If you don’t know about Case’s hockey team, it’s about time you get acquainted. Meet six-time-winner of the Case Western Reserve University club of Year award and favorite club team on campus. Though it’s been three years since the Case Ice Hockey club has had a winning season, and though they went just 2-11 last season, the squad remains optimistic about this season in the College Hockey League (CHA).

Joe Timpona, goalie and president of the club, says that “this upcoming season is looking to be a good one. We had our best recruiting class in years, and have some really talented players.” Timpona is hoping that the recruiting class this year will help them in making it to the finals of the College Hockey Association. The best team in CWRU history was the 2007-2008 season when they made it to the final of the CHA.

“Our main goals for this season are to make the playoffs and give our fans a great game each night we have a home game,” Timpona says, “Our biggest challenge as usual will probably be attendance.” Because of their club sport status, it has often been the case that they don’t have a consistent or full team out on the ice.

“We have always been a strong team when everyone shows up to games,” Timpona continues, “but in the past that hasn’t always happened.” With the new and promising recruiting class, hopefully we’ll get to see a fair representation of the Case squad this season – something that has the promise to be pretty exciting. Timpona agrees about attendance issues, and says, “We want to change that this year, so we can always put our best possible team on the ice and not have any excuses.”

Their season opener was a win in the record column for the Spartans last year, and they hope to repeat that trend on Friday, Oct. 1, against Carnegie Mellon University at home at the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center. CWRU matched up twice against Carnegie Mellon last year and came up with different results. The first time they played, CWRU came out with a 6-3 win; the second game ended in a 5-9 loss for CWRU. If the Spartans can maintain strong and consistent defense while continuing to get the puck behind CMU’s net-minder, they should be able to secure a win.

The Case Ice Hockey Clubs hopes that you will come support them on the first day of October at 9 p.m. – and make sure you wear white to show support for the home team! Greenies will be provided for transportation to the arena. The first five games of the season are to be held on our home ice at the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center.