After an almost four-year hiatus, the Loyola Men’s Ice Hockey Team is officially back in the American Collegiate Hockey Association after being disbanded in 2018.
The team is now captained by Vincent Migliore ‘23, Patrick Smith ‘23, and graduate student Jacob Vande Loo. Vande Loo is the only person that is still on the team since the group was suspended due to the hazing of underclassmen in Sept. of 2018. Vande Loo, a victim of the hazing four years ago, is now obtaining his master’s degree while playing offense for the Loyola men’s ice hockey team.
“I’m elated that the school is finally giving us another chance to play the game we love,” Vande Loo said. “I wish I could have enjoyed this season with some more of the guys who wanted this as bad as myself, but it’s better late than never.” With a new season on the horizon, there are many new challenges that arise. For the first time in years, the Loyola men’s ice hockey players are facing the pressure of what it is like to be a real college athlete.
“It’s definitely different from what we experienced last year playing once a week and hoping to have a team scrimmage us if we’re lucky,” said Migliore. “We’re going to have at minimum a consistent practice each week and then on the weekend a game. I’m excited.”
When the team was suspended from the league, the team was ineligible to secure funds for ice time, transportation, and any other necessities. Now after being inducted back into the ACHA, Division 3 league funds should now be allocated by the school to the team. This will make it easier for the students who just want to play the game they love.
“I’m just really happy to see the hard work finally starting to pay off,” says coach Keith Bishop. “At the same time however, it’s sad to see a lot of new faces in the locker room and on the ice. I wish there was a way this happened sooner so the kids who graduated had a chance to play as well.” The biggest goal for Loyola men’s ice hockey this year is to stay out of trouble.
“What we want to do is prove to Loyola and its community that the team has learned from its mistakes in the past,” says defenseman Patrick Smith ‘23. “We want our gameplay to speak for ourselves. We have a lot to prove to a lot of people.”
Featured Image courtesy of Loyola University Maryland’s Club Hockey Facebook Page.
