If you thought the only type of hockey Columbia had to offer is field hockey, you were mistaken. Although there is no varsity ice hockey team, those interested in satisfying their ice hockey fix should check out the
Columbia women's ice hockey club.
The club, which is six years old, has never needed to hold tryouts and encourages anyone, regardless of experience level, to consider joining. The 2008-09 roster consists of fourteen girls with varying backgrounds on the ice.
"We have girls that have been playing since they were four years old and girls who just started playing and everything in between," said club president Sarah Kramer, SEAS '10. Kramer, who has been playing hockey for 16 years, has been a member of the club since her freshman year.
The club is funded by an allocation from the Club Sports Governing Board along with its own fundraising. The team practices once a week on Tuesday nights at Riverbank State Park at 145th and Riverside.
The team is led by co-captains Julie Haney, Elizabeth Kaplan, and Jaymie Testa, who are set to graduate in May.
"They have done a great job," Kramer said. "It's unfortunate that we will lose them at the end of the year, but we have a bunch of girls that are great leaders and ready to step up next year to fill the void."
For the first time in the program's history, the team has joined the North East Women's Collegiate Hockey Association. Thus far, the girls have a 2-1-1 record and will play Smith College, Mount Holyoke, Fairfield, Bates, Northeastern, and UVM. They have already held a contest against Drexel.
"This year is a little different because we are playing other schools, and there are players at the end of the year, so we are definitely out there to win," Kramer remarked. "We always have fun and try not to take ourselves too seriously, but we still want to win."
Though it is still early in the season, the team feels confident about its chances at a playoff run this season.
"We are just getting started, but we are looking forward to getting into the bulk of our season and being competitive and hopefully making the playoffs," Kramer said.