Ellington

In 1995, a group of schools known as the Pac-8 decided to play one very cold, very violent sport.

That sport was ice hockey.

The UW hockey team was one of those in the Pac-8 and since its founding, Washington’s only club hockey team has gone on to win four Athletic Awards I-5 Cup Championships.

Washington had hockey on campus since 1821. The sport, which was played at an intercollegiate club level, sent Husky students up and down the West Coast representing the University of Washington. Today, the UW plays in the Division II American Collegiate Hockey Association with the rest of the Pac-8. The two Pac-10 teams not in the Pac-8 hockey division are Arizona, who plays in Division I, and Oregon State, who doesn’t have a team.

Last year, the Huskies finished 21-8, but missed the playoffs by one game. The top four teams in the conference make the playoffs, but one of those spots is dedicated to the host team — that team just happened to be WSU.

“A rule is a rule, I guess,” said team captain Tyler Durrell, “But I wish we could have been there. I feel like we should have been there. And I think we’re going to be there this year.”

There might be a reason Durrell thinks that. The team hasn’t made the playoffs in four years, but this year, things will be different.

“I honestly think this is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” coach David Kell said.

The team is 2-1 after losing 7-0 to Eastern Washington, one of the premier teams. The UW played shorthanded as many of their players were injured in the game before.

Despite the loss, the team remains confident.

“When this team is healthy, it can compete with any team,” Kell said.

The season will kick into high gear Friday, when the Huskies take on rival Oregon.

“I think we have an outside shot at making regionals,” Kell said. “The team will definitely make the Pac-8 tournament this year.”

Since its inception, the UW has never made the ACHA Western Region playoffs while teams like Eastern Washington, Colorado, Colorado State, Utah State, San Jose State and Denver are the perennial playoff teams from this 46-team conference.

The Huskies are training hard to add their name to that list, training that includes practice in both the fall and winter as well as tough summer conditioning.

“The more time they spend on the ice, the more time they spend in the weight room, the more likely they will be ready to play some hockey come fall,” Kell said.

Getting practice time is not as easy as it could be. The team practices at 11 p.m. at Olympicview Arena in Mountlake Terrace — also where they play home games — two nights a week because that is the cheapest time to be on the ice and as it is a club sport, the team is forced to fund most of its own budget, only receiving $3,000 from the UW Recreational Sports program. To put that in perspective, one month’s ice time costs $6,000.

The team does fund raise, but the players are mostly responsible for paying the estimated $75,000 budget. As a result, each member of the 23-man, one-woman roster must pay roughly $2,200 to play. Despite the financial burden, the players love the team and the sport.

“I love playing for UW,” sophomore Stefan Sobiek said. “It’s a fun team, a fun league. Good coaching and good players.”

The team can carry up to 25 players of all skill and experience levels, and because of its status as a club team, does not recruit anyone out of high school.

Kell said any potential players must take the initiative after they get into the UW if they want to play.

“I tell the kids, once you get the letter [of acceptance], come talk to me.”

Reach reporter Zach Ruby at sports@dailyuw.com.