The Gannon University Club Hockey Team has come a long way in its short existence. The team started as a group of men that didn’t want to give up the game they love after their high school years, but lacked leadership and a connection to the university.
I have been a member of the hockey team for two seasons, and have witnessed firsthand the growth of the young club under the guidance of the coach, the Rev. Jason Glover, and captains Michael Martin, Alex MacFarlane and Eddie Gerus.
Conrad Thibault, Glover and Martin worked tirelessly this summer to fix the financial woes and the relationship of the club to Gannon. The dedication and hard work of these three men are the reasons why the hockey team is still together and working toward a national championship.
The team was blessed with a talented freshman class to rejuvenate the roster after losing important team members to graduation. Zak Tomblin, Nick Jenkins and Josh Green are all freshman forwards who are members of the first two lines of the squad.
Jonathan Simmons, a senior forward, joined the team after the conclusion of his senior season on the men’s soccer team. Simmons has been a strong voice of leadership and wants to help the team win at the national tournament.
“I just really love hockey; it made up a big part of my childhood,” Simmons said. “Father Glover, and my soccer coach, Rob van Rheenen, were very supportive of me joining the team.”
Kyle Hartl, a freshman goaltender, has played well this season and often makes big saves that keep the team in the game. Scott Scholl, a junior defenseman and thoroughbred beauty, is an important member of the defensive unit and is always willing to put his body in front of pucks to help out Hartl.
“The National Tournament is going to be a great experience for the boys and for Father Glover,” Scholl said. “We just need to keep things simple, make smart plays and just keep generating offense that will hopefully help us bring Gannon a national title.”
I have been playing hockey since I was 3 years old and am grateful that I get to continue to play this amazing game with my friends. My family is thrilled that the national tournament will be played in my hometown, Buffalo, N.Y., March 15-17.
I will remember this collection of men for what happens on the ice, but more importantly for the adventures on road trips and the locker room talk. I will do everything that I can to bring a national championship back to Gannon, and I’ll have a great time in the process.
