If you’re an ice hockey fan, you know that the Boston Bruins are a big deal here in New England – they’re the oldest National Hockey League franchise in the United States and have captured the Stanley Cup six times. What you may not know, is that just one state away, URI has its own claim to fame – our nationally- and internationally-renowned Division 1 club ice hockey teams.
URI women’s ice hockey has won eight titles in 10 years with the Eastern Collegiate Women’s Hockey League. During the 2012-13 season, they ranked first in the country among Division 1 club teams.
Take our women’s ice hockey team. Right now, three Rhody Rams are competing in the 2013 Winter World University Games in Trentino, Italy. Lauren Hillberg, ‘14, Alisha DiFilippo, ’15 and Cassie Catlow, ’15 will contend this month for Team USA in the games, second only in international importance to the Olympic Games, which are held every two years showcasing only the best student-athletes in the world. The Lady Rams debuted on Team USA in 2010 – the first women’s squad in the games – when Justine Ducie ’11 was chosen for the games; they advanced to the bronze medal game that year. This year, they plan to bring home the gold.
“URI provides a great opportunity for student-athletes to continue playing at the collegiate level,” said head coach Beth McCann. “We have strived for the past 15 years to build a solid foundation and provide a competitive forum for our athletes at URI. It takes hard work and dedication from our students and coaching staff to continue to provide this competitive forum for our student-athletes.”
But women’s ice hockey isn’t the only URI team to gain such an honor. Our men’s ice hockey team has also competed in the World University Games. In fact, Coach Joe Augustine was named assistant coach to Team USA for the 2007 games and head coach for the 2009 games, and in 2009 he had the opportunity to coach three Rams who made the team. That same year, Team USA finished 7th place – its best finish at that time. In 2011, four Rams helped Team USA land a 6th-place finish, setting a new record for the Americans.
And if that’s not impressive enough, both of our teams hold spectacular regular-season records. Under Coach Augustine, our men’s team has enjoyed 24 consecutive winning seasons, as well as one American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship win in 2006. Coach Augustine has won two back-to-back ACHA Head Coach of the Year awards, for both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. And he recently celebrated his 500th win at URI – just as he entered his 25th year of coaching at Rhody.
Our women’s team is just as notable, having won eight titles in its 10 years of participation in its regional league, the Eastern Collegiate Women’s Hockey League. And during the 2012-13 season, they ranked first in the country among Division 1 club teams.
So if hitting the ice with a team on the international stage sounds like something you’d love, then check us out. Who knows – the next Team USA member might be you.
Pictured: URI student and hockey player Lauren Hillberg ’14.