When discussing hockey powerhouses in the area, California University of Pennsylvania may not be the first team to come to mind, but the Vulcans, who have two teams that compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, have come up with a novel solution to change that perception.
The ACHA is club hockey. For Division II schools such as Cal U, that is the only option, as the NCAA doesn’t sanction the sport at that level. Other schools like Duquesne and Pitt choose to have their ACHA team as the highest level of hockey on campus. In places like Robert Morris that have varsity teams, the club team can be a de facto JV team. Robert Morris forward Alex Dagnal, a Peters Township grad, was called up from the club team to the big squad in 2015 and is playing his second season of varsity hockey.
But despite it’s prevalence amongst local schools — IUP, Penn State and Slippery Rock also have teams — there isn’t the same level of knowledge about the ACHA as a post-high school option for local hockey players.
That’s where Cal U is trying something different, hosting local high school players and teams for a high school showcase Saturday at Rostraver Ice Garden. The school’s ACHA Division III team will host West Virginia at 4:15 p.m. and the Open Division team will host Pitt-Greensburg. In between games and during the intermissions, the Cal U coaches and staff will talk with players and high school coaches about what the ACHA has to offer.
“What we’ve been hearing from a lot of players during recruiting this year is that they’re not that familiar with their options after high school,” Cal U assistant general manager Phil Locante said. “A lot of them know about juniors and that route, but for those that can’t move on to juniors or that isn’t an option for them, there’s not a lot of knowledge about the ACHA and what it offers. We’re trying to get people to get a feel for what the ACHA is and what it offers as well as what Cal U can offer academically as a more affordable college option.”
One of the big things that Locante doesn’t think people are aware of is the quality of play found at the ACHA level and that’s why their hosting prospective players during a game.
“It’s very similar to the level of junior hockey and even to NCAA hockey,” he said. “We’ve had several players that have played NCAA Division III and then come to us and it’s every bit as competitive. … Even though it’s a club sport, you will see a high level of competition.”
The Cal U first team is 10-0 and has secured first place in their conference going into the postseason.
