Despite the fact that I was 1,000 miles away from school this weekend, our #3 division-ranked UT Spartans were competing for the Southern Collegiate Hockey Conference championship cup and I was determined not to miss it. The team kicked off the tournament with a 21-6-1 record. I kept up with the @UTampaHockey Twitter account during the Friday game against #6 FAU, which we won (5-1), and the Saturday game against #2 UCF (6-1), which we also won. Then Sunday rolls around and it’s time for the championship game against #5 USF, who pulled off a win against FGCU, the #1 ranked team in the division. Our Spartans won 6-3 (woohoo)! Lucky for me, USF streamed the game on Periscope so I got to watch it even 1,000 miles away. So first of all, congratulations to the University of Tampa Spartans for winning the SCHC championship cup, and now it’s time for them to prepare for nationals, which will be held March 14-18 in Columbus, Ohio.

(The team after winning the SCHC championship)

(Captain Joe Tully holding the trophy)

Now let me tell you about the Spartans 2016-2017 hockey season.

As of this season, the team now practices and hosts home games at the Clearwater Ice Arena, about 25 minutes from campus driving. The head manager of the team is Jessie Beckett, who also sang the National Anthem at all of our home games. Other team managers include Stef Morris, Gina Gruttadaurio, Madeline Bowen, Tiana Tracey, Alex Stead, Amanda Halek, Abbey Greger, Julia Calandra, and Kensey Waite.

Once November came around, it was time to grow out the ‘staches. Each skater grew a mustache and collected donations to benefit the Movember Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. They raised over $1,000 during the Movember campaign, and the team ended the month with a win against the Florida Gators...and a lot of wild facial hair. Fan buses brought students from campus to the rink for free, and it was definitely the most spirited game of the season. #11 sophomore Carter Haines says that other than the SCHC semifinal UCF 6-1 upset, this Movember game was probably the most notable of the season because of the huge crowd, special custom jerseys, and the charitable efforts of over $1,000. (Great campaign, but I can’t say it wasn’t hard watching the growth of muttonchops and goatees...)

(UT Spartans after the Movember game against UF)

(Logan Underwood during the Movember game against UF)

The Spartans ended the fall semester with a 15-5-1 record. Over winter break, junior defenseman Jake Peterson traveled all around Europe competing with the ACHA DIII select team. In January - February, sophomore Luke Branin played for team Great Britain in the World University Games in Kazakhstan.

(#22 Jake Peterson)

When second semester started, the Spartans had added four players to the team to complete a 30-man roster, which includes Khaly Barry, Sam Murphy, Jared Balzarini, and Larry Adegoke. A lot of hype came with adding Adegoke to the roster (rightfully so), as he is a graduate-transfer who had previously been to nationals twice with Kennesaw State University. Adegoke was an incredible addition to the team, and was a star player throughout the semester, with 24 points in only seven games played.

(Larry Adegoke during the Feb. 4 UCF game)

This year’s graduates include #35 goalie Christian Hamlett, #17 captain Joe Tully, #21 Taylor Anderson, #3 Alex Carde, and #2 Evan Stawarz.

(Graduating goalie Christian Hamlett)

The first key player of the season is #27 Matt Antonacci, who won the 1^st team all conference with 51 goals and 30 assists as well as Conference Most Valuable Player. Next, we have #22 Jake Peterson, who also won the 1^st team all conference with 19 goals and 31 assists. #4 Luke Branin won the 2^nd team all conference with 11 goals and 34 assists. #61 Ethan Turnipseed scored 13 goals and had 18 assists, and starting goalie #35 Christian Hamlett led the season with 13 wins, 1 SO, a 3.07 GAA, and a .909 SV.

(Matt Antonacci, one UT winner of the 1^st team all conference)

You can keep up the University of Tampa Spartans Hockey team on Twitter and Instagram @UTampaHockey as well as “University of Tampa Ice Hockey” on Facebook.

(Junior defenseman JB Cline)

Photos courtesy of Ally Eames.