| Dear Prospective Student-Athlete, I would like to formally introduce you to our program by explaining what it is all about. The mission of the University of Massachusetts Women’s Ice Hockey Program is to provide young women the opportunity to receive a great education and experience college life while playing hockey at the collegiate level. We are a Division One American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) team that competes in the Eastern Collegiate Women’s Hockey League (ECWHL). The ACHA gives you five years of eligibility when you start at UMass as a freshman. If you transfer from an NCAA institution you start with four years of eligibility minus your time spent at the previous institution. The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is the governing body for over 450 men’s and women’s ice hockey teams in the United States of America. The difference between an ACHA and a NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Program is where the funding comes from. ACHA programs are funded by the Student Government and/or Campus Recreation and NCAA programs are funded by Varsity Athletics. The ACHA was formed in 1991 due to the growth of the men’s game which now has three divisions and over 400 teams. The Women’s division was formed in 2001 and has grown to two divisions and over 50 teams. Each Division has its own National Championship. Due to NCAA rules, NCAA Division I Universities cannot have Division III sports. However, the ACHA provides the opportunity for student-athletes to play ice hockey at the Division III level while attending a NCAA Division I University. To help fund the program there are player dues which are $1200 a season. The dues are split into three payments over the course of the season. These dues cover all travel including plane tickets and hotel rooms, team apparel, team hockey bags, team book bags, team travel bags, sticks, gloves, helmets, skate sharpening and more. Any other hockey equipment you may need including skates, goalie pads and protective equipment we can get for you at a reduced price. The only thing you will have to pay for outside of the dues is some food during away games. To help fund the cost of having a hockey program we also conduct fundraisers all year long. As a member of the UMass Women’s Hockey team, you are a student first and a hockey player second with the only exception being the time you are at the hockey rink. Our program is unlike most due to the fact that we practice at night so student-athletes will never miss class for hockey practice and never miss hockey practice for class. This allows student-athletes to take any major they desire while taking a full course load every semester and having a balance between academics, hockey and their social life. Many players in the past have studied abroad for a semester. The season starts with a meeting the first week of school in September. There are a three weeks of captain’s practices and off-ice workouts. Tryouts are held during the first week of October and practice starts the second week of October. During the season we practice twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday night. You are also given an off-ice workout to conduct on your own two days a week. We play a 25 game regular season in which we compete to make our league playoffs and the national tournament. Most games are played on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The teams we play every year are Vermont, Northeastern, Rhode Island, Buffalo, and Penn St. Other teams we usually play during the season are Lindenwood, Robert Morris, Liberty, Michigan, Michigan St. and Grand Valley St. When the University is on break so is the team. You have a week off during Thanksgiving and about a month off during final exams and winter break. The season ends with our League playoffs in late February and with the National tournament which is in the second week of March right before spring break. During the off-season the team is given off-ice workouts to conduct on their own four days a week. The type of player we look for is one that has a love for the game of hockey and will give her all to the team whether it is at practice, a game, an off-ice workout session or any other team activity. We have certain qualities that we look for in potential student-athletes including: -The on-ice talent to help make our team better. Our belief is that hockey exists to be a fun and competitive sport that teaches hard work, sportsmanship, dedication, and team work. These are skills that will translate into the work place upon graduation. We have several goals that we strive to achieve every season including: -Have fun while always competing. We are building a winning tradition here at UMass and through doing so we will produce a team that will compete for a League and a National Championship every season. Please take a few minutes to fill out the Prospective Student Athlete Questionnaire and email me a schedule of any upcoming games, camps or tournaments you will be participating in. After I receive the questionnaire I will contact you to answer any questions you might have and to set up a campus visit. Thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking with you about the University of Massachusetts and our Women's Ice Hockey Program Thank you, |
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