JCC Announces New Hockey Team

Step aside, Detroit, Jackson is destined to be the next great hockey town! Jackson Community College officials announced recently that it has formed a partnership with the Warriors Hockey Club of Jackson to enable JCC students to play in a club hockey program for men.

Following discussions between JCC President Daniel Phelan and the Warrior Hockey Club to consider the possibility of starting a hockey team for JCC students, the College has formed a partnership affiliation to enable students to participate in a club hockey program, operated through American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), Division III.

I am pleased that we can partner with the Warrior organization to provide young people in the area an opportunity to pursue both higher education and athletic opportunities, said Phelan. He also noted this new relationship is a winning combination for the student/athletes in the community.

The program will be funded by the Warrior Hockey Club, and will represent no cost to JCC. The hockey club may occasionally use college facilities for their activities, but will fund the program through their own means, with the help of various fund-raisers in the community.

We want to see students who want to play college hockey not leave Jackson, said Dale Smith, general manager for the JCC team and coordinator of the program with the Warrior Hockey Club. We’re hoping to get the word out that Jackson Community College is offering hockey, hopefully have more students stay here to play, and perhaps draw some who would go to other colleges to play hockey.

Smith said most programs like this are pay-to-play, but the local organization is going to try to keep costs minimal. Players will need hockey pants and skates, and other costs will hopefully be about $100 or less a year. The Warrior club has been working with the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the community to do some fund-raisers and help defray costs.

Dale Smith and the Warrior organization are to be complimented for their continued zeal in supporting the youth of the greater Jackson area, Phelan said. Through the creation of this partnership, we will be able to offer student/athletes the opportunity to pursue a degree as well as their interest in hockey. Indeed, it helps to broaden our co-curriculum to address the needs of the whole student. He noted further with our renewed emphasis on student life, as directed in our strategic plan, yet limited budget, we are able to advance our programming to meet student needs.

Coach for the new hockey team will be Michael Nau, a former Jackson High coach and coach of the Western Michigan University hockey team in 1999-2000. Assistant coach will be Phil Freeman, himself a JCC alumnus.

If there is enough interest, the ACHA has a women’s division, and the hockey club and college would be willing to put together a women’s hockey club in the future.

Tryouts will begin August 18 to field a team for this fall season. Home ice will be the Optimist Ice Arena, 1300 W. North, Jackson. Coaches are looking for a roster of 19-25 young men.

Players must meet all NCAA requirements to be able to play, and must be academically eligible at the college. They must be enrolled full-time and carry a grade point average of at least 2.0.

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