Tech Hockey is Back at Civic Center

Hockey (800x516)Minor league hockey is long gone but fans of the game can still check out Virginia Tech and Radford University club team home games, held at the Roanoke Civic Center. Club hockey – meaning it’s not NCAA sanctioned – is not fully supported financially by the schools, which may offer other logistical aid. 

 In fact the Tech team gets just $8600 in direct financial aid from the school, according to General Manager Chris Arnold. But if you need that hockey fix, club hockey may be just the ticket. Virginia Tech’s team – all the players must be full time students – have drawn as many as 4000 or more for home games against UVA in the past.

 The Hokies have two home games this weekend (Nov. 23-24, at 7:30 and 2pm respectively) and have contests at the Roanoke Civic Center through January 25. Tech broke out of the box with an 11-2 start this season, and is coached by Joey Mullen. Now in his third season as head coach, Mullen had two uncles that played in the National Hockey League.

 On occasion Tech’s team has had to travel to the ice rink at Liberty University, when the ice is not in place at the Roanoke Civic Center. “They’ve been a great partner with us…but in the same light they’re here to make a dollar,” said Arnold of the Civic Center management. “If they have a show [booked] then yes we’ve got to go to Liberty. It makes for a long night but [students-athletes are] willing to sacrifice to play a game they love.”

 Arnold said he is beginning to see more students come to Tech in part because of the club hockey team. “We’re starting to build a tradition of success. In the past four years we’ve been ranked in the top ten in the southeast.” The Hokies belong to the Mid Atlantic Collegiate Hockey (MACH) conference and advanced out of the southeast regional playoffs to the national ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) tourney two years ago.

 Last year they came up two goals short in a regional final vs. Bowling Green and did not make it back to the nationals. Team leaders like Zack Walz (senior forward), Alex Burgman (defense) and Max Grande (D) “all have the taste of nationals and they want to go back,” according to Arnold.

 The Hokies play at the Division 2 level (Radford is D3) but have scheduled Division 1 teams like Towson, West Virginia and Liberty. “We’re not afraid to [take on] the big boys,” said Arnold; “we have the scrappiness, the desire and the scoring to make us successful.” UVA dropped from D2 to D3 and is not playing Tech in Roanoke this season. That was typically the biggest draw of the year for the Hokies at the Civic Center.

 Fans often show up at home games dressed in the type of Hokies gear you might see at Lane Stadium. Between periods there are youth league hockey scrimmages, chuck-a-puck and some of the other hijinks you might remember from minor league games (Express, Vipers, Lancers, Rampage, Rebels etc.) Going to Tech hockey games is also a bargain: $5 for adults, children under 12 are free, as are Tech faculty and students with valid ID.

 Arnold says Tech club hockey games against the likes of schools that include Maryland, Temple and Penn State will satisfy most fans of the game. Those who liked fighting however will be disappointed: there are no fights allowed in the college game.

 “If you fight you are suspended for a game automatically,” said Arnold. “We want the hard checks, we want the fast goals, but you cannot fight. You will see a lot of 18 to 21 year olds busting their butts and getting after it. Doing whatever it takes to win the game.” That might be just enough for local hockey fans.

 See virginiatechicehockey.com for more information.

 By Gene Marrano

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