Women's ice hockey responds to varsity snub

Funding still an issue with Michigan Athletic Department's decision

Last week, the Michigan Athletic Department granted varsity status to two club sports - men's soccer and women's water polo.

In doing so, it renewed the hope of other club sports that one day the varsity spotlight might shine on them.

But for the Michigan women's ice hockey club team, the decision was yet another hurdle to clear in their quest for varsity status.

"We heard towards the end of last year that they were looking for teams," Michigan hockey club member Meghan Green said. The Athletic Department "never really gave us any direct answers."

In the months prior to the decision, an Athletic Department-sponsored committee met to discuss the pros and cons of elevating one or more club teams to varsity status.

In spite of the widespread interest in the men's program, the initiation of a women's team just didn't appear to be economically viable.

"It makes sense for them. It's cheaper," Michigan hockey club member Dana Aronson said. "Hockey is a very expensive sport."

Money is a reality not lost on the Athletic Department, but Senior Associate Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes said it's not the only determining factor.

"The Board in Control of Athletics looked at cost, regional conferencing, competition, the facility and the cost on the student-athlete," Bradley-Doppes said. "They unanimously supported water polo and soccer."

Notably, the newly-renovated Canham Natatorium is currently underused and is capable of housing another varsity program. The men's soccer team won the national club championship the past two years and has been lobbying for a team since 1989.

But the economics of the situation could not be avoided.

"The cost of adding a women's hockey team - $1.2 million - is more than it costs to add soccer and water polo combined," Bradley-Doppes said. "In the interest of being fair, this is it."

While the team will undoubtedly plead its case again in the future, the present doesn't bode well in terms of recruitment.

The state of Michigan is a hotbed for women ice hockey players, as evidenced by the sport's growing influence. But the women's ice hockey teams at Michigan and Michigan State - another team in search of varsity status - simply cannot match what colleges on the East Coast can offer in terms of competition and scholarships.

"A lot of kids go out East," Michigan State club team member Joanna Yang said. "Both of our programs are getting stronger, but are still weak in comparison."

Players packing their bags towards the Atlantic is a pattern all too familiar to Green.

"I talk to a lot of girls who don't want to go out East, but who can blame them?" Green said. "It's frustrating because we just don't have the organization to compete."

The team at Michigan is relatively young in comparison to older, more grizzled club teams such as men's crew and lacrosse, and it may take years before their varsity dream becomes a reality.

But both the team and the Athletic Department are hopeful for the future of women's ice hockey.

"They need to remember that it takes time," Bradley-Doppes said. "They are spreading the news, and they've got support from (Michigan men's hockey) coach Red Berenson.

"Men's soccer was very classy in their lobbying efforts and they finally made it. We don't do anything halfway here. To do it the right way it takes time."

The women's team intends to succeed sooner or later.

"I think if people heard about it, it would get attention," Green said. "Of those sports and ours, we have the best chance of drawing people in the future."

04-02-99