On the Ice with Loyola Women’s Club Hockey

On the ice, the Loyola women’s club hockey team may appear small. But underneath, they are powerful players who never give up and always put their best foot forward, regardless of game outcomes.

Loyola women’s club hockey is a fully student-run organization for female-identifying students to participate in. The team consists of a six-member e-board and a 12-person team, as well as a volunteer coach who helps the team out during practice.

The team is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II and competes against teams from all over the Midwest. 

Their season consists of 19 games, including travel to schools like Notre Dame and Michigan State University. Co-president Karsen Spoo said the team has one main focus – to have fun.

“We know that we are not going to be the best team in the league, and every single day we still show up and try our hardest even though we don’t always win,” said Spoo, a second-year. “It’s fun to see us grow. It’s fun to see the progression of the team.”

After the 2019-20 season was impacted by COVID-19 and shrunk the club to only seven players, the team is trying to rebuild their roster and become contenders come playoffs in February. Spoo said they are looking for anyone who has hockey experience and wants to be a part of their community.

As of now, the team consists of 12 players and some of the girls have to take more time on the ice without breaks to maintain a full lineup. The smaller group still brings a family-like community that keeps players like Spoo and their coach, Thomas O’Brien, coming back. 

“We have a great community,” Spoo said. “We are always building each other up and helping each other. When freshmen come in, we try to give them as much advice or help with classes as well.”

O’Brien has been the coach of the team for about six years and joined the program after a friend of his daughter’s joined the team when she was enrolled at Loyola. He has been with the team ever since and said he has enjoyed every moment of it.

“I’ve been fortunate that the girls have always gotten along,” O’Brien said. “I wouldn’t stick around if people were fighting each other and that stuff, and that has never been an issue here. That’s made it easier.”

Captain, safety officer and secretary, third-year Sofia Farias said the team has been building itself each year she’s been on the team.

“We focus on the little goals and stuff like that,” Farias said. “Just getting more players, scoring more goals or lessening the goal gap is what we have been working on and it has worked, so I am really excited to play this season because we have really good chances to win.” 

There are no tryouts for the team, leaving practices open to anyone who is interested in joining, according to Spoo. Loyola students who are taking six or more credit hours can join the team, including graduate and law students — so long as they didn’t play during their undergraduate years, due to eligibility rules. 

Spoo said anyone can participate in practices without making a commitment to the team until they’re ready. When they are, the e-board will help players get registered with the American Collegiate Hockey Association and USA Hockey to become eligible to play. 

The community formed and the fun had is the main goal of the organization, according to both Spoo and Farias. 

“Like, you get to come out, skate with a bunch of people, talk to them, build friendships but also the competitive edge is still there,” Farias said. 

The team practices every Tuesday and Thursday late at night at the Robert Crown Community Center in Evanston. Tuesday’s practices are at 10:10 p.m. and Thursday’s practices are at 11:10 p.m. 

While these are late practices, Spoo said commitment to the team is very low. Other than practices, the team plays two games on select weekends over the year. If they travel for a game weekend, an overnight stay is required. 

The team also requires players to have their own equipment, but jerseys are provided. 

For more information, the club can be contracted on Instagram @lucwomenshockey, by email at [email protected], or on LUCommunity. 

Featured image by Andi Revesz | The Phoenix