Buccaneers take to the ice
When Northland College announced that it was closing at the end of the spring semester, Beloit staff reached out to offer ways for Northland students to continue their education at Beloit, including an invitation to Northland’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams and their coaches to join Buccaneer athletics.
The result: Beloit College’s hockey program will hit the ice running in the coming academic year. The move allows Northland’s student-athletes and their coaches to continue playing together, while bringing the exciting sport of hockey back to Beloit as an NCAA Division III sport.
In the 1800s, around the time Beloit College was founded, the Mi’kmaq, Indigenous peoples in Nova Scotia, were playing a game that appears to have been influenced by the Irish game of hurling. It is thought that this is the game that Scottish and Irish immigrants spread throughout Canada and that evolved into what is now known as hockey, one of the most popular of international sports, and one that continues to grow in popularity, particularly in the Midwest.
Hockey was a thriving club sport at Beloit College circa 1973 to 1986, and the return of hockey is exciting news for Beloiters who are fans, former players, and or interested in learning more about this fast-paced game. “The addition of ice hockey is not only a great opportunity for us to expand our sports offerings but also a chance for us to support students who have been impacted by Northland College’s closure,” says President Eric Boynton. “We are committed to providing an excellent college experience for all our students, and we are excited to have these talented student-athletes and their outstanding coaches join our community.” Stay tuned, and get ready to cheer the Buccaneers on their home ice as they light the lamp in their inaugural season.
