MSU-Northern to Add Men’s Hockey

MSU-Northern announced on Tuesday they’d be adding club hockey to the school’s athletics programs beginning in the fall of 2019. The team will compete under the American Collegiate Hockey Association in the Division 2 level. The school said they hope to eventually add women’s hockey as well. “A new hockey club will be a great addition to MSU-Northern, and Northcentral Montana,” said MSU-Northern’s Chancellor, Greg Kegel. “We have a great Havre Youth Hockey Association in place and this hockey club will be a great complement and fit in terms of who we are as a community. It’s not only a great recruiting tool, but it will also provide our students and the community with some exciting competition.” The Northern Lights are actively seeking a head coach, and hope to have one hired by the end of July. While recruiting, the school is also encouraging students already enrolled to try out as a walk on. In order to play, students must pay $1,500, go through the eligibility process, and maintain a 2.0 GPA. The team will practice and compete at the Havre Ice Dome. Athletic Director Christian Oberquell said 2019 will serve as a non-competitive season in order to focus on promotion, fundraising, scheduling and recruiting, and the first competitive season will launch in the fall of 2020. “We are hoping to play 12 home and 12 away games,” said Oberquell. “Hockey in Havre in booming right now and we have some very good skaters right here in our backyard and with our proximity to Canada, we feel that we can put together a very competitive team.” The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a chartered non-profit corporation that is the national governing body of varsity and club-level college ice hockey in the United States. The organization provides structure and regulation; promotes the quality of play, and sponsors national awards and national tournaments. The ACHA currerntly have three men’s and two women’s divisions and includes approximately 450 teams from across the United States. For more information about to how to apply or to be part of the team, you can contact Oberquell at coberquell@msun.edu or 406-265-4109.