(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
In a decision that came as a surprise to some of the university’s student-athletes, Arizona State announced the cancellation of a handful of its club sports programs on Dec. 14.
Among the canceled sports is the Sun Devils’ women’s hockey team, one of the school’s most successful club programs in recent history. The team, led by head coach Lindsey Ellis, brought in one of its best recruiting classes this offseason in hopes of building upon its winning culture established over the course of the last few years.
The women’s hockey team’s ambitions have been placed on hold, though, due to university regulations. Sophomore defenseman Abi McGee simply described her teammates’ reactions to the news as “disbelief.”
“I could not believe our season was being taken away from us,” McGee said.
Added Ellis: “I think for me, it was more frustrating. I think there was a glimpse of hopes with football and men’s hockey, and then to learn a few weeks later that we were not even able to get on the ice together was disheartening.”
Like women’s hockey, the Sun Devils’ football and men’s hockey teams have faced significant hurdles due to the pandemic. After playing its season opener Nov. 7 at USC, the football team missed three-straight games after a COVID-19 outbreak within the program, and men’s hockey is playing its entire season on the road against Big Ten opponents.
The biggest difference between those two programs and the women’s hockey team, though, is funding. Ellis said the marked difference in that respect has affected her team greatly.
“We do not have the same resources,” she said. “We are kind of on our own. These girls came to this school to play hockey, and obviously, all club sports are not the same, but we run on a high level compared to other club sports, so why were we not even given a chance?”
The lack of opportunity has been the hardest aspect of the situation to process for Ellis and her players.
“It was hard to hear that football got the opportunity to play while we were still waiting for an answer,” junior defenseman Sheridan Gloyd said. “Our team is very devoted, and I think when it comes down, we would be smart to be able to play our games and have our season.”
Among a host of challenges, seeing other sports receive the green light to play while the women’s hockey players waited to learn their fate was the most prominent difficulty throughout the process.
“I do understand decisions are made, but I think in terms of communication, we were sort of left in the dark,” Ellis explained. “I think the respect of communication would have gone a long way.
“Our girls had to wait only until a few weeks ago just to hear that their season was canceled when they can see these other teams playing already. There were some club sports that were even going to a national tournament when we would get in trouble going to the rink.”
While the women’s hockey team falls under the club sports category, its players believe the designation should not harm their reputation or the amount of latitude afforded to the program.
“We have tryouts; we have cuts like we are not just a team you can join; it is a team you have to make,” Gloyd said. “We are so competitive and take it seriously, and we deserve more opportunities.”
McGee echoed Gloyd’s sentiment.
“It was hard to hear that we were getting the news from the university when we have only received so little from them,” McGee said. “We control most of our season, and when it comes down to the decision on if we can play, it was up to them… it is hard.”
While funding and opportunities remain an issue for ASU’s women’s hockey program, Ellis said that this year they were hardly a concern.
“I do not expect we are going to get all of those accommodations, and that is not something we are trying to get,” Ellis said. “I think in terms of this year particularly, we wanted that communication of whether we can play or not and understanding why they can and we can not.”
At this point, all Ellis and her players can do is look forward to next season when COVID-19 may not be a factor in their ability to get back out on the ice. For Ellis, 2021 represents a “light at the end of the tunnel.” To this point, the journey to the new year has been eye-opening.
“It is a wake-up call on how lucky we are to be able to play this game and to represent ASU,” Ellis said. “Coming out next year, they are going to come out with a fire under them because it was canceled this year.”
