Kasey Fiedler
Contributing Writer
The College of Wooster club ice hockey team proved it was one to reckon with despite their tough loss against Saint Vincent College of Latrobe, Pa. As expected by the players and club president Sebastian Northrup ’16, the game against the Bearcats was both a learning experience and team test for the Fighting Scots. Saint Vincent is among the top teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Prior to the game, a few players indicated their feelings about this year’s team, their goals for the season and their potential rivals.
The team is excited for the start of the 2013-2014 season. This will be their third year as an American Collegiate Hockey Association sanctioned team and fourth overall as a club at The College of Wooster. The Scots are hoping to bounce back from last season and leave a memorable mark on program history this year. Though they did not always come out on top against their opponents, the team is focusing on playing well together and becoming more organized. Nonetheless, they are still young; there are only three seniors among the 27 rostered players this season. Additionally, this is the first year they have a goalie with previous experience prior to attending Wooster. This is definitely evident on the ice as goalie Arlo DiPasquale ’17 had 18 saves against Saint Vincent. Despite their 11-1 loss, DiPasquale, along with the rest of the team, put up a tremendous fight against the Bearcats, showing they have pride, passion and consistent intensity.
Not only is the ice hockey team diverse in terms of class year, but also in terms of gender. The club ice hockey team at the College is comprised of both men and women. Guys on the team acknowledged the ladies no differently than the rest of the team. “The girls are just as competitive and involved in practices and games,” Carl Freeman ’14 said. “We wouldn’t have a full bench without them.”
“They do really well for us, especially coming from different rules in girls’ hockey [e.g., no checking],” Northrup said. “In fact, the female players we have are among the best defenders and passers on the team.”
Right wing Flinn Esselstyn ’16 mentioned that she really enjoys being a part of the team because the guys are extremely inclusive and protective. “If anyone comes and checks us, they will go after the player and get him back for us,” she said.
Despite their loss against Saint Vincent, the club ice hockey team is looking forward to a new year of program building and forward momentum. It was unanimously agreed by team members that the Scots’ biggest rival is Denison, and forward Zane Polston ’14 and defender Freeman agreed that games against the Big Red are the most competitive due to physicality on the ice and “nasty fans” in the stands. They are all eager to face the Big Red again this season.
Students can go to the Alice Noble Ice Rink and watch the Wooster Ice Hockey look “specked out” in their new gear as they battle the rest of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.