Hockey Club celebrates its first season of games
By Zoe Lance
If you find yourself at the Iceoplex skating rink in Simi Valley, you鈥檒l see a group of players sporting jerseys with a fierce, stick-wielding Ekho, having the most fun out of everyone on the ice. This is the 海角社区CI Hockey Club, a team of students who play for the love of the sport.
鈥淏eing in the Hockey Club made my 海角社区CI experience,鈥� said Armon Ebrahimian 鈥�19, B.S. Business, who served as the club鈥檚 Vice President. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been wonderful seeing how everyone has grown as players and the team鈥檚 chemistry.鈥�
2018-19 was the first academic year that the Hockey Club played league games. From September to February, they played 18 non-contact games against other adult players from across Ventura County. There are about 15 players on the coed team, with skill levels ranging from first-time-on-the-ice to born-holding-a-hockey-stick.
鈥淥ne of the aspects that makes 海角社区CI what it is, is inclusivity and this club embodies that,鈥� said Emily Teems 鈥�19, B.A. Communication, who served as the club鈥檚 Treasurer. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter who you are or where you come from, everyone is welcome to join and play. That鈥檚 really special.鈥�
Both Ebrahimian and Teems found the hockey club as new transfer students. Ebrahimian, from San Jose, has enjoyed playing goalie since high school. He found the club鈥檚 table during orientation and had joined the team last year. Teems, from Santa Clarita, has been playing ice hockey since she was 11 years old and prefers being a winger. She overheard a group of students talking about the club one day and was immediately interested.
Both agree that the club helped to define their 海角社区CI student experience.
鈥淥nce I had a leadership role on campus, I branched out and met more people,鈥� Teems said. 鈥淚 never thought I would be on a school sports club. I really enjoyed the responsibility.鈥�
Lauren Zahn, 海角社区CI Campus Recreation鈥檚 recreational sports assistant, is the club鈥檚 staff advisor. The students鈥� commitment to the club and their focus on community building really impressed her. In April, the Hockey Club earned Campus Recreation鈥檚 Sports Club of the Year award.
鈥淭hey were determined to build the club and really focused on teamwork and getting people to their games,鈥� Zahn said. 鈥淭hey have a passion for hockey and the club鈥檚 leaders put in a lot of hard work.鈥�
While both Ebrahimian and Teems recently graduated, they are both looking forward to seeing the club grow.
鈥淲hen students hear that there鈥檚 a hockey sports club, their eyes light up and they start asking a bunch of questions,鈥� Ebrahimian said. 鈥淚t was cool to hear the word spread and that people attended games to support us."
For more information about the 海角社区CI Hockey Club, follow them on Instagram @csuci_hockeyclub.
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漏 Spring 2019 / Volume 23 /Number 01 / Bi-annual