Some members of the campus community might not know Sacramento State has a hockey team. It was just last season the Sac State Ice Hockey Team made its return to the Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association. The team originally played in the PCHA up until 2004, but was dismantled after that season.

The team finished with a 3-13 record last year.

Returning sophomore forward Justin Ellison said, “Last year was all about getting everything organized and getting the players on the same page…players just wanted to play and be a part of a college hockey team.” He said that the team’s success last year was not measured by wins and losses.

“We weren’t expecting too much last season, but it was a good experience getting to know the guys in the area who play hockey,” said junior forward Jamison Meikle, who is also returning for his second season.

“This year we expect to win, go to playoffs and make our presence known throughout the league,” Ellison said.

He said the team has nine returning players from last year.

After seeing the team’s talent in tryouts, first year head coach Tom Bowen said, “There is no reason we can’t win this thing (the PCHA).”

“We have some really strong skaters and two rock-solid goalies,” Bowen said. “Now we just have to balance the chemistry between players and see who plays best with who on each line.”

The team is gearing up for their season opener on Oct. 19 against the San Jose State Spartans. The game will be played at the Skate Town Ice Arena in Roseville, which is the Hornets’ home ice.

The PCHA consists of 12 teams and is broken up into two separate divisions: a north and south. The Hornets belong to the PCHA north division.

The Hornets will play 14 regular season games and two exhibitions this season, including two games against rival UC Davis. The Hornets will host the Aggies on Dec. 8, the first scheduled clash of the year between the two teams. Ellison is already calling it the “Frozen Causeway Classic.”

Other teams on the schedule are San Diego State, UC San Diego, Fresno State, Cal State Northridge, Santa Clara University and the College of the Canyons. The Hornets will play a home and away game with each team on their schedule.

After the regular season, the top four teams in each division participate in a playoff tournament to decide the league champion, said Cory Schiestel, the team’s general manager who is also a former player. He said the tournament is played over the course of a weekend in February and last year’s site was in Bakersfield.

The hockey team is technically a club sport under the supervision of Recreational Sports. Ellison, who is also the club’s president, said Rec Sports gave the club $5,500 last year to support the cost of the league. He said any other money it takes to operate the team comes from the players.

Each member of the team is required to pay an $800 player fee to help out with the cost of the season, Ellison said. Players are provided jerseys but all other equipment is purchased by the players themselves.

Ellison said the team pays $300 an hour for ice time at the Skate Town Ice Arena, and referees cost $275 per game. He said games run for about two and a half hours.

The cost to be part of the PCHA is $1000 and another $850 goes to the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which governs the PCHA, Ellison said.

Schiestel said he and other players operated a fireworks booth this past July to help raise funds for this upcoming season.

“It turned out alright; we didn’t make as much money as we hoped to,” Schiestel said.

Ellison said the players on the team are very dedicated to playing hockey.

“It shows just by the amount of money these guys pay to play, about how serious and dedicated they are,” he said.

“This is a competitive team sport, and we take it seriously,” Ellison said. “This isn’t like intramurals. We are out there playing full-contact hockey.”

Although it is competitive, Ellison said the team will be expected to keep up in school.

“We had a couple problems last year with guys not being able to show up to practices and games,” he said. “This year we made it clear to the guys if they are on the team they will be expected to show up, but we will always understand that school comes first.”

Ellison said the team will practice twice a week and play its games on the weekends.

He said the team’s practices start at 9 p.m. to avoid interfering with the players’ school schedules.

Sciestel said players must take nine units and carry a 2.0 GPA to play for the team.

Ellison greatly encouraged members of the Sac State community to come out to Roseville and watch a game.

“Come give it a chance. Even if you think you don’t like hockey, come out and support your school. We represent you guys out there on the ice,” he said. “Winning in an empty rink isn’t as fun as winning in a rink full of screaming fans.”

The Sac State hockey team’s upcoming schedule is on the website http://www.csus.edu/org/icehockey/.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at [email protected].