opposing teams come from the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Columbia generally plays one or two games per week over the long season, which stretches from October through February for 16 total contests. No games are scheduled over winter break.
The team currently holds a 1-6 record on the season, but that mark is deceiving.
"Our record doesn't reflect our talent level for this year," Rothschild said. "We've got a lot of strong underclassmen." Rothschild added that this is the most talented squad Columbia has fielded in the past four years.
This Saturday night, Columbia students will have a unique chance to see the club in action. A fan bus has been ordered to transport hockey aficionados out to New Jersey for the evening's game.
Anyone interested in cheering on the Lions should show up a few minutes before 7 p.m. at 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue with CUID and $5 to cover round-trip transportation.
"We're expecting a pretty big turnout," said Rothschild. Last season, the bus filled up and latecomers had to be turned away. This opportunity, which is offered on a first-come first-served basis, is open to anyone in the Columbia community. The bus will make its return trip right after the game and should return to campus by 10:30 p.m.
For those who do make it out to see Saturday night's game, there are several players worth watching with a close eye. The team's captain, senior forward Evan Mucha, is a consistent threat to hit the back of an opponent's net. And Derrick Fu, in just his freshman year, has already made a significant impact and currently leads the team in scoring. "For a freshman he's just jumped right in," Rothschild said.
Between the pipes for Columbia is law student Marc Roitman, who competed at Duke for his undergraduate years. Roitman has the ability to steal a game for the team with his extensive experience at high competition levels.
Getting involved in the club requires attendance at the annual October tryouts. Anyone who would like to learn more about the Men's Ice Hockey Club or who just wants to see it take on Maritime is encouraged to take advantage of the fan bus on Saturday night. There's no better hockey this side of Madison Square Garden.