Hockey isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the University of North Florida, but a group of tenacious students and a coach with a pro past is changing that, one slapshot at a time. UNF's Club Ice Hockey team is in the thick of its second collegiate season, turning heads in the College Hockey South (CHS) conference and offering a slice of icy action to the Jacksonville community.
The team, which resumed after a long hiatus in 2011, owes much to Joey Eichler, a senior with dreams as big as his responsibilities—balancing a double major in transportation and logistics, and business intelligence, with being the team's president. The genesis of the club's return lies in Eichler's vision and a quaint rec league beginning, as detailed in a report by the university's newsroom. With his sidekick and the then-vice president, Matthew Leonard-Morgan, they crafted a grassroots campaign to revitalize college hockey at UNF. Despite his graduation in spring 2023, Leonard-Morgan's legacy persists through every power play and faceoff, thanks to his pivotal fundraising efforts.
It's a sports tale as old as time: starting a team from scratch is no easy feat, but dedication from students like Eichler and supportive alumni like Leonard-Morgan sets the foundation for a legacy in the making. These efforts have culminated in an 18-player roster that includes members from not just UNF, but also Jacksonville University and Jacksonville River College, all practicing at the Community First Igloo—the same rink home to the Jacksonville Icemen.
Head coach Mike Marcinkiewicz, who laced up his skates for the University of Florida Club team before answering the call from UNF in 2023, brings a wealth of experience to the bench. "The season is wrapping up, and while we don’t have as many players as other teams since we’re newer, we’ve improved a lot," Eichler told UNF Newsroom. Owen Keyser, a recent sports management graduate, and the team captain echoed this sentiment, highlighting the power of collective effort and the inspiration drawn from each player's commitment.
