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Hockey team ends winless first season,
focuses on future
By Stephanie Riebe
Collegian Reporter
The Hillsdale club
hockey team has ended their first season without a win. Although
the Chargers finished the year 0-6, the team is marking its
progress not in terms of games won, but rather by the success
of bringing hockey back to Hillsdale after a 20-year absence.
The Chargers battled many obstacles as a beginning
club sport, but ended their play with assurance that the program
will continue and grow in the years to come.
"We started a program that will last
a long time at Hillsdale College," assistant captain Michael
Francisco said.
Francisco and junior Dan Greene were key in
getting the club underway last fall. The Chargers said they
are confident in the team's future, because along with Francisco
they are losing only goalkeeper Graham Polando and defender
Kristal Korzon to graduation this spring.
"I hope the seniors have fond memories,"
coach Adam Lussier said. "I hope they remember that although
we didn't win a game, they were a part of bringing hockey back
to Hillsdale."
Throughout the season, the biggest obstacle
the team had to tackle was a lack of funds.
"Not having solid financial support killed
us," sophomore Jamie Kasuboski said.
But, weekend after weekend, dozens of Charger
fans made the trip to Optimist Ice Arena in Jackson to watch
the team play.
"I'm still in shock about the great turnout
of fan support we got game after game," Kasuboski said.
"We'll take whatever publicity we can get."
The Chargers played their final game on Feb.
29, losing 8-2 to Albion College. Sophomore captain Dan Douglass
scored Hillsdale's two goals.
Next season the team plans to increase their
schedule to 24 games and recruit freshmen.
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