Bradley Club Hockey, explained
An inside look at the Bradley club hockey team and how it operates.
Bradley University has a wide variety of club sports - 22 in total. However, across campus, the oldest club sport also garners the most popularity. The school has a long history with the club hockey team, dating back to 1987. The team brings together players of all backgrounds, ranging from former junior hockey players to former high school hockey players. The organization currently has one division two team but has had both division two and three teams in the past. While the team is not a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), they compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, or ACHA.
Bradley Hockey extends an invitation to potential recruits for a special skating event taking place over a weekend in the summer. This unique opportunity allows different players considering Bradley to experience firsthand the dynamics and operations of the team. Prospective players move into their campus housing a week before the rest of the student population. This allows them to participate in the week-long tryout process, which decides whether or not they make the final roster. Unlike other club sports, Bradley Hockey strives to make a difference in the Peoria Community. During the summer tryout week, the players spent time at EP!C, helping re-mulch the garden, which allows members with disabilities to learn to grow their own food. During the school year, Bradley Hockey allows for multiple opportunities to enhance the youth hockey scene in Peoria. For example, the club hosts an annual Skate with the Braves night, which allows players from the Peoria Youth Hockey Association (PYHA) to free skate with the Bradley Hockey team. Senior Tom Davis said that Skate with the Braves “not only allows for the community to get to know us on a more personal level but for us to get to know the city we are representing.”
We spoke with some of the players, and students, who run the organization to hear more about what makes this program so special.
What sets Bradley Hockey apart?
Senior and captain of Bradley hockey Tommy Zschach says, “The relationships you have between everyone involved with the team, whether that is between the players, coaches, or volunteers, everyone is like a family.”
Sophomore and Treasurer, Paul Contreras, says, “I think the fact that it’s more exciting to watch, more exciting to play, we get more people to show up to the games than other club sports. It’s cool that we play off campus too, you get that sense of actually being at a hockey rink to experience a game unlike any other.”
Former President and player Josh Crandall says, “I feel that what sets hockey apart from other club sports is how in-depth in the decision-making process the players can be. Not every club gets to make decisions such as planning a game schedule, practices, events, and other logistics that the hockey club takes part in every day.”
Davis says, “Due to the off-ice work ethic of the Bradley University Hockey Team, we are able to compete at high levels. Additionally, community service has brought us together as a whole team.”
How is the program run?
Zschach also mentions, “The program is run by players, students, and the coaching staff who are entrusted with the ability to determine how the program will run each year. New elections happen each year and the team votes on who will be in charge of each position. Being one of the bigger club sports teams on campus, the social media team has done a lot to help get recognition around Peoria.”
Contreras said, “The program is run completely by students, aside from our Director, who is not a student. We have board meetings once a week. There is pretty much any position you think of - main ones like President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary. Then some positions run on gameday - such as Gameday Operations - somebody who runs the scoresheet, scoreboard, and music. So there is a lot that goes into it behind the scenes.”
Davis said, “What sets our program apart is that all important decisions are made by students. We have students who run the board, but our non-student director and coaches also have an important role.”
Crandall said, “The program is run by the president and has a multitude of players and outside members on a board that helps to direct the decisions of the club and run the day to day activities.”
What has been the best part of your experience with the team?
“Going on the road to all the different schools and playing in those big games in front of opposing teams' fans is one of the best parts. But those big come-from-behind wins have to be up there as one of the best parts,” says Zschach.
“I think just how connected we are as a family. I’ve noticed, especially this year, that the seniors take the freshmen under their wings and the sophomores and juniors follow suit. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, we are all the same and we’re all on the same team,” says Contreras.
“As much as it was stressful, being the president at one point was the most rewarding experience, however being able to see the work that you do being played out each season is the best part of the program,” says Crandall.