Ice Bulls Continue To Sparkle

[TyBull]

Ice Bulls Continue To Sparkle

By JEFFREY JONES and KRISTEN DRINGThe Tampa Tribune

Published: Dec 27, 2006

TAMPA - Competitive hockey in Tampa Bay did not start with the Lightning.

It began two decades ago when the University of South Florida Ice Bulls skated as the first college hockey program in Florida. At first, the team was not officially affiliated with the school. But in 1991, freshman Erik Lugris and a few teammates persuaded the USF student government to recognize hockey as a club sport, and the Ice Bulls continue to compete as such today.

"What we did was significant," said Lugris, former USF hockey president and current head coach at the Florida Institute of Technology. "The bottom line is, nobody can ever take it away. We were the first college hockey program in the state of Florida. We were the first really organized hockey program. We were just playing hockey because we loved it."

The club has grown to 42 players. They hail from all over the country and even Canada, where hockey is not only the most popular sport, but also a rite of passage.

"I've been playing since I was 5 or 6 years old," said Bulls captain Sean Williams, 22, a junior exercise science major. "I grew up in Canada, so pretty much when you walk, they throw you into skates."

After four years of high school hockey in his native Nova Scotia and two years playing in Elmira, N.Y., Williams found himself heading south to join the Bulls.

"It was kind of a fluke happening," he said. "My dad was checking schools online, and found us a hockey team down here. He said, 'Well, they play hockey here, why don't you check it out.'"

The Bulls (11-4), who play in Division III of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, have enjoyed a solid 2006-07 season. They are tied for third place in the South Division and have hopes of advancing deep into the playoffs.

"I think we have a good shot of winning out the season [and] moving up in the rankings," Williams said. "Our goal this year is to win the national championship."

The Bulls play in the 32-team South Division of ACHA Division III, along with the likes of first-place Tennessee (15-1), Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Central Florida. There are four divisions and 120 clubs at the Division III level.

In the past, the Bulls had to play at a small facility in Clearwater. Now, they play and practice at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum, where their ice time of 6 a.m. requires dedication to both hockey and their education. They also play occasionally at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"It keeps you focused. It helps you manage your time," 21-year-old goalie Kevin Stockslager said of the early hours. "You've got to get your school work done and be on time for practice and games."

"It's something you learn to do," Williams said. "Six a.m. practices, you know, it's tough, especially if you've got a test and you're trying to stay up late and study."

Games average crowds of about 400. The Ice Bulls employ various tactics to get fans to the games - usually spreading fliers around campus or running promos on the USF radio station, WBUL.

"I would like to see the place packed every single game," Coach Jay Jodoin said.

The club's budget has steadily increased from when the student government first allotted $10,800 to Lugris to give his club a chance to hit the ice. Most of the budget goes to ice time, travel and equipment, according to Ice Bulls general manager and USF graduate student Colleen Hennessy.

"To effectively run the team, as a competitive ACHA Division III team with travel and everything, ideally we would like $90,000. We put in an amount in hopes that it just covers ice. That's all we hope for - that our ice and our referees are covered."

The Ice Bulls are looking forward to possibly advancing to a higher ACHA division, and perhaps someday reaching the NCAA level. Unfortunately for the Bulls, location is a problem in any effort to become an NCAA team. The closest NCAA competitor would be Alabama-Huntsville, which is hosting the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four in Tampa.

"At this point in time, regionally, there aren't a lot of schools to compete against [in NCAA]," said Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy, USF's senior associate athletic director.

"Right now we have a lot of work ahead of us," Williams said. "But we are up to the task. We would like, eventually, to [be in] the NCAA, where we are funded by the school, you know. That is something that is going to take a lot of time and a lot of work. It's not something we can do overnight. It is not something we can do by ourselves."

For now, the Ice Bulls remain at the club level, knowing they have come a long way as the oldest such program in the state.

"I think we've done a lot this year as a team to move forward," Williams said. "It is really exciting to be part of that. I mean, we've had the team for 20 years, and we're really starting to get things together and get organized and try to be a real serious organization."

[Ricky the Bull]

This was a very nice article with a large picture on page 2 of the print edition.  I wish they had mentioned their web site or a number of calls so that people could get information on their game schedule.

[The_Reaper]

The video portion was on Channel 8 tonight too. Nice publicity. Also great uni's both home and away. They are SHARP!!!

[USF_Girl]

We have been working with channel 8 and the media productions group since October for this story, I was really glad both the story and article were well done. The article really shows the level, as well as the fianicial responsibilities the team commits themselves to so we can run our season. The link to the video that aired, as well as interview from our coach and captain can be viewed here.

http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGB63Q047WE.html  

Our last home game on 12/9 was a season high attendance with 700 fans and several hundred dollars was raised to benefit the Jimmy V Foundation (cancer research), Moffit and Shriner's Hospital.

January 12th (11:30pm) and 13th (9:30pm) the Ice Bulls take on the University of Alabama at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. Autographed Tampa Bay Lightning merchandise will be raffled off and a portion of money raised at the door will be given to a selected charity of the night.

The team is also taking sponsors for regionals, hosted by the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State, the first weekend of Feb. in Atlanta, Georgia. The Elite 8 regionals, will take the top 8 teams in the south and have them compete for a National spot. The trip will cost the team $8,000 and all donations are tax deductable, and a sponsorship package can be sent by contacting the team through email or phone listed below.

Come support your USF ice hockey team!

www.icebulls.org

team email: USFiceBulls@aol.com

team phone: 813 385 3190

[USF_Girl]

If you could like to see the Ice Bulls in the St. Pete Times please write an email to following address: sptsnews@sptimes.com

Here is a link to the last article published Feb. 2004 that talked a significant amount about the Ice Bulls.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/10/Sports/Growing_Cool.shtml

[USFCollin]

USF Girl... if I order a jersey, will it be with the USF Athletics logo, or the one that says Icebulls?

Thanks for all you're doing for your program.  I've been to games in Brandon before and had a great time... if anyone hasn't been before you're missing out!

[USF_Girl]

everything from now on will have the "U" logo as we are paying to use that.

the merchandise page should be functioning by the 1st week back to school with the two (gray and dark green) USF hockey shirts, pucks and the new jerseys for sale.

thanks for the thanks I mostly try and stay behind the scenes and keep the team running smooth- next time say hi, Im the one at the "gate".

[outrunner]

Way to go ICEBULLS!!! USF_Girl, do you have any info on playoff games, like location (any in Tampa or in-state?)? It would be great if a large crowd of fans could go.

[USF_Girl]

The next set of games are the 1st weekend from we get back from school against University of Alabama- these games are the only games before out 4th set of rankings. We have 5 home games in January all in Brandon before regionals in Atlanta the 1st weekend of Feb.

All the games in January are crucial because they will seed us for the regional tournament, the higher we are the "weaker" team we will play in the 1st round (1 plays 8, 2 plays 7 etc)

We have one away game in Jan. at ERAU- the Daytona Beach fire marshall closes down eentry every game because of capicity, they get 1,000 students at every game. It is a mad house in there.

The schedule can be found at www.icebulls.org

[Guest AstroBull]

I remember the ERAU game last year in Daytona.  That was a crazy place to watch a hockey game, and oh what a great way to win.  How are the first order of jerseys coming along?