If you miss watching DU hockey, check out DU’s men’s club hockey team, whose season is already underway with free admission to all their home games.
The team is a part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) DII division and a member of the Big Mountain Hockey Conference (BMHC). They primarily compete against other local teams such as the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams, both of which DU have already played this season in previous home games.
With two home wins under their belt, the team is feeling confident in the way things are shaping out. DU defeated CSU 6-2 at their home opener on Sept. 13 and beat CU 4-2 the following week on Sept. 20.
Team Captain Padraig McEnery and Assistant Captain Ryan Simon each discussed how playing hockey at a club level has impacted them and some takeaways from their time playing on the team so far this season.
McEnery stated a couple of reasons why he wanted to pursue hockey at a collegiate level, but the most important was his joy for the sport.
“The love of the game. We have all been playing hockey our whole lives and we want to try and play as long as possible, especially competitive hockey,” McEnery said.
He also was glad he got to play an extra four years in college and continue to play the game he loves.
“As a team, we have to play as a team and make sure we don’t get too emotional. Whether we have a bad shift or even a good shift, we have to be sure to support each other through it,” McEnery said.
The packed stands and the crowd’s support for the men’s club hockey team have been a big factor in the team’s overall success at the home games. Simon said winning the home opener was one of his favorite moments so far this season and led the team to get started off on the right foot.
“Being able to see the people who you are close to coming out to see you is a really cool feeling. It makes it a little more intimate and makes you want to play a little harder for the people who have come to watch and cheer you on,” Simon said.
The team fell short in the first away game at CU in Boulder on Sept. 14, proving that the momentum and energy at home is a key to their success.
The team’s next upcoming home game will be against CSU on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. at Joy Burns Arena.
