Special Contributor // Veronica Rohrmoser
SYRACUSE, N.Y.–The Syracuse University Women’s Ice Hockey team is only in its third season but is showing promise for a successful future.
Paul Flanagan, head coach, helped establish the team back in 2008. He said it was an opportunity he could not pass up.
“I was intrigued by the offer,” said Flanagan. “I took the job because I didn’t want to look back and regret not taking this opportunity.” Flanagan said his first order of business was to hire a staff.
“Then,” he said, “I had about three months to put together a team, over the summer. So, that was a lot of pressure.” But Flanagan recruited 20 players that first season.
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Last year, Flanagan was able to recruit even more players, increasing the team size to 25.
He said the lack of upperclassman and experienced players means younger players have to step up.
“Here, we have had to look to our freshman and sophomores to be leaders, which normally wouldn’t happen at an established program,” said Flanagan. “That’s a lot to ask of these girls. They have done well. They just have had to learn the hard way.”
Women in a Male-Dominated Sport
Ice Hockey has traditionally been a male-dominated sport. But the past decade has shown real growth in the sport for women.
“Since 2000, we’ve added 19 teams,” said Flanagan. “We’re currently at 35 Division-I teams, and Penn State has just announced their new women’s program, so that will make 36. Thirty-six teams in about a decade–that’s real growth.”
Flanagan said ice hockey is following historic trends for women’s sport.
“I really think it’s 20 years ago women’s basketball,” Flanagan said. “They finally got their foot in the door and look where they are now.”
And Flanagan said just because it is a male-dominated sport, does not mean women can’t hold their own.
“They train just as hard, they’re every bit as dedicated to their sport, and some cases even more so,” said Flanagan.
College Team is Pinnacle
Because there is no professional or semi-professional league for women, Flanagan said many women look at their college team’s as the summit of their hockey careers.
“This is pretty much the pinnacle,” said Flanagan. “Unless you’re one of those fortunate ones who can play on the Olympic team, this is it.”
And freshman player Samantha Press agrees.
“I think this is probably it for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to play in the Olympics, and I’ll probably still play for fun. But there aren’t any outlets for girls at that level.”
And this team may be young, but Flanagan says they have a lot of heart.
“This is women’s hockey,” he said. “We can’t have our players approaching it like it’s still girl’s hockey. It’s time to mature, as a person and an athlete. With 17 freshman and sophomores, that can be difficult.”
But Flanagan said he is happy with how far the team has come and excited about this season.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction on a lot of different fronts….And we know we have to be a hard-working team, but we are capable of a lot.”
The team’s record currently stands at 5-5-1. They have not played any conference games. The team’s next game will be away at Colgate on November 23 at 7 p.m. Their next home game will be on November 26 at 7 p.m. versus Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. All home games are played at Tennity Ice Pavillion.
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