When Emily LaFond transferred to Boston University from Villanova University in 2013, she began looking for a club ice hockey team for women, hoping to eventually join. To her surprise, no such team existed — the previous club team rose to the varsity level in 2005.
Unwilling to give up, LaFond recruited girls through social media and an ice hockey PDP class at the Fitness and Recreation Center beginning in 2013. She established a new team the same year and worked to earn university recognition ever since.
“I’ve been playing this sport for too long,” said LaFond, now a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. “So I just went out and started a team.”
After three seasons of competition as an independent team, LaFond’s dream has came true — women’s club ice hockey will officially be affiliated with BU beginning this fall.
The process of affiliation requires a significant investment of time and resources. The Club Sports department worked hard for years with LaFond’s team to establish a successful program that benefits students and the university, according to Scott Nalette, the BU intramural and club sports manager.
“The affiliation process for a group attempting to become a club sport involves a multi-year planning process,” Nalette wrote in an email. “[The process] includes securing all necessary resources needed for our department to properly oversee and manage that group.”
Nalette said that the new club team will provide an additional outlet for female athletes to represent the university, while playing the sport they love.
“While competitive success is nice, we’re most interested in enhancing the experience of our students and providing opportunities for the types of personal growth and leadership development that can come from being part of a Club Sports team,” he wrote.
Formal university recognition will allow the players to enjoy perks they did not have in previous seasons, including access to athletic training, van transportation for games, more time on the ice and greater impact on campus, said Jim Pascarelli, the head coach for the women’s club ice hockey team.
“We have a good team coming back next year, and hopefully some new recruits coming in with the new exposure of being recognized by the school,” Pascarelli said. “Hopefully [becoming recognized] will help bring in some new players.”
Katherine Bienkowski, a junior in CAS and the president of the team, said the process to becoming affiliated with BU was definitely worth it.
“In women’s club hockey, whether you are sanctioned or not dictates which leagues you can join,” Bienkowski said. “Therefore, with our affiliation, we will have several more opportunities to play new teams and join new leagues.”
Beyond allowing current students to perform in a more competitive and organized environment, the team’s affiliation also provides incoming students the opportunity to be part of a unique group on campus, develop great skills and create invaluable connections, Bienkowski said.
“We have big shoes to fill with the graduating class leaving,” she said. “But we have a few new girls coming in and an excellent core of girls returning.”
The team now has a lot to look forward to — two secured hours of practice per week will greatly enhance the team’s skills, and university funds will facilitate access to better equipment and apparel, LaFond said.
Although LaFond will graduate and won’t be skating at Walter Brown Arena next year, she said she certainly will look back on her club hockey experience as one of her fondest college memories.
“I would love to have played as an official club sport but I really enjoyed the process,” LaFond said. “It’s nice to say that you pioneered something and started a program and I can look back on that as a really positive part of my college experience.”
