IU ice hockey to start D-I season

Big changes are coming for IU’s ice hockey team.

This year, the team is gearing up to participate in their first season as an American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I team on the club level.  

The hockey program is also expanding.

For the first time, IU will field two teams. The second team will be a JV team that will compete at the ACHA Division III level.  

The team has their call-out meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Kelley School of Business 100 for all interested participants.

The chance to expand the already-successful programs excites the current players and gives new opportunities to those interested in joining a competitive team.  

Coach Tom Orr said he is looking for a new group of men that are ready to work hard and put in the effort they need.

“I find that in hockey it takes different talents to make up a good team,” he said. “I’m looking for someone who is confident in playing their own game and not trying to guess what we want them to do.”  

Last year the season was filled with highlights that included playing in front of nearly 5,000 people at the University of Illinois and beating long-time rival Kentucky in overtime to keep a 15-year win streak alive.  

Highlights like these have junior Jason Burriss hoping to attract tough and competitive players to the rink who aren’t quite ready to leave the ice.   

“I played all through high school and wasn’t ready to hang up the skates,” he said. “This is a competitive program with a good team atmosphere.”

The team atmosphere is something senior and team president Matt Grainda focuses on as one of the best parts of the program.  

“The 30 of us become pretty close throughout the season,” he said. “We live it up and head to the rink every day.”