Last week, the Ohio University ACHA D1 hockey team became ACHA D1 national champions after securing the win against Adrian. It’s the first time in 22 years that the team has claimed the title. While the team has had success in recent years, it has always been a battle to get to the title game.
The team is a “non-varsity” sport and receives very little financial support despite performing at a high level. With the team’s success, OU needs to invest more in the club athletics program to see results that lead to more success.
The Post has covered the team at length for years, despite the team being dubbed a “non-varsity” sport by the university. Luckily, the team is dedicated to not charging the players to play.
Hockey is an expensive sport. For a D1 team in the ACHA, the team must pay dues of $2,200. That doesn’t account for the equipment players need, transportation or lodging for away games.
Because of how much the sport costs, the team relies on home-game ticket sales and boosters to support the program. Hockey games at Bird Ice Arena are one of the only sports games on campus that students have to pay for to attend. The cost for students is $5, and it doesn’t stop people from attending the games. It does, however, stand out from the normal free admission to sporting events advertised by the school.
Three of the main sources of support for the team are the “OHIO Blueline Booster Club,” “OHIO Hockey Decade of Excellence Fund” and “OHIO Hockey 1980s Back a Winner Fund.” The team also has sponsors from local businesses that help the team keep running.
Despite students having to pay to attend the games, Bird Arena is always packed for each game. It isn’t like football games where loads of people leave after halftime. People stay and watch the team compete for the win. They play in a tiny arena that doesn’t even fit everyone who wants to attend the games. The team does have it better than most other club teams. They don’t have to do fundraisers during the weekend on Court Street or bake sales in front of Baker University Center.
I am not saying that the team should become an NCAA sport, that would require a large investment from the university for NCAA fees and the construction of a new ice arena to meet regulation size. It would also invoke a lot of Title IX rules for the university to navigate, like having to get rid of or add programs.
However, the university should show more support to all club teams, not just hockey. Hockey is just one example of a team that qualifies for a national tournament, wins it and has raised money for national travel. Another example that also uses Bird Arena is the synchronized skating team, which placed third at Synchro Illinois and first at Chuck Cope this year.
The university praises and uplifts the team through its social media, posting about its victory. President Lori Stewart-Gonzalez loves to support athletics and our athletes, yet this team and other club teams aren’t receiving enough financial support from the university. OU has no right to boost the team or post its support for the team while providing very little support to Bobcats who get the job done.
Cassie is a senior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu
