Spaceman
06-26-2001, 01:14 PM
Thought you Clarkson folks would be interested in this Watertown Times article:
Byline: Cap Carey
Times Sports Writer
Clarkson University is continuing to make plans to add women's hockey as a varsity sport.
Clarkson athletic director Geoff Brown, who confirmed last month that women's hockey would eventually become an intercollegiate sport, said the addition will be discussed at a Board of Trustees meeting this fall. But it appears likely Clarkson will have an NCAA Division III women's hockey team by the 2002-03 season.
According to Brown, Clarkson will field a Division III team first but eventually upgrade women's hockey to Division I status. St. Lawrence University has played at the Division I level since 1997.
"I think there's a natural evolution here from club to Division III into Division I," Brown said.
The only women's hockey at Clarkson now is the school's club team, which is nicknamed the Edge. Because it is a club team, the Edge's roster also features some players from St. Lawrence University and Potsdam College.
"There's an active group of students who participate at the club level now," Brown said. "We certainly want to safeguard their interest and provide them with an opportunity to continue. Given that most of these young ladies on the club team are underclassmen, they would be consulted and be part of the process as we move forward."
Many of the Edge's players seem excited about the developments and believe they will be able to participate when the program becomes a full varsity sport.
"We're kind of split," said Nichole Green, a Potsdam native who was a freshman forward for the Edge last season. "The girls who are more skilled are pushing for it."
Jenn Gray, another Potsdam native who was a sophomore defenseman for the Edge last season, said the team fared well in some games last year against Division III teams.
"We talked about it as a team and we all look forward to doing it," Gray said. "We're extremely excited that (school officials) are talking about it."
Brown said Clarkson will need three basics to begin women's varsity hockey: a rink to play in, a league to play in, and a coach.
Clarkson already has the rink, Cheel Arena, and there is little question that when ready Clarkson would be able to join the Eastern College Athletic Conference's women's Division III league.
Clarkson would have to make some changes to Cheel Arena, including building a locker room for the women's team.
Players like Greene and Gray are just excited for the chance to be part of Clarkson's last women's club team and possibly the first women's varsity program.
"It will definitely be a memory that we have," Gray said.
Byline: Cap Carey
Times Sports Writer
Clarkson University is continuing to make plans to add women's hockey as a varsity sport.
Clarkson athletic director Geoff Brown, who confirmed last month that women's hockey would eventually become an intercollegiate sport, said the addition will be discussed at a Board of Trustees meeting this fall. But it appears likely Clarkson will have an NCAA Division III women's hockey team by the 2002-03 season.
According to Brown, Clarkson will field a Division III team first but eventually upgrade women's hockey to Division I status. St. Lawrence University has played at the Division I level since 1997.
"I think there's a natural evolution here from club to Division III into Division I," Brown said.
The only women's hockey at Clarkson now is the school's club team, which is nicknamed the Edge. Because it is a club team, the Edge's roster also features some players from St. Lawrence University and Potsdam College.
"There's an active group of students who participate at the club level now," Brown said. "We certainly want to safeguard their interest and provide them with an opportunity to continue. Given that most of these young ladies on the club team are underclassmen, they would be consulted and be part of the process as we move forward."
Many of the Edge's players seem excited about the developments and believe they will be able to participate when the program becomes a full varsity sport.
"We're kind of split," said Nichole Green, a Potsdam native who was a freshman forward for the Edge last season. "The girls who are more skilled are pushing for it."
Jenn Gray, another Potsdam native who was a sophomore defenseman for the Edge last season, said the team fared well in some games last year against Division III teams.
"We talked about it as a team and we all look forward to doing it," Gray said. "We're extremely excited that (school officials) are talking about it."
Brown said Clarkson will need three basics to begin women's varsity hockey: a rink to play in, a league to play in, and a coach.
Clarkson already has the rink, Cheel Arena, and there is little question that when ready Clarkson would be able to join the Eastern College Athletic Conference's women's Division III league.
Clarkson would have to make some changes to Cheel Arena, including building a locker room for the women's team.
Players like Greene and Gray are just excited for the chance to be part of Clarkson's last women's club team and possibly the first women's varsity program.
"It will definitely be a memory that we have," Gray said.